Natasha and Skye Are Stunned 12: This Area Has Been Taken Over by the Foundation?
Natasha and Skye Are Stunned Natasha and Skye still hadn’t fully recovered from what they had just witnessed.
They had originally been trying to figure out what kind of operation the Atala militants were preparing.
Instead, they had witnessed a battle between humans and monsters.
And in that battle, the human side had lasted less than twenty minutes before completely collapsing.
The two S.H.I.E.L.D.
agents hadn’t even had time to process what had happened before they themselves were attacked by SCP-939.
Skye had accidentally inhaled the amnestic aerosol released by one of the creatures and temporarily lost her memory.
Fortunately, Natasha had immediately put on her respirator and dragged Skye out of the creature’s path, narrowly saving both of them.
It took roughly ten minutes for Skye to recover from the effects of the gas.
Communications were still being heavily disrupted throughout the forest, making it impossible for them to contact the outside world.
With no better option, the two women followed the route they had previously seen Ethan take and retreated toward the village.
Unfortunately, more SCP-939 specimens began appearing throughout the forest.
Natasha and Skye were both exceptionally capable fighters and managed to carve their way through the creatures, but neither escaped unscathed.
By the time they reached the outskirts of the village, both women were covered in wounds and looked thoroughly battered.
Skye, who had suffered the more serious injuries, pressed a hemostatic bandage against one of her wounds.
Her expression remained tense.
“Ethan definitely knows something.” “If we run into him, we should try to restrain him and get some answers.” Natasha had personally experienced just how dangerous SCP-939 was.
Their speed alone was terrifying, and their size made them even more dangerous.
“If those creatures ever leave this forest in large numbers, it’ll become a serious disaster.” “It’s fortunate they’re still confined to this area.” Natasha continued tracking the traces Ethan had left behind.
Eventually, they reached the house where he had changed his equipment.
She lowered her voice.
“Agent Skye, Ethan may only be an ordinary combat contractor, but stay alert.” “In our current condition, taking him alive without either side getting hurt could still be difficult.” Skye adjusted her weapon.
“I’m ready.” She suddenly paused.
“Wait.
I think I heard something.” Natasha and Skye were both experts at infiltration.
Unfortunately for them, Ethan was currently operating with an unfair advantage.
He had already obtained the Foundation Agent Basic Tactical Gear Set and the MTF-E11-SR Assault Rifle.
But even those weapons couldn’t replace the Foundation Agent Service Pistol.
After all, the Service Pistol was a living weapon.
Once Ethan materialized and equipped it, the anomalous firearm provided him with an enormous advantage.
Because it was alive, it could assist with targeting during combat.
More importantly, it could sense nearby threats and warn Ethan of danger.
So long before Natasha and Skye reached the house, the Service Pistol had already alerted him that someone was approaching.
Natasha and Skye didn’t even hear conventional footsteps.
What caught their attention instead was the faint groan of an old wooden staircase struggling under someone’s weight.
The fact that the approaching person’s footsteps were nearly inaudible immediately put both women on high alert.
Then Ethan appeared.
He didn’t bother hiding himself at all.
He simply walked openly into their line of sight.
At the moment, Ethan wore only his tactical helmet.
His visor was raised, and he hadn’t pulled up his face covering, leaving his features completely exposed.
When he saw Natasha and Skye alive, his expression barely changed.
It was almost as though he had expected them to appear.
Skye swallowed.
She stared blankly at Ethan.
The man who had previously appeared to be nothing more than a Blackwater contractor was now dressed from head to toe in sleek, intimidating Foundation tactical equipment.
The U.C.P.
insignia on his shoulder was especially conspicuous.
Ethan casually raised one hand.
“Easy.
Relax, ladies.” “I’d rather not have an American-style quick-draw contest in here.” His gaze shifted toward Natasha.
“So S.H.I.E.L.D.
finally showed up.” “Should I call you Black Widow…” “…or Agent Natasha Romanoff?” Then he looked toward Skye.
“And Agent Skye.” Both women instantly tensed.
Their weapons came up almost instinctively.
Yet neither side actually aimed directly at the other.
Their minds were racing.
How does he know we’re S.H.I.E.L.D.
agents?
How does he know our names?
Natasha’s and Skye’s pupils contracted sharply.
The shock was impossible to hide.
Their identities within S.H.I.E.L.D.
were classified at an extremely high level.
Even the world’s most capable intelligence agencies could, at best, uncover information on relatively ordinary field agents.
Someone like Natasha Romanoff was buried behind layers of compartmentalized intelligence.
So how had Ethan identified them instantly?
Was it…
The Foundation?
Natasha stared at him sharply.
“Ethan.
Blackwater PMC.” “Who exactly are you?” At that moment, the system’s voice sounded inside Ethan’s mind.
[Ding!
Host has made first contact with high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D.
agents.] [Reward obtained: Official Foundation identity within the United States.] A new set of information immediately appeared in Ethan’s mind.
He smiled faintly.
“Who am I?” “The same kind of person you are.” He gave them a simple introduction.
“Ethan.” “Foundation agent.” “I’m here to investigate an anomalous containment incident.” He continued calmly, “The Foundation is somewhat similar to S.H.I.E.L.D.
We’re also a secret organization that maintains extensive cooperation with the United States federal government.” “Oh, right.” “Our public-facing name is the Strategic Security Administration.” “Perhaps you’ve heard of us?” The tension in Natasha’s and Skye’s expressions eased slightly.
At the very least, this meant they weren’t dealing with an openly hostile organization.
Still…
The Foundation was supposedly another secret organization cooperating with the federal government.
And it somehow possessed classified information about S.H.I.E.L.D.
Neither woman looked particularly pleased by that revelation.
They had come here thinking Ethan might be a compromised asset.
Instead, he might belong to a rival intelligence organization.
Ethan calmly opened the briefcase containing the healing injections.
A friendly smile appeared on his face.
“You’re both injured.” “Use these first.” “I’ll explain everything afterward.” “You can contact your headquarters and verify my identity once communications are restored.” He gestured toward the injections.
“These are extremely expensive therapeutic agents.” “Laboratory-classified material.” “If you don’t trust me, you can test them one at a time.” Natasha and Skye exchanged a glance.
Given the current situation, there was a real possibility that the three of them were the only humans left alive in this entire area.
Skye picked up one of the injections.
“I’ll be verifying your identity.” Then, without further hesitation, she injected it into a vein.
A moment later, her eyes widened.
The wound she had been pressing closed began healing at a visible rate.
The bleeding stopped.
The torn flesh rapidly knitted together.
Before long, only a faint residual ache remained where the injury had been.