[Colosseum]
At the Colosseum, the widow's normal training was once more cancelled as they were called to meet with someone. It was a welcome break from the normal gruelling training. They all wanted to get out there and do something.
Instead, they just spent all their time locked up here and being put through all kinds of training; at least the younger girls were spared the worst of it. They were allowed to play around and almost attended what seemed like a normal school.
Sure, a few of their classes wouldn't fit inside a normal school, and their gym activities seemed to fit into a military academy. Yet the girls had fun. They had a bright future ahead of them, something the older widows all wanted to protect.
And they all hoped that they would finally be given a mission where they could go out in those suits again. They had all seen how Stark flew around in his and played hero, they wanted to show him and the world what a skilled person could do in them.
Entering into the room they were met with someone most unexpected, they were met with O5-1, the big boss himself.
A wave of surprise and curiosity washed over the group as they filed into the room. The atmosphere shifted instantly from the casual camaraderie of soldiers-in-training to the tense focus of professionals in the presence of authority.
Dressed in his darker-than-dark Vibranium nano suit, Alexander watched the Widows as they entered the room and took their seats. They had grown quiet after seeing him and just awaited him to begin.
"Good afternoon," Alexander began, his voice calm and authoritative. "I understand that your training has been intense and perhaps monotonous at times, but today, I bring you news that should invigorate your spirits."
The widows listened intently, their eyes fixed on Alexander. Yelena Belova, Sonya, Ana, Ingrid, Oksana, Lerato, Helen, Agnesa, and Lauren Okadigbo stood ready, their expressions serious and determined.
"We have a mission," Alexander continued, "that requires your unique skills and expertise. This will not be just another training exercise. You will be deployed in the field, and your performance will be watched closely by me."
The room buzzed with barely contained excitement. This was what they had been waiting for—an opportunity to prove themselves, to show that their training had not been in vain.
"The mission is a find and retrieve. It won't be easy, as there is no information to go on. You will be going out in the field mostly blind. While you will have access to Foundation intelligence and recourses, you will be working on your own."
The excitement in the room was palpable. The widows had been waiting for this opportunity, and now it was finally here. Alexander could see the determination in their eyes and knew that they were ready.
"The target is an anomalous artifact that has surfaced recently," Alexander explained. "Little is known about where it is, only that it is indeed somewhere, lost to the Foundation." He paused, ensuring he had their full attention. "This object is known as SCP-963. It is a powerful artifact, and it is imperative that it is recovered without incident."
Yelena Belova, the unofficial leader of the group, stepped forward. "What does this artifact look like, and are there any specific instructions on how to handle it?"
Alexander nodded. "SCP-963 appears as a simple amulet. However, it is crucial that none of you wear it or harm anyone who might be wearing it. The artifact has...unique properties that could pose a significant risk."
Sonya, always the strategist, asked, "Do we have any leads on its last known location?"
"None," Alexander admitted. "It could be anywhere—in a forest, under the sea, in someone's home, or even in a random shop. Your task is to use all available resources, gather intelligence on the ground, and locate it."
Ana, Ingrid, Oksana, Lerato, Helen, Agnesa, and Lauren nodded, their resolve unwavering. They were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
"You will depart immediately," Alexander said, handing a data pad to Yelena. "All necessary information and resources have been uploaded. Good luck, widows. Show them what you're capable of."
With that, the meeting was adjourned. The widows quickly geared up, checking their weapons and equipment one last time before heading to the transport that would take them to the mission site.
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The transport jet cut through the sky with silent efficiency, carrying the widows to their destination. Inside, the atmosphere was tense but focused. Each widow was lost in her thoughts, mentally preparing for the task ahead.
Yelena reviewed the data on the pad, sharing pertinent information with the team. "Our drop point is in a remote area. We'll need to move quickly and quietly to avoid detection. Remember, we're going in blind, so stay sharp and watch each other's backs."
As the jet approached the drop zone, the widows performed final equipment checks. The sense of anticipation was almost tangible.
"Touchdown in two minutes," the pilot announced over the intercom.
They were met by a quiet little cabin in the middle of nowhere, far removed from people and distractions.
Even though it was a Foundation facility, they were careful as they approached it. However, it quickly proved to be unnecessary as the place was secure enough. There weren't any traps or even other people.
Instead, they just had a rather fancy place all to themselves. While it didn't look impressive from the outside, inside it was an entirely different matter.
The cabin was surprisingly modern, with advanced surveillance equipment and communication arrays. The widows spread out, securing the perimeter and ensuring there were no hidden threats.
There were also two large underground floors filled to the brim with all kinds of expensive equipment and weapons—everything they would need for a wide range of missions—and plenty of it for this.
There was plenty of space for them all to live, train, and entertain themselves as they worked to track down their target. And it sure seemed like the Foundation was expecting it to take some time, given the amount of stuff stored in this place.
The widows marveled at the facilities, their initial caution giving way to admiration. The underground floors were equipped with state-of-the-art technology, armories stocked with the latest weapons, and luxurious living quarters that seemed out of place for a mission base.
Yelena took charge, organizing the team and assigning tasks. "Alright, let's get settled in. Lerato, start setting up the surveillance systems. Sonya, coordinate with Ingrid and Helen to inventory the equipment and weapons. The rest of us will begin reviewing the data and planning our search strategy."
As the widows dispersed to their tasks, Yelena activated the central command console. The display screens flickered to life, showing maps, satellite images, and various data feeds. She quickly connected to the Foundation's intelligence network, downloading the latest information on SCP-963.
Hours passed as the widows worked tirelessly, familiarizing themselves with their new surroundings and preparing for the mission ahead. The excitement of finally being deployed in the field was tempered by the knowledge of the challenges they faced.
Yelena, who had gone out to explore the surroundings, had also made quite the discovery. Not far from them, there was another clearing that held a quinjet for their own use. Allowing them to freely leave the base to go out to investigate any leads they might find in the future.
Ingrid and Helen also found a large amount of money, both in cash and bank cards, several false identities, everything they needed to disguise themselves, and a number of smaller safe houses around the world for their use.
That evening they all gathered around in the common area of the base, taking a rare moment to relax and bond. It was an opportunity to discuss the mission and other things on their minds.
Yelena leaned back in her chair, looking at the group. "It's strange, isn't it? We're out here looking for an amulet with no idea where it could be. Feels like we're searching for a needle in a haystack."
Sonya nodded, her expression thoughtful. "It is, but that's what we're trained for. Besides, if it were easy, they wouldn't need us."
Ingrid, always the practical one, chimed in. "I just want to know more about this artifact. they were pretty vague about it. Why can't we wear it, and why can't we harm anyone who might have it?"
Lerato shrugged. "Probably some dangerous properties. We just need to follow orders and recover it. No need to complicate things."
Helen, who had been quiet, spoke up. "Do you ever wonder why we're kept in the dark about so much? I get that secrecy is important, but sometimes it feels like we're just pawns in a game we don't understand."
Yelena nodded, her gaze distant. "I think about that a lot. But at the end of the day, we have to trust that what we're doing is for the greater good. The Foundation has its reasons, even if we don't always know what they are."
Agnesa, always the optimist, added, "Well, at least we're not stuck in training anymore. This is our chance to prove ourselves and show what we can do."
Lauren smiled, her Finnish accent adding a melodic lilt to her words. "And we will. We've faced worse odds before. This is just another challenge to overcome."
The conversation continued, touching on lighter topics like favorite training exercises and personal anecdotes. The camaraderie and shared sense of purpose strengthened their resolve. They knew the mission ahead would be difficult, but they were ready to face it together.
A/N
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