Not far from Patch's modest apartment, a black off-road vehicle slowly came to a stop, the tinted windows concealing the occupants from anyone outside.
"Melinda, May," the white man sitting in the driver's seat called out to the woman beside him, a slightly older Asian woman.
The woman, Melinda May, seemed distant and distracted. It took a second call from the man before she snapped out of her daze. She turned toward him and asked, "What's wrong, Coulson?"
"May," the man, Agent Phil Coulson, said gently, "you don't seem fit for this mission. Maybe we should rest for a bit."
"Anyone pulled from vacation duty is bound to be a little off," Melinda muttered, though there was no mistaking the fatigue in her voice. She glanced at Coulson again and asked, "What's your take on this?"
Coulson smiled awkwardly but didn't answer immediately. He knew that the real reason Melinda wasn't in top form wasn't just because she was recalled from a rare break. It was something much deeper, something that had affected her more than she was willing to admit.
Choosing not to probe, Coulson opted for silence, not wanting to stir up memories that were best left untouched.
"Sometimes, you're just too boring, Coulson," Melinda said with a small shake of her head before clapping her hands together. "Alright, I'm good now. Let's get on with it."
She then turned her attention back to him. "By the way, Coulson, what's this mission about?"
"A negotiation with someone… special," Coulson replied, handing her a folder with a red cover.
Melinda took the folder and opened it, scanning the contents as she muttered under her breath. "Patch Meiwes… Level-5 authority. That is special."
She read further, her eyes narrowing as she read aloud, "Born to unknown parents and abandoned shortly after birth, Patch was taken in by a woman named Sister Meiwes and raised in the Paramount Orphanage. Didn't speak his first words until he was three. Before that, he was even considered intellectually disabled."
Melinda paused, looking at Coulson. "So, what's his connection to the mission?"
"Ah…" Patch, who was preparing for a major event in the outskirts of New York City, rubbed his nose absentmindedly, thinking, Who mentioned my name?
After a brief pause, Melinda continued reading: "But after that, Patch Meiwes demonstrated exceptional talent. By the age of fifteen, he had taught himself biology, electronics, mechanics, and other related fields of study. He even earned a Ph.D. in biology from Harvard University."
"I left the Paramount Orphanage when I turned sixteen and became an official adult. Now, I live in a rented apartment at 198 Thirteenth Street in New York and work for Hammer Industries."
"Two months after Patch Meiwes moved to Thirteenth Street, the neighborhood's crime rate dropped dramatically. Soon after, a figure known only as 'The Cloak' appeared. This person's presence was said to have brought the transformation about, and now, Thirteenth Street is considered a no-go zone for New York's street gangs and criminals."
"Oh? So, from this, it seems that Patch Meiwes has something to do with the 'Cloak.' Even if it's not him directly, he's likely involved or connected in some way," Melinda mused aloud.
She couldn't help but ask, "Coulson, I get that Patch Meiwes and the 'Cloak' are capable, but shouldn't we, as senior agents, handle this mission ourselves?"
After thinking for a moment, Melinda added, "And honestly, the 'Cloak' title doesn't exactly inspire much fear."
If Patch were there to hear this, he would probably grab Melinda's hand in excitement, shouting, "Finally! A kindred spirit!"
Though, realistically, before he could even attempt that, he would likely be knocked flat to the ground by her.
After all, Melinda May was known across S.H.I.E.L.D. as one of its fiercest and most formidable combat agents. Her reputation for cold precision was evident even in the silent tension of the car ride.
At just seven years old, Melinda May was recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D. by Peggy Carter, one of its founding members, due to her extraordinary combat abilities and intellect. Anyone who dared to call her out directly with any form of disrespect would find themselves quickly and painfully subdued—Melinda didn't hesitate to put people in their place.
And standing beside Melinda was no slouch either. Coulson, as one of Nick Fury's most trusted right-hand men, was a seasoned agent, admired by many. Eventually, Coulson would step into Nick Fury's shoes and take on the mantle of Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., which only added to his credibility and leadership standing within the organization.
---
In Melinda's mind, the 'Cloak' wasn't that impressive. The criminals in New York were hardly even real organized gangs. At best, they were little more than street-level troublemakers—just more organized than your typical thugs. And the 'Cloak,' as it stood, didn't exactly strike her as someone who could do much to stop them. But something was off, and she knew better than to dismiss anything at face value.
Even a retired U.S. military veteran, fully prepared, could still make things difficult for them.
To borrow a line from Patch's past life, Melinda might have said: "I can do it if I really try."
As for Patch Meiwes, the orphan boy who taught himself biology, electronics, and mechanics—though Melinda acknowledged his talent, she considered it rather limited.
Inside S.H.I.E.L.D., there were countless cutting-edge talents like Patch, and many geniuses far more extraordinary than him. Melinda had seen enough of these individuals, so she wasn't impressed.
Faced with Melinda's sarcasm, Coulson just smiled quietly, then said, "Let's keep reading…"
"Alright."
Though Melinda remained indifferent, she couldn't help but think that Director Nick Fury, of all people, wouldn't waste time worrying about a neighborhood vigilante or a temporary employee at Hammer Industries. There had to be something about these two—whether it was just one person or both—that made them stand out in ways she hadn't figured out yet.
Shaking her head in slight frustration, Melinda continued reading.
"It's unremarkable. Nothing special," Melinda said as she glanced at Coulson. "Leaving the orphanage at sixteen, he rented a place on Thirteenth Street. He's had a few run-ins with the law, and his social security and tax records are in order. He's a model New York citizen."
"If it weren't for the 'Cloak Man,' there's no reason we'd be interested in him, right?"
"Correct," Coulson replied, then added, "A typical hidden case. A young man with special abilities and a strong sense of justice. Unfortunately, he didn't hide deep enough, and we've recently uncovered some of his activities."
If Patch were present, he'd probably throw his hands up in frustration at Coulson and say, "I'm not some idealistic crusader with a sense of justice. I'm just broke, and you think I'm spending my time helping the NYPD just to reduce their workload as some kind of neighborhood vigilante?"
But of course, Coulson, the senior S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, would never agree.