005. Life Basically Depends on Luck

The elevator doors slid open.

Black Widow exhaled sharply, stepping out first. Jiang Chen followed, still trying to make sense of the situation. If it weren't for this mission, Black Widow thought, I'd make sure Jiang Chen learned what a real guillotine feels like.

As they stepped out of the elevator, Jiang Chen spotted a glass door up ahead. Through it, he could see a passage lined with an intricate web of laser beams. Some kind of high-tech security system, no doubt.

Next to the glass door was a small black box.

Black Widow gave the box a quick glance, scoffing as she spoke into her communicator. "I expected something more sophisticated. It's just a combination lock."

"How long will it take to crack it?" she asked, her tone sharp.

A flurry of keystrokes came through the communicator, followed by the voice of the technician. "Actually, this isn't your standard lock. It's more advanced than anything I've seen before. The programming is incredibly complex. This combination lock has its own sort of AI... like, it thinks. Does that make sense?"

Black Widow's brow furrowed. "Get to the point."

"I need more time," the technician admitted. "This thing's no joke."

"Time's not a luxury we have," Black Widow snapped, her frustration barely contained. "We've got five minutes."

"I just need a few more seconds... DAMN, this lock is impossible," came the exasperated reply.

Jiang Chen stood back, taking it all in. So this is what a real SHIELD mission looks like, he mused. As a fan of superhero movies, he had a pretty good idea of Black Widow's skillset. If she'd been sent in, it meant this mission was no walk in the park.

"Thirty seconds," Black Widow said, her voice cold. "If you can't crack it, I'll blow the lock."

The technician's voice came through again, sounding defeated. "It might be our only option."

Black Widow silently began counting down in her head: 30, 29, 28...

Jiang Chen, sensing the tension, glanced at her. Blow the door? His mind raced. Wouldn't that trigger the security system? And if that happens, we'll be in for a serious fight.

Although Jiang Chen had his good luck system, he wasn't sure how well it would work in combat situations. Better not risk it.

"Uh, Widow... er, I mean, Natalie," Jiang Chen stammered. "Why don't you let me give it a shot?"

Black Widow turned to him, eyebrow raised. This guy knows my name? She didn't have time to ask questions.

"You?" she asked, incredulous. "You know about SHIELD, right? If our best agents can't crack it, what makes you think you can?"

Jiang Chen grinned. "What if I can?"

With a skeptical look, Black Widow crossed her arms. "Go ahead," she said, stepping aside, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

From the communicator came a hurried protest: "He can't! If he enters the wrong code, the entire alarm system will be triggered!"

Black Widow interrupted, her patience gone. "The result of blowing the door and getting the code wrong is the same. Let him try."

Jiang Chen stepped forward, trying to keep his calm façade. Inside, his heart was pounding. Alright, here goes nothing.

He muttered under his breath: "Lady Luck, Athena, anyone... please help me out here."

With zero understanding of the mechanics, Jiang Chen started pressing buttons at random. The glass door remained stubbornly shut, and a long two seconds passed with no reaction.

Black Widow smirked. "Nice try. Your show's over."

She pulled him back, reaching into her suit for a spherical device, ready to blow the door open. But just as she was about to throw it, a voice filled the air:

"Password entered successfully. Opening."

The glass door slid open smoothly.

Jiang Chen let out a long breath of relief. Holy crap, that was close!

He turned to see Black Widow staring at him, stunned. Her expression was a mix of shock and suspicion.

"How did you open it?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

Jiang Chen chuckled sheepishly. "Honestly? I was just guessing."

From the communicator, a voice erupted in disbelief: "WHAT?! We've used every decryption method known to man, and he says he was just guessing?!"