Coulson led the way onto the S.H.I.E.L.D base after flying back with both May and Lucifer. Coulson used his ID badge to get in. "Welcome to the Playground, Lucifer."

Lucifer laughed. "The Playground. That sounds like the setting of a porn film, not a secret base."

Coulson smiled as they walked inside. "We didn't pick the name. Prepare yourself for some attention. Practically everyone hear has learned about you in the academy." The only one that might not recognize him was Skye, since she didn't go to the academy and was still brushing up on S.H.I.E.L.D history.

"I get the feeling he likes attention," May commented.

Lucifer smirked. "Who doesn't?"

Once inside, they were greeted by Billy Koenig. "Welcome back, sir. How was your…?" He trailed off when he got a good look at Lucifer. "That looks like…"

Coulson smiled. "Billy Koenig, Lucifer Morningstar."

Lucifer stuck out his hand for the agent.

Billy enthusiastically shook Lucifer's hand. "Oh, you have no idea how wonderful it is to meet you, sir. I never thought I'd see this day. What, with you being at least ninety something by now. But it's hardly the weirdest thing I've seen while working with S.H.I.E.L.D."

Lucifer snorted as finally extracted his hand from the eager agent. "Indeed."

"I will get started on your lanyard right away," Billy said.

"My what?" Lucifer asked before he focused on the ID card with the S.H.I.E.L.D logo around the man's neck. "Oh, absolutely not. The Devil would not be caught dead wearing something like that."

Coulson chuckled. "You don't have to wear it, but you do need an ID recognizing you as a S.H.I.E.L.D agent to get in. Come on, I'll introduce you to the rest of the team, which I'm sorry to say isn't much."

Lucifer wordlessly followed the two other agents.

"Our numbers are very few since HYDRA revealed themselves. We're trying to get the true S.H.I.E.L.D agents to return, but we're not having much luck," Coulson explained as they walked.

"Why on Earth would you do that?" Lucifer asked as if it were ludicrous.

Coulson and May both stopped to look at Lucifer as if what he'd just asked them made absolutely no sense.

"Anyone who worked for S.H.I.E.L.D previously is suspect. You don't know if you can trust any of them. I assume you don't want another infiltration on your hands," Lucifer said.

"We're being careful about who we talk to and what we tell them. We're only even approaching those we're pretty sure we can trust," Coulson said.

"I imagine that at one time, you thought you could trust all of them. Did you believe your comrades would turn on you? Did you think one of your own subordinates would be a mole?" Lucifer asked.

"He has a point," May said. She was always nervous about recruiting former S.H.I.E.L.D agents to come back. Any of them could end up being traitors. She just didn't see any other option if they were going to rebuild S.H.I.E.L.D

"I know, but we don't have much choice," Coulson said.

"Yes, you do. Recruit new agents. Aside from the few you already have, that I'm sure you've vetted thoroughly, don't hire anymore actual S.H.I.E.L.D agents. Make sure that there is no possible way for infiltration," Lucifer said.

"I think Fury sort of suggested the same thing," May told Coulson.

"I know, but it would take too long. Can you even imagine how long it would take to recruit, vet, and train so many new agents?" Coulson asked.

"Oh, I have no need to imagine," Lucifer said. He'd been recruited when S.H.I.E.L.D had barely begun. He vetted and trained new agents alongside Peggy Carter and Daniel Sousa. It was a new form of torture he was glad to say he hadn't been subjected to since then. "While I have no desire to live through such torture again, it may be the only way to ensure S.H.I.E.L.D succeeds."

"Fury did say to take our time," May reminded Coulson.

"I know, but with HYDRA on the loose, we don't have time. Who knows the amount of damage they could do while we're recruiting?" Coulson asked.

"Not nearly as much as they could if they infiltrate again. They've proven that, haven't they?" Lucifer asked.

Coulson sighed. He could definitely see that logic. He wanted to speed the process up, but doing so could just bring them full circle down the road. S.H.I.E.L.D likely wouldn't survive another infiltration. Hell, it hadn't exactly survived this time. They were forced to work in secret because they were blamed for everything HYDRA had done. "Okay, you may be right. I will definitely consider it. I don't want to see what just happened repeated. In the meantime, let me show you around and introduce you to the others. Everyone here is loyal to S.H.I.E.L.D."

"You're sure?" Lucifer asked Coulson. Even if he was sure, Lucifer intended to vet every one of them himself. He could get information they couldn't.

"Yes. They've all fought to stop HYDRA when it took over. I also have some other agents that I've already recruited. I've investigated them thoroughly and I trust them. You can feel free to talk to them as well," Coulson said as they began walking again. He assumed Lucifer would want to interrogate all his people to ascertain their loyalty, and Coulson was fine with it. They all needed to be able to trust each other in order to work together.

"I will take you up on that," Lucifer said.

On their way, they ran into Trip, who was carrying some files, and subsequently dropped them when his eyes landed on Lucifer. His eyes also looked like they were going to bug out of his head. "Is that…?"

Coulson chuckled. "Agent Triplett, meet Lucifer Morningstar, S.H.I.E.L.D'S new, and former, agent."

"No way! It's his grandson or something, right?" Trip asked in disbelief.

"I beg your pardon. I would never produce a spawn. They're little monsters," Lucifer said.

"It's really him, Trip. I'm surprised Simmons didn't tell you," Coulson said. He would've thought that she would've gushed to everyone that Lucifer Morningstar was still alive, and that he was joining S.H.I.E.L.D. Then again, she might have kept it a secret to see their faces when they saw Lucifer.

"How is this possible?" Trip asked.

"How is anything we've seen possible?" Coulson asked, only joking a little bit.

Trip stuck his hand out for Lucifer to shake. "It's great to meet you. You have no idea how great it is."

Lucifer shook his head. "You as well."

"Lucifer's coming back to S.H.I.E.L.D. He'll probably want to ask you some questions later. Unsurprisingly, he's less than trustful of S.H.I.E.L.D agents after learning of HYDRA's infiltration. I want you to cooperate with him," Coulson said.

"Yeah, sure," Trip said before bending over to pick up the files he dropped. He could understand distrust. They all had quite a bit of it after what happened. People they'd all considered friends had turned out to be enemies.

The three of them continued on their way. Coulson led them into the lab, where they found Simmons, Fitz, and Skye.

"Hey, you guys are back," Skye said when she saw them.

"Whoa!" Fitz said as he stared at Lucifer.

Simmons was grinning from ear to ear as she approached. She immediately took Lucifer Morningstar's hand. "It's such an honor to meet you, sir. I'm Jemma Simmons. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the work you did for S.H.I.E.L.D. You were wonderful. We're very lucky to have you back."

Lucifer smiled at the young woman. "Well, thank you, Darling. It's nice to hear such appreciation from the Devil for a change." He couldn't deny enjoying the praise he received the moment he stepped foot on base. He wasn't used to hearing such praise. It was usually the other way around. Most had disdain for him. Well, for the Devil anyway, which was the same thing."

"Wait, who is this guy?" Skye asked. Simmons was acting like he was a celebrity and Fitz also seemed to be in awe over him. From what Simmons said, he had something to do with S.H.I.E.L.D.

"How can you not know who is?" Fitz asked in disbelief.

"Yes, you really must brush up on your S.H.I.E.L.D history. This is Lucifer Morningstar. He was Peggy Carter's first partner, before Daniel Sousa. He wasn't with S.H.I.E.L.D for more than a few years, but he made his mark," Simmons gushed.

"Yeah. He founded the… the…" Fitz trailed off as he tried to remember the word he was looking for. He forgot a lot of things after nearly drowning because of Ward.

"The Academy," Simmons finished for him.

"Yes, I was going to say that!" Fitz snapped before walking away.

"Please don't mind Fitz. He was hurt very badly recently, and has trouble with his brain. Its left him very frustrated," Simmons told Lucifer.

"HYDRA?" Lucifer asked.

Coulson nodded. The HYDRA operative that infiltrated our team is responsible."

"You actually founded the S.H.I.E.L.D Academy?" Skye asked in disbelief.

"The idea of it anyway. I figured it wasn't a good idea to just let anyone become agents with no training. There a lot of idiotic humans in the world," Lucifer said.

"How do you still look the way you do. At the very least, you'd be in your mid-nineties," Skye said. She had seen some crazy things, but a guy who didn't age was new for her.

"I assure you, darling, I'm much older than that. I'm the Devil," Lucifer said with a grin.

"Sure," Skye said sarcastically.

"Let's just say he's got a gift. Anyway, Lucifer, let me show you the rest of the base and then I'll show you where you'll be sleeping," Coulson said.

"Excellent, so long as that tour includes a bar," Lucifer said as he followed Coulson.