A/N: Sorry for the long wait! Had a lot to do at school and when that was over there were some other stuff, and after that, well I simply had trouble finding any inspiration. But here's the third chapter for you! I'm feeling a bit uncertain about the story at the moment, so reviews are immensely appreciated! Any sort of response you have is most welcome and will definitely help speed up the next chapter, if you want one.
Chapter 3- First Impressions
They were all standing in the cargo hold, waiting. Fitz jumped a little as the door, situated on the small, concrete square that protruded from the small landing strip they had parked on, opened and a man stepped out. But it was only a lone S.H.I.E.L.D. agent carrying a crate, no prisoner in sight. She brought it up the ramp and to the agents waiting where he carefully put the crate down.
-Agent Coulson? I'm Agent Bell. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agent extended his hand, and Coulson shook it.
-Nice to meet you, he replied.
-This crate contains some biohazardous material that is to be studied at the Sandbox, it is your assignment to get it there unharmed. It is a bit unstable, so it needs to be handled with care, and should be kept at about 5°C at all times.
-Oh! Oh! We can take care of that! Jemma exclaimed, eager to feel useful, and dragged Fitz along to find storage for the crate. Agent Bell gave them a slightly amused look as they shuffled off with the crate.
- And the prisoner? Coulson asked sternly, much less amused. Agent Bell turned to him and said:
- She will arrive shortly. She then gave the rest of the team a short, curt nod, turned around, and left the plane.
- Well, she was… Skye started in a sarcastic voice, but then fell silent. Not even she felt like joking right now.
A few minutes later and FitzSimmons had returned, telling Coulson the crate had been secured. So they all stood in nervous silence, until the door once again opened. This time, it was what they had waited for. She came escorted by six S.H.I.E.L.D. agents so geared up anyone would have mistaken them for a SWAT team. In front of the S.H.I.E.L.D./SWAT team came an agent dressed in a well-tailored suit, walking with an air of importance around him. The prisoner herself was mostly obscured from view, what with being surrounded by tall agents. Jemma and Skye both strained their necks trying to see the new addition to the Bus, but could at most glimpse some messy hair, an arm clad in black and some glistening handcuffs.
- She's quite short, isn't she? Much shorter than I imagined, Jemma whispered quietly in Skye's ear. Meanwhile, Fitz had shrunk back a bit with a frightened look, May and Ward had both straightened up and moved into a slightly protective position in front of the younger members of the team, whilst Coulson had taken a few steps forward to greet the entourage.
- Coulson, said the man in a suit as a manner of greeting as he extended a hand to the mentioned, I'm in charge here at the Casket, Agent Branston, you have probably read my name in reports.
- That I have, of course, Agent Coulson answered.
- Well then, you already have all the information, shall we get this over with? Coulson nodded, and Agent Branston motioned for the team to come up the ramp, which they did. The heavily-armed agents parted, and Coulson, May, Ward, Skye and FitzSimmons had their first good look at the small figure that was the level 9 prisoner. Agent Branston unlocked her restrains and then turned back to Coulson.
- There we go, she is now officially in your care. Good luck. And with that, he rather promptly left the airplane together with the other six agents. Coulson pushed the button to raise the cargo ramp.
- Welcome on board, Coulson said. I'm Agent Coulson, and this is Agent May, Agent Ward, Agent Simmons, Agent Fitz and Agent Skye. The agents in question were all staring intently at the scarred woman in front of them, but she seemed rather uninterested in them- looking around herself without staying her glance at any of them.
- You have a bunk upstairs where you will sleep, and we will show you that and how to get around and then we'll be off. Do you have any questions? The prisoner didn't answer nor looked at him, but continued to look around herself and absentmindedly rub her recently freed wrist. Fitz, a bit ashamed over his earlier cowering, leaned forward to Skye and Jemma and voiced what everyone was thinking;
- Well, she doesn't look too frightening, now does she? Only, he didn't say it quietly enough. For the before so uninterested prisoner suddenly turned her full attention at Fitz, boring into his eyes with an intense stare. He gave a little yelp and jumped backwards, and May and Ward stiffened. The prisoner's now alert eyes quickly assessed the group, and then before anyone could blink, had May pinned up against the wall in a deadly grip. Skye made an angry sound and moved to help her, but Grant stopped her with an arm, carefully watching the two women. The prisoner cocked her head slightly as she looked at May and spoke for the first time.
- So, you're their strongest fighter, huh. You do realise I could kill you in a matter of milliseconds like this? May looked back calmly, not moving a muscle. She was very good at assessing situations, and in this situation it was best to stay put and stay quiet. They stood like that for what felt like minutes for the team, until the prisoner cocked her head to the other side, still looking at May, and said:
-I can find the empty bunk myself. She let May go, turned around and walked up the staircase without a backwards glance. Fitz gulped loudly.
-Perhaps… a tinsy bit frightening, Fitz, Jemma said shakingly, as they all looked at eachother in shock. How were they going to survive having this woman on board for two whole weeks?
