[hr][hr][center][h3][color=FF8CBD]Tinley Abercrombie[/color], [color=#76D7C4]Maria Hill[/color], [color=7851A9]Hawkeye[/color], and [color=9e0039]Black Widow[/color][/h3][img]https://i.postimg.cc/hjKYB192/giphy.gif[/img][hr][hr][b]Location:[/b] the Hub - San Fransisco[/center][hr] It had been less than twenty four hours since Janet van Dyne, Theresa Sparks, and Raynor Blake returned to the land of the living. The team had been asked to report to the nearest S.H.I.E.L.D. facility in San Fransisco, the Hub, for a full debrief on everything that had happened. Black Widow had been brought in from Washington D.C. to assist in the interviews. Some of the agents had given more than others, but even then there was still enough for S.H.I.E.L.D. to take action on. Dominika Novikova had used illegal technology with Dr. Hank Pym - she had also stolen materials from Stark Industries. Acting Director Maria Hill didn't have much of a choice - Novikova was fired. [color=9e0039]"Agent Abercrombie?"[/color] a woman with short, curly red hair asked as she walked up to the field leader of the Secret Warriors. [color=9e0039]"Agent Romanoff, we're ready for you now."[/color] Tinley had been prepared for it. After Niah had told her about their alternate history and the events that led them to fix it, she knew it would only be a matter of time before Novikova faced repercussions for her actions. On paper, Tinley was against it. She went against S.H.I.E.L.D and that was a no-no. Outside of files and bureaucracy, Novi had earned her support and her efforts brought back their people from imminent danger. She wasn't about to forget that. Dressed to the tens, Tinley sat and waited as the redheaded woman approached her. She stood up. [color=FF8CBD]"Pleasure. Lead the way."[/color] Tinley followed Agent Romanoff to what she hoped would be a painless interview. But when did that ever happen? Romanoff walked into what appeared to be an ordinary conference room, but the woman sitting at the end of the desk was anything [i]but[/i] ordinary. [url=https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/012/548/479/large/sebastien-minatchy-maria-900px.jpg?1535359848]Maria Hill[/url], former Deputy Director and now Acting Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. rose from her seat and extended a hand to Tinley. [color=#76D7C4]"It's a pleasure to meet you, Agent Abercrombie. Please, have a seat."[/color] Romanoff took the seat to Hill's right and on her left, Barton was sitting there, looking a bit contemplative. There was a folder in front of each of the agents and a few glasses of water. Barton was thumbing his S.H.I.E.L.D. badge. [color=7851A9]"I guess I can get this started, then?"[/color] he asked, fidgeting a bit with his hearing aid to make sure that it was working properly. [color=7851A9]"I'm retiring from active duty with S.H.I.E.L.D. - my kids are growing up and I need to make sure I'm there for them... which means that my job is open."[/color] [color=9e0039]"You would be reporting to Acting Director Hill until the president makes an official choice of replacement,"[/color] Black Widow explained. While Alexander Jakobsen was the President-Elect, he wouldn't be sworn in until January - the Twitter monster was still in the Oval Office. [color=#76D7C4]"I just have one question for you before we make the offer official, agent,"[/color] Acting Director Hill said, looking at Tinley dead in the eye. [color=#76D7C4]"There's a spider in a shower, and it's been there for days, trapped. And every time you turn the water on, it tries to run for its life to escape, but it can't get out. So what do you do? Do you move it to safety, do you kill it, or do you let it be?"[/color] Tinley had sat where she was referred and sipped the water in front of her as the others spoke. What she had not accounted for was that promotion was up for grabs. Once Barton brought it up Tinley nearly choked on her water. She set it down on the table again before she looked around the room. So a spot would be open and they had brought her in here to offer it. Or to, at least, test if she would be ready. She had wanted to move up the ladder since she started. This would be a nice step up. A way to still manage her team, but have more authority. The spider question was a bit...odd, but she imagined there was more to it than that. [color=FF8CBD]"Well I won't sugarcoat the fact I do not like spiders, but it's not like it is doing me any harm. I would attempt to free it. After all, spiders are integral creaturs, protecting homes from all manner of creepy crawlies out and about."[/color] She spoke the truth, she hoped it was what they wanted to hear. [color=9e0039]"Is that what the spider wants?"[/color] Agent Romanoff posed. Hill's expression was neutral but calm as she watched Tinley, whereas Barton was clearly trying not to smile too much at his second in command. He couldn't help but be proud of her, despite the events of the last day or so. [color=FF8CBD]"Well I imagine the spider wants to be safe. Possibly why it is in my tub for a reason. But it's not like I can ask it and get a response. If I could, I would see what it wants and reach a compromise that worked for both of us. But as it stands, it cannot, and I don't want to bring harm to it for no reason. So I take it upon myself to ensure its safety to the best of my abilities."[/color] The three agents exchanged wordless looks for a moment. Black Widow's expression was calculating, Barton was pleased, and Hill was as frustratingly neutral as ever. After what felt like at least a ten minute pause, Hill nodded at Barton and Barton stood up, holding out his badge to Tinley. [color=7851A9]"Congrats, Agent. Welcome to Level Seven Clearance - the coffee is just as shitty for us, but at least you get the option of tacking on a cool codename to use... And you now have full control over your own team. You can recruit as you wish, within reason of course."[/color] [color=9e0039]"You can't reinstate Dr. Novikova,"[/color] Widow informed her bluntly. [color=#76D7C4]"We also will be relocating your team to San Fransisco. You'll be based here in the Hub," Hill added. "You'll participate in weekly meetings with me and the other Level Sevens."[/color] Tinley breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, accepting the badge that was offered. [color=FF8CBD]"Thank you all for this. I won't let you down."[/color] She had figured that there would be no way to reinstate Novikova to the team. That was fine with her. She had other plans in mind anyway. But at least now she had authority. Another step up the ladder. She wanted to call her family. She wondered if her mother would be proud of her. [color=FF8CBD]"I'll make preparations for the relocation then. Anything you wish for me to do before then?"[/color] [color=#76D7C4]"That'll be all, Agent Abercrombie,"[/color] Hill said. [color=#76D7C4]"I'll be in touch."[/color]