Chapter 20: Ch.20
Over the next few months, I helped Grace with her mission here along with having a Friends with Benefits type of relationship. Finally, the CIA called her back, and I went with her. When we came back to the US, Grace was promoted and her career was looking bright.
To hide their involvement in Soldier Boy's capture, the surviving members of Payback claimed that he and the others were killed by a super weapon used by the Russians. To cover their involvement in Soldier Boy's 'death', Vought fabricated a cover story that he heroically sacrificed his own life to save America from a nuclear power plant meltdown in Ohio.
Grace and I kept in touch once in a while, however, our relationship changed to just being friends. As she found someone who she fell in love with marrying him and having kids shortly after. I heard Vought tried to use their connections to find out about me, but the CIA and some others successfully kept my identity hidden.
Like that years passed by with me just going about my life and keeping tabs on Vought through Grace who became my 'handler'. Grace also moved up in the CIA becoming the Deputy Director. Then one day as I was sitting outside smoking a cigar, a car pulled up to my house. Stepping out of the car was Grace, who was now in her early 50s.
"Long time no see… I assume this is not a social visit?" I say seeing her walk over to me and being alone.
"Good to see you too Logan and no, I'm putting a task force together. Off the books and I want you to help," Grace says walking over and handing me a file that has two men inside it.
"That is William Butcher–" Grace starts to say.
"Butcher… Is he related to Lieutenant Colonel Charles Butcher, a British Officer during WW2?" I ask Grace cutting her off and reading his file to see if he is.
"I believe so… why?" Grace says giving me a confused look.
"I served with his Grandfather during the First and Second World Wars," I say shrugging and seeing he is related to him.
"I see…" Grace says not sure what else to say.
"Well unfortunately for Billy, his wife recently went missing, no trace of her. We assume Homelander had an involvement with that," Grace says as I raise an eyebrow.
"Homelander, here I thought he was one of the good ones," I say sighing since even the CIA found nothing on him.
"Turns out all supes are bastards… Sorry, not you," Grace says realizing I'm not human.
"It's fine, most people who have what they have turn into egomaniacs who believe they can do no wrong," I say shrugging and then reading the next file of a French man.
"That is Serge, unknown last name, extremely elusive and only caught by luck. However, I believe his talents would be great for the team we are going to form," Grace says as I read this man's history which is extremely extensive.
"What is this team?" I say to her already feeling like I know the answer.
"To hunt down Supes and expose them for who they really are. I want you a part of this since you are the perfect secret weapon in case we need it," Grace says as I look at the off-the-books task force she is trying to form.
"From the looks of it, these members have issues with Supes… So when they find out and we know they will find out, that I'm not human, do you think they will react well?" I say to her handing back the files.
"Not at all, but it's not like that could do anything to you," Grace says as I shrug nodding my head.
"So are you in or not?" Grace says giving me a curious look.
"Yeah fuck it, not like I've been doing anything productive lately and I could use some fun," I say shrugging standing up putting out my cigar, and following her to her car.
We then drive to an old warehouse in the slums of New York City. Grace hands me my mask in case I want it. Though I just pocket it for now and head inside with her. Inside I see a small amount of supplies used normally by a CIA black site. Plus the two men from earlier in the files I read.
Butcher is a tall, muscular man around 6'1" (185cm) with a thick black beard, greasy black hair, and a black trench coat. Frenchie is an average-height man of 5'8" (173cm), with a lean body, and many scars covering his hands, short black hair, and a scruffy short beard.
Serge or Frenchie as his code name suggests is currently going through the weapons on a table and explosives. While Billy or Butcher by his code name is looking through files on a table and drinking a bottle of whiskey. They both stop and look up at our arrival, while they both shoot me judging looks.
"Oi, who is this?" Butcher says seeing me and giving me a hard look over. With Frenchie judging me silently from the weapon table.
"Our newest member and he will be second in command, right under me. What he says would be the same as if I say them, understood?" Grace says giving them her hard commanding look.
Frenchie nods his head going back to his weapons and explosives, while Butcher grunts in annoyance before going back to reading the files. He then grabs one and hands it to Grace while giving me a side glance.
"I think he'd make a good last addition," Butcher says as Grace looks at the file before handing it to me.
"What do you think?" Grace says as I look at the file to see a Marine named Marvin T. Milk. According to his file, Marvin is a taller African American man of 6'0" (183cm), with short black hair and a well-kept short-styled beard.
"Seems he fits the profile of this group well," I say seeing the record of the Marine and his personal history of having an issue with Supes from his grandfather being killed by one.
"Glad you approve new guy," Butcher says to me with heavy sarcasm.
"You should be, as he is the only one here whose opinion I really care about," Grace says snapping back to Butcher who snorts at her comment.
"Anyway, you guys get to know one another. I'm gonna make a few phone calls and see if we can't get this Marvin Milk to an interview," Grace says walking away and pulling out her phone.
As she leaves, Frenchie looks up and stares back at me with a curious look. As Butcher walks over to his table and pours himself another drink. From what I read and can see from these two individuals, Butcher is a hardass and seems to be on a war path. While Frenchie appears to be the quieter one but the loaded gun of the group.
"Since Grace didn't introduce me, I will. You can call me Logan and it seems I'm now your 'leader'," I say to them and air quote the Leader role. Butcher grunts in annoyance at the leader part while Frenchie shrugs.
"How long have you been with the CIA?" Butcher asks me while Frenchie continues to mess with the guns and other weapons.
"Not technically a part of the CIA, but I do have connections to it as you can tell," I say to them and walk over to the whiskey bottle but Butcher grabs it.
"Who said I'm sharing?" Butcher says giving me a glare.
"I said you're sharing," I say taking it from him and surprising him with my strength and speed.
"Fine," Butcher says putting up his hands in mock surrender.
I then take a seat at one of the many half-intact chairs, pulling out a cigar and sipping the glass of whiskey enjoying the taste. Butcher takes a seat at the file table while staring at me. With Frenchie ignores the atmosphere and goes about messing with the weapons. A few minutes later Grace walks back in and gives us all a curious look.
"Logan, Butcher come with me. Frenchie you hold down the fort until we come back," Grace says as Butcher and I stand up to follow her.
"Oui m'dame," Frenchie says nodding his head.
I get into the passenger seat making Butcher glare at me and get into the back. Grace smirks seeing Butcher pissed at my dismissive attitude toward him. Grace then begins driving us toward the nearest government-owned Helipads.
"We are going to Camp Smith, it'll take us an hour to get there. But Marvin Milk is currently there awaiting our arrival," Grace says as we drive.
We then got to the helipad where a helicopter was waiting for us. From there it took us to Camp Smith where we were escorted to the small interview room. The three of us waited a few more minutes before Marvin T. Milk walked through the door wearing his uniform.
He gave us all a confused look before taking a seat across from us as Grace motioned for him to sit. Butcher was standing in the back with his arms crossed trying to look indifferent at this. While I sat next to Grace and read the reports from his fellow soldiers and commanders.
"Marvin T. Milk, nice to meet you. I'm Grace Mallory, deputy director of the CIA. This is Logan and Butcher, they work for me. We are here to talk to you about joining a task force," Grace says with a friendly professional smile on her face.
"Nice to meet you, Ma'am," Marvin says while nodding in greeting.
"What task force?" Marvin says giving a curious look at Grace.
"It's an off-the-books one, meant to target Supes who stepped out of line. We know about your history with them and we believe you would make a great addition to our team," Grace says with the same friendly professional smile. Hearing that we know about his past made him slightly upset as his eyes narrowed.
"I see… I would consider it, but I still have a couple of years left on my contract," Marvin says and he does seem somewhat interested in joining.
"That's no problem. I can make a few phone calls and have you transferred over to me. You will then be able to finish your contract but while working for me," Grace says dismissing that excuse.
"In that case, I'm in," Marvin says standing up and offering his hand in acceptance. Grace smiles and shakes his hand.
"Then grab your things we are leaving once you are ready," Grace says as Marvin nods his head and leaves to get his things.
"Excuse me, time to make a few more calls," Grace says as Butcher and I leave the room so Grace can make her calls undisturbed.
In less than an hour, Marvin was given over to Grace's command. From there we got back on the helicopter to New York City. Then we drove back to the abandoned warehouse. Even though it had been a few hours, Frenchie was still working on whatever it was he was doing at the weapons table.
"Ok, Butcher, catch Mr. Milk up to speed. Logan come with me for a second," Grace says as Butcher brings Marvin into the main area where Frenchie is.
"I need to leave, as I can't focus all my attention on this team. However, I will keep in contact with you all regularly. If anything important comes up reach out right away. In the meantime, I want you all to start looking into the supes. See if you can find any to start squeezing so we can work our way to the top," Grace says, handing me an untraceable ghost phone that currently only has one number in it, hers I assume.
"Understood," I say taking the phone. Grace leaves and I walk back inside explaining Grace's new orders as Marvin settles in.
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