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Sherlock sifted through the deep net, navigating the hidden servers with ease. The small, private servers and websites had nothing, compared to the AI. It was just what he needed, he decided, to initiate a counterattack, while staying hidden from S.T.R.I.K.E. at the same time. However, there was one massive, looming problem, one that was the reason for attacking S.T.R.I.K.E. in the first place. Angel was imprisoned in their holding facility hidden outside Lost Haven, and the mech that would have been his means of escape was locked down from all tampering, even Sherlock's own. So he needed to get some outside help. 

Sherlock browsed his list of viable mercenaries, ones that WOULDN'T betray the contract in the middle of the mission. Unfortunately, only one was a metahuman, and he happened to be deceased. His power probably wouldn't have been much help anyways. Amplifying the abilities of other metahumans? Useful in a team situation, but not for this job. He needed someone... powerful, Icon-level. There were few Metas on that level, so Sherlock's algorithms quickly sorted each option quickly. Quite a few were discarded, as they were either too villainous or out of commission. Not every Meta was as noble as Icon, nor quite as durable. 

That left two options left. A large, brute of a man, whom they called Trauma, able to shatter buildings in single hits, and War-Pulse, the Metahuman that Angel had fought. Trauma was mentally unstable and unhygenic, yet he always performed the job to the letter, but the downside to him was that he was currently in Sweden, on holiday with his family. He wouldn't be able to reach the facility in time. So that left War-Pulse, a singular... Trenton Hurst, and his handler, Warden. Sometimes being the former information collection A.I. for S.T.R.I.K.E. had its perks. Normally, nobody would be able to have ANY intel about VIGIL. Only, S.T.R.I.K.E. wasn't just some agency, like the CIA or FBI. They were the best in the world at finding things that people would rather stay secret. Unfortunately, nobody, including S.T.R.I.K.E, knew about what happened in Columbia. A shame. Sherlock hadn't placed that variable into the main algorithm for dealing with War-Pulse, but it would've given him a .2% advantage in negotiations. In dealing with humans, Sherlock had found that the slightest change could snowball into a 180 degree turn in attitude. It was fascinating to the Intelligence, who could think and feel, but within certain guidelines. He could not comprehend what motivated some people, although he could make conjectures with up to 48% accuracy. 

Ending that thought line, Sherlock created a new stream, keeping the old one archived, for later review. Focusing on the handler's signature, which seemed to be coming from an identical copy of the old system [Which indicated an 65.4% chance of overconfidence of his own abilities], Sherlock ghosted through the Deep Web, surrounding the human's data streams. Filtering them out slowly, until they collapsed, Sherlock demonstrated a degree of subtlety that Angel had never demonstrated. This was what he was made for, after all. 

There was a 51.87% chance that Warden would respond aggressively, after what Angel had done last time, [Compared to his initial 2% aggression chance during the fight. It seemed that he had only wanted to observe,] so Sherlock opened the Unzerbrechlich data package, one that was nigh unimpenetrable, and quickly sent a burst to Warden's host machine. 

[color=SkyBlue]Warden. Do not be alarmed. I have isolated your nodes for security during this conversation. Let's talk business.[/color] The message would appear in the middle of Warden's screen, with a blank space below, for Warden to type a response. A small graphic of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock's classic pipe rotated in the corner of the screen, with the word 'SHERLOCK.1' written underneath. The bar where Warden would write his response blinked silently, awaiting input.

It didn't take long for Warden to catch that he was being cornered and cut off from his extensions throughout the web.  Almost as soon as he caught on to his systems being caught on to, he diverted attention to a firewall in an attempt to provide a buffer the invasive program.  He recognized the IP from before, namely that its coding was incredibly complex, or at least advanced enough to track him down through shifting IPs and data spikes.  The buffer of course would not hold to such a data package coming his way, but it would provide Warden with just enough time to both extract crucial information he had gathered to an external drive before his machine was busted through.

There was silence at the original message, a good five minutes before there was even the inclination that Warden was typing back.  However, when the message passed onto the screen, it made Warden's stance very clear on Sherlock's action.

[color=9e0b0f]Alarmed?  I'm not alarmed, but impressed.  I recognize you, AI.[/color] The message began. [color=9e0b0f]Before you shut me down last time, I managed to acquire some of your coding, enough to remember you once we crossed paths again. With a bit of analysis of what happened in our previous encounter, it became very clear that while your operator was the one who pulled the trigger, the package sent to disable me was operated by something else, almost as the data package acted like a separate entity.  Needless to say, this is one of the few rare times I have found myself extremely curious about where exactly an AI like you was developed.

However, this is clearly not the subject matter you want to discuss, though forgive me if I find your claims of business to be unfounded.  First off, you of all things should know there are channels to reach mercenaries, even a few anonymous ones that would make things less hostile to begin with.  Freezing my nodes and forcing your way into my system is both extremely annoying and undeniably hostile, not to mention the last time you and I confronted one another, you disabled me long enough for your operator to drop a helicopter down on my client.[/color]

There was a pause, another few seconds before another line of text scrawled across the screen. [color=9e0b0f]However, if this was a death threat, you would have delivered it by now.  Likewise if this was an attempt to extract information from me, I regret to say that you will find nothing here.  With those possibilities either denied or unavailable...I'm listening.  What kind of business are you asking for, and what are you willing to offer?[/color]  

If Sherlock had a face, it would  be smirking. He had almost nothing to do with the creation and execution of the Basilisk virus. The piece of coding they had in common was the autonomy package, heavily modified to not get out of control, and self-replicate. However, Sherlock was impressed by this human's skills. While some extremely skilled people could match Angel and his own skills, not many rose to the level. 

Waiting for the man to finish typing, Sherlock's reply came almost instantly. [color=SkyBlue] Before we discuss business, I would like to clarify a few things for you, since you're such an agreeable fellow. I was nowhere near your network, when Equilibrium fried it, although I do have the data logs of the mech in my system. Just to let you know.

Also, anonymous? If an AI like me could isolate you, and I'm designed for infiltration, what could an Intelligence created for destruction accomplish? Besides, the people that I'd be hiring you to go up against would probably be able to track our transaction, no matter the measures put in place for anonymity. They're that good. In fact, they probably know I'm here, but not my purpose in isolating you. Judging from what I found on their servers, they don't view you and Trenton as a threat. However, I am aware of their capabilities, and I am confident in both our dear mercenary's ability, and yours. [/color]

Sherlock took a minute to gather the information that he had prepared as payment, and then said, [color=SkyBlue] There is now a file on your machine. It has the specs for the facility that I wish for Trenton to assault. In addition, I will give you data directly from S.T.R.I.K.E's servers, as well as 18,000,000 USD. Interested?[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]S.T.R.I.K.E.?  You mean [i]the[/i] S.T.R.I.K.E?[/color] Warden's response came fast once the key phrase flickered across his screen, [color=9e0b0f]Single-handedly one of the most powerful organizations on the planet?  The one that has countless manpower, unlimited resources, and an extensive network across the entire world?  That S.T.R.I.K.E?[/color]

A few seconds passed, most likely because Warden was evaluating the facility that was delivered to him. [color=9e0b0f]Ugh, this is terrible...not only would we have to deal with a time frame of possible reinforcements.  We are looking at the possibilities of, but not limited to; 

-A robotic juggernaut known as the Iron Knight, equipped with energy weapons and extremely powerful armor.
-A multi-facited AI, comparable to the one I'm speaking to,  capable of mechanical control and plasma blasts.
-Countless reinforcements, and the ire of S.T.R.I.K.E itself, which we have been trying very hard to avoid.

And at any time if we fail, we risk my client being locked up for all eternity.   The worst part?  Trent is absolutely going to take this job, no matter what I say.  He always is looking for a challenge...and this?  This is something he'd be thrilled to do...[/color]

Another pause, probably from Warden simply upset that he was going to once more throw himself out into the open by messing around with S.T.R.I.K.E tech and plans, but aside from the money, information about the most powerful secruity force in the world was definitely a valuable thing to have.

[color=9e0b0f]So...I presume your name is Sherlock, what's the job?  What is my client breaking into a S.T.R.I.K.E base to retrieve?  Judging by the schematics you've sent me, this is in some part a prison or holding facility, are we collecting live cargo or technology?[/color] 

Sherlock felt good. The deal was just too much for Warden and Trent to not accept. Mentally pumping his fists, Sherlock said, [color=SkyBlue]It's a two-fold mission. The one you need to rescue, Equilibrium, takes priority, but Equilibrium's mech is also there. He had gotten captured by Archangel, and I barely got away. She's some sort of meta, but nothing like one I know. I don't have enough data to identify her abilities. Archangel is probably not at the base, though. It appears she works independently of S.T.R.I.K.E., and isn't Trent's specialty energy? ;)[/color]

Sherlock paused a moment, and then said, [color=SkyBlue] For the transaction going so well, and as a gesture of faith, I'm transferring 3,000,000 USD to your account. It's enough to make a profit, without doing anything, but I believe that Trent is... generally reliable, and so are you.[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]Wait...Equilibirum?[/color] Warden typed back. [color=9e0b0f]You're asking us...[b]us[/b] to free the man who, and I can't believe I had to repeat this; [u]dropped a helicopter on my client?[/u]

...I already accepted the job, so we can't turn back now. However I'll let you know I'm not happy about this, we don't usually free the people who attacked us.  If you'll release my systems, I can contact War-Pulse so we can make a plan as a group.  Then we'll get started on retrieving your companion.  I ask that you keep in contact with me, so we can utilize both of our technical skills...we'll need it if we want to pull this off.[/color]

As soon as his nodes were unfrozen, Warden kept to his word, immediately utilizing a gps signal to track down the mercenary, his fingers crossed that he had not picked a fight since he was locked out.  To his fortune, he found War-Pulse positioned at a bar on the coast of Chinatown, more than likely drinking off his last encounter.

[color=9e0b0f]"Pulse.  War-Pulse...Trent?  Do you hear me?"[/color]

[color=0054a6]"Warden?  Where the hell have you been?"[/color] Came a hearty voice. [color=0054a6]"You're missing out, I got a great game of dice going, and despite the riots, the company down here in Chinatown is...warming, if you catch my drift!"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Hm.  You're in high spirits."[/color] Warden replied. [color=9e0b0f]"You shake off your last beating?"[/color]

[color=0054a6]"Hey, those assholes didn't beat me, they just ran before I got to lay into them!"[/color] War-Pulse was quick to retort. [color=0054a6]"Anyway, what're you calling me for?"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Another job."[/color]

[color=0054a6]"Shit, you serious?"[/color] Trent's voice rose, his excitement apparent in tone. [color=0054a6]"Awesome!  What's the job?  What's the pay?  Who's getting a fist to the face?"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Well, to answer those questions, I've got our employer on the line."[/color] Warden replied, hitting a few keys on the keyboard. [color=9e0b0f]"Sherlock, if you'd be so kind as to enlighten my client."[/color]

As soon as Warden's sentence ended, Sherlock would find that Warden had altered the chatbox he had been given, adding a text-to-voice option for the AI to utilize, although it would make the program sound like the voice of Stephen Hawking's voicebox.

Sherlock had tapped into the comms line, and listened in on Warden and Trent's conversation. It appeared that, after losing a fight to a few other metas, Trent had become quite drunk, and was now gambling. Eh. It wasn't his place to advise Trent on his habits, although he most certainly would've advised Angel against drinking so much. 

Moving on, Sherlock examined the text-to-voice program. While primitive, it would serve as a base for the auditory half of the avatar program he stole from Archangel. Adding a few lines of code, a pleasant English-sounding voice would sound from both Warden's computer and Trent's earpiece. 

[color=SkyBlue]"Hello, Mr. Trent. I am Sherlock, as Warden has already pointed out. I've hired you for a rescue of my friend. However, there's a catch. You'll be busting him out, and his equipment, from a S.T.R.I.K.E. holding facility. I've already transferred 3,000,000 dollars to your accounts. You'll be receiving the remaining 15,000,000 upon completion. Need I say more?"[/color]

[color=0054a6]"Hot damn!"[/color] Pulse's voice came back over the comm link, excitable as ever. [color=0054a6]"You're telling me that I'm going to be attacking the number one 'don't screw with these guys' organization in the world to bust out some guy?  A job like this is worth it just on the reputation I'd get, let alone the kind of money you're offering.  I'm all in on this!"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Hold on, the target is someone you've had a previous encounter with."[/color]  Warden interjected. 

 [color=0054a6]"Oh?"[/color] Trent responded, the sounds of him standing up and moving becoming apparent over the comm.  Even with his brash attitude, there was enough professionalism in his business acumen to get to a private spot to discuss plans like this. [color=0054a6]"Anyone I'd know by name?  Oh god, is it Spider-Girl?  Did she start rumbling with the wrong crowd?"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"The target is Equilibrium."[/color]

[color=0054a6]"What?!?"[/color]  The mercenary exclaimed. [color=0054a6]"I'm off to rescue the guy who dropped a helicopter on my head!?"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Yes.  Is that going to be a problem, War-Pulse?"[/color]

[color=0054a6]"...Nah, he did what he had to in order to get away, it was one hell of a move.  But I'll have some words for him when we get a second, so you two will have to let me say my piece when that comes.[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"I'm sure he'll listen if you manage to get him out of there alive."[/color] Warden said, accessing the files Sherlock provided him for a schematic of the compound. [color=9e0b0f]"But that's going to be the challenge."[/color]  With a few deft keystrokes, the blueprints were provided to War-Pulse's smartphone, allowing him to get a better view of the compound and contribute to the conversation. [color=9e0b0f]"From what Sherlock has provided me, this compound is one of the most advanced and powerful fortresses we've been asked to infiltrate.  You have to hand it to STRIKE, they have their act together.  With multiple checkpoints, cross-communication, 24 hour surveillance and routine ID scans, infiltration is almost impossile."[/color]

[color=0054a6]"So why don't we just let me do what I do best?  Let me charge in there and just blast my way to him!"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Multiple reasons.  Not only does that tend to rack up unnecessary casualties, they would more than likely call for some powerful reinforcements, namely figures like Iron Knight or Archangel."[/color]

[color=0054a6]"Iron Knight?  Is that [i]another[/i] guy in a tin suit?  Did everyone collectively decide that the only way to fight these days is in a humanoid battlesuit?  The human body isn't even that structurally sound!  We're the only animals alive that live in balancing act on two legs!"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Yes, but I wouldn't underestimate him, nor would I desire to have you fight him on top of a whole compound."[/color] Warden emphasized. [color=9e0b0f]"However, that's where Sherlock and I come in."[/color]

[color=0054a6]"I'm listening."[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Equilibrium is down on one of the lower levels of the facility, deep underground to prevent aerial assaults from effectively releasing potential targets.  There are two methods of infiltration that I can recommend.  My recommendation is a alteration of the 'drop 'n chop' method we tried when you were trying to put the vial in that water tower."[/color]

[color=0054a6]"Yeah, but that plan didn't work."[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Because those four were waiting for you to touch down.  While STRIKE may know we're coming they have other tasks at hand.  A direct attack might be able to catch them off guard long enough for you to get Equilibrium and his mech.  Instead of fighting your way through the front door, you will drop down, as in straight down.  Diving from high in the air, you will act as a ballistic projectile, driving yourself down into the base through the floor.  With the correct amount of velocity you should be able to stop yourself within two or three levels of where they are holding Equilibrium.  While you make this divebomb, Sherlock and I will access and cut off the compounds communications and radar, preventing them from spotting you, sounding the alarm or calling reinforcements in that amount of time.  This two-fold strategy means that before they really get a chance to react, we will have you within range of the target, which it would only be a short fight to free.  Once you can get Equilibrium to his mech, both you and him should be able to blast your way out.  I must stress to avoid as many casualties as you can, but this plan provides the least amount possible seeing as how infiltration is impossible for a man of your reputation and skillset."[/color]

[color=0054a6]"Well, I'm all for this plan.  It's quick, direct, and I'll get to punch something!"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Sherlock?  Would you be on board with a plan like this, or do you have a better suggestion?"[/color] Warden asked. [color=9e0b0f]"You know the compound better than I do, so you might be able to give us a better backdoor."[/color]

Sherlock sounded amused. [color=SkyBlue]"Speaking of backdoors..."[/color] 

He generated a small [i]ding[/i], like one you would hear on television when a check mark appears. His small worm had accessed the system covertly. [color=SkyBlue]"The job just got a tiny bit easier. While I can't cut the power completely, due to firewalls and backups, I can disable the generators for exactly twenty seconds, before the backups return, and block off all access to the power system, except for manual. However, if you move fast, you two can get Equilibrium out without needing the blackout. If all else fails, I can do it."[/color] 

Sherlock then addressed Trent. [color=SkyBlue]"Oh, and Trent? I think the reasoning behind giant humanoid mech suits is that they are pretty bad-ass, no? And believe me, the way Equilibrium built his suit, you saw it yourself, it's more stable than most battleships."[/color] 

Anyways, back to the subject at hand. [color=SkyBlue]"So, we can start as soon as you're ready, but hopefully as soon as possible. Tonight is one of the best nights to strike, even though Anderson is in town. No, BECAUSE Anderson is in town. If he's there, the facility directors will be working to kowtow and suck up to him. Even though they know he hates that."[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"I agree with Sherlock, the sooner we strike, the easier it will be to catch STRIKE off guard.  If the AI is right and they are tracking us, we only have a small window of opportunity to act before we have a STRIKE capture squad on our tails."[/color]

[color=0054a6]"Warden, you worry too much sometimes."[/color]  The sound of rustling could be heard on the other side of the comm links. [color=0054a6]"Just send me the place's location and I'll notify you guys when I'm within 100 miles."[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Move fast, War-Pulse.  Sherlock and I will have a disabling suite ready when you arrive."[/color]

[color=0054a6]"Yeah, yeah, you work your magic, I'll work mine."[/color] Came War-Pulse's final message before he clicked out, resulting in an audible huff from Warden.

[color=9e0b0f]"Well, let's get to work, Shelock."[/color]