A Fresh Start

"A Fresh Start?" Laughed Special Agent Grant Ward comically, "You must be insane!"

The agent outside his cell smiled, "What do you have to lose?"

Two Hydra agents stuck under an abandoned bus stop. There was no way they were just walking away from this encounter.

"Why, Jerry?" Asked Ward.

"Because we're friends," Grant laughed, but his companion insisted, "You know why I joined Hydra? To belong to something, someone. And unfortunately, the job requires us to lose a lot of someones we care about. And you're my last. I'll clean out your brain, and send you on your way."

Grant laughed, "How is this a favor?"

"Let me ask you a question," replied Jerry, "Is there anything you can do to change yourself? I mean, really; what kind of person would you be if you were anyone? The fact is, the way you see life is the way you'll always see life; full of death and destruction," He gave his friend another smile, "But I can remove you from the game."

Grant sat and thought for a moment, "...and Skye?"

"We both know she'll never forgive you for this," Said Jerry, "Now... do we have a deal?"

Ward thought for a moment. It was either this, or sit in a S.H.I.E.L.D. prison for the rest of his life, "Okay... deal," They shook hands, "I have one question for you; how'd you find me?"

Jerry shook his head, "I just need you to sign on the dotted line..."

(...)

"Did he take it?"

Jerry nodded his head, "Oh yeah."

"Good," Phil Coulson stared into the room as Grant howled in pain, "How long until he starts homing in on Hydra?"

"The subconscious is a mysterious thing- you should know that better than anyone," Jerry took a stick of gum out of his pocket, "...you're sure he'll do it?"

"I did," Said Coulson, "Ward will last, maybe, a month before he starts to notice there's more to life than what he was told. After that, he'll seek out Hydra, and they'll be forced to drag him in. Ever see Total Recall?"

"Unfortunately yes," Jerry said bitterly, "I can't believe Arnold did a better job than-"

"Not the point," Said Coulson, "He'll," He pointed to Ward, "Look for answers. It's what we do?"

"We?"

The director looked on in sadness, "Victims."

"You got his consent..."

"...yes, but Hydra or S.H.I.E.L.D., you cannot argue what we're doing to him is right."

Jerry nodded, "...he's evil!"

"And we're not?"

Inside, Special Agent Grant Ward became Gary Wilds. For the time being anyway.