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[COLOR=00aeef][indent][sub][I]Fury’s Office, Triskellion, Washington D.C.[/I] - [I]Present Day, 14:00[/I][/sub][sup][right]Issue 1.02.5: Lost Boundaries[/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [I]None[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [I] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4877030]Issue 1.02.4: Ballad of a Soldier[/url][/I][/right][/SUP][/indent][/color]

Cap folded his hands behind his back as he stood at an attentive state in front of Colonel Fury’s desk as his commanding officer finished typing up a report and sighed. His last good eye rose to meet Captain Rogers’ gaze, and each man realized the exhaustion the other was experiencing. Fury broke the brief bit of silence as he leaned back in his chair. [color=purple]”You have a problem, soldier?”[/color]

[color=00aeef]”When did we start killing our own, Fury?”[/color]

[color=purple]”When our own started slicing through innocent bystanders.”[/color] Colonel Fury’s expression shifted from exhaustion to frustration.

Cap’s position relaxed slightly as his hands returned to his sides. [color=00aeef]”You can’t seriously believe that Sgt. Green was in control of his own actions. Based on the intel Masters and I gathered, it’s clear that our agents are being manipulated by something.”[/color]

Fury gave a curt nod, sighing as he stood up and walked around his desk, leaning against the front to get closer to Steve. [color=purple]”I came to that conclusion the moment we received intel that Sgt. Green was caught on surveillance footage and didn’t check in with us first. The man who served us wasn’t the one who attacked those cops. But you need to understand, Rogers, that I gave you the chance to defuse the situation and make sure everyone walked out alive.”[/color]

[color=00aeef]”I just needed-“[/color]

[color=purple]”I needed to make the call, Steve.”[/color] Fury folded his arms as he geared up for another lecture. [color=purple]”The Gauntlet went rogue and started killing civilians. You were temporarily indisposed, as were Romanoff and Carter. As the world’s Shield, we have the responsibility of making the hard choices to make sure people are safe. So I told Masters to take the shot because I know he could live with that decision.”[/color]

Steve walked past Fury to look out the office’s picturesque window towards the Potomac. For a moment, the two men were silent. Rogers finally spoke up as he shook his head and turned around. [color=00aeef]”I still don’t think it was the right call. We should have tried to save him. He’s one of our own.”[/color]

[color=purple]”I’m not asking you to agree with my decisions, Captain Rogers. I’m just asking you to follow orders.”[/color] Colonel Fury walked back around his desk to tap away at the keyboard on his desk. [color=purple]”You need a break, Steve. You’ve been working nonstop the past three years, Captain. And as your Colonel, I’m ordering you to take some leave. The world has changed a lot over the past seventy years: you should try living in it.”[/color]

[COLOR=00aeef][indent][sub][I]Medical Wing, Triskellion, Washington D.C.[/I] - [I]Present Day, 14:34[/I][/sub][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][/color]

Tony Masters shifted uncomfortably in the oversized cushions of a couch in a small office in the medical wing. Sitting in the chair next to him was an older man with wire frame glasses resting on the tip of his nose. The doctor was already flipping through the files, before stopping and looking at the SHIELD agent concerned. [color=darkgray]”Can you valk me through vat happened ven you entered the safehouse?”[/color]

Tony tilted his head slightly. [color=lightgray]”I don’t see how that’s relevant. Fury asked me to see you because I had to fire my weapon on the job to keep people safe. I don’t see the use in beating around the bush.”[/color]

The psychiatrist gave a small smile as he leaned back in his chair, pulling out a small pad of paper and a pen resting in the breast pocket of his coat. [color=darkgray]”Let’s not beat around ze bush. Describe to me in detail vat you remember from the safehouse.”[/color]

Tony tapped his foot nervously for a moment before stopping abruptly and answering with a monotone that oozed anger. [color=lightgray]”Captain Rogers and I followed protocol before entering the safehouse. We gave the appropriate knocks and received no answer. Upon entering, the place looked like it had been turned over. We were surprised, and I spoke with the ag-.”[/color]

[color=darkgray]”How did zey surprise you?”[/color]

The simple question through Tony for a loop. He stared at the ground for a moment, his lips moving as if to speak but no sound came out. He ended up shaking his head and returning his gaze to the psychiatrist. [color=lightgray]”I don’t recall.”[/color]

The psychiatrist leaned forward a little in his seat, clearly engaged in the conversation. [color=darkgray]”And vat do you recall?”[/color]

Tony took a deep breath before answering. [color=lightgray]”The place was turned over. I went left, Captain Rogers went right. I felt the computer, and it was warm. The next thing I remember, there was an agent unconscious on the ground and I was reaching for his service weapon. Cap...”[/color]

[color=darkgray]”vat vere you going to do vis zhe service veapon?”[/color]

Tony looked at the psychiatrist blankly for a moment, before straightening up. [color=lightgray]”Remove all live ammunition to mitigate danger if there was another assailant, or in the event one of the assailants broke free. I discovered that the assailants were the local SHIELD operatives.”[/color]

The doctor gave a slight nod, seeming to buy Tony’s blatant lie for the moment. He raised a single finger to emphasis his last question. [color=darkgray]”Last question… Do you often experience lapses in memory in high stress situations? Between us.”[/color] The psychiatrist closed his pad of paper in that moment, as if to say that this was off the record.

[color=lightgray]”I... I do. It’s more than just lapses. I find I can’t remember my childhood very well anymore either. I always figured I was just forgetful. Always have been.”[/color] Tony’s shoulders slumped slightly as a result of this, as if admitting his time as an agent was over.

The doctor gave a small nod and smile. [color=darkgray]” Ve vill order some tests, but you should be clear for service. Have a vonderful day, Agent Masters.”[/color][hr][right][color=00aeef]Next Chapter:[/color] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4881697]Kings go Forth[/url][/right]