"I could get use to this, people. It's like Siri, if it worked."
She tells Melinda as she walks away from Qasim and his translator, taking a sip of the drink she picked up earlier. So far, everything is running smoothly, and Skye starts to think this can work out.
"Well, well, well. Look who we have hear."
A female voice speaks up from behind her, making Skye freeze up as she recognises the voice. Slowly turning around, her eyes lands on the last person she thought she would meet. But, speaking with the woman earlier wasn't enough.
Standing face to face with Pepper Pots, Skye realises she just jinxed everything. Realising having Pepper and Stark at the party, will create a lot of problem, mainly if Stark were to end up face to face with Coulson.
Realising she has no other option, Skye opens her bag and pulls out her phone, quickly writing a message on it.
"Pepper Pots."
She says, mainly to inform Melinda who she just meets. She also holds up her phone, with the message: Act as you only know me as a hacker you and Stark found out have hacked his system. I have S.H.I.E.L.D in my ear.
Seeing how Pepper reads the message, she nods her head, signalling she understand.
"What is a hacker doing here?"
Pepper asks, making Skye let out a sigh of relief. Looking at the woman in front of her, she can see that Pepper is looking worried and Skye can understand that.
"I was invited. Is it just you or is Mr Stark here to?"
Skye decides to ask, not sure she wants him there or not.
"He's here somewhere."
Pepper answer and Skye knows she should have known. Pepper doesn't go to things like this without having Stark around, mostly so she can keep an eye on him. He has a habit of making bad decisions after all.
"Skye, stall them as much as possible. I'm going to contact Coulson to see what he wants to do."
Melinda informs Skye in her ear, Skye managing to stop herself from nodding her head as an answer. Seeing that Pepper has located Stark, waving her hand for him to walk over. Skye grows to wonder what she is about to do.
The moment Stark's eyes lands on Skye, she can see he is about to call out her name. But Pepper is faster, moving in front of him and managed to keep him silent. Seeing how Pepper speaks to him in a very low voice, Skye relaxes.
Starks happy face turns serious as he walks over to her, Pepper by his side this time around. Stark nods his head in a greeting, this being the only recognition that he knows who she is.
"Oh, look. If it isn't my favourite hacker, or not. What are you doing in a place like this?"
Stark says instead and Skye can't help but to roll her eyes at this, could this man be more obvious that something is wrong.
"Skye, listen carefully. You are allowed to tell them why you are there and try and get Stark to help you. This way we won't risk anything that can get the rest of the team in danger. You are however not allowed to tell them Coulson is alive."
Melinda's voice reaches her ear once more and Skye is happy that she didn't seem to realise that something is up with Stark. Looking around herself, she grabs hold of Stark and Pepper and starts to pull them wither her, finding a more secluded spot.
"Okay, listen. About a week ago, a mobile S.H.I.E.L.D unit picked me up. I'm currently helping them as a consultant. This is why I'm here today. Earlier today, Quinn managed to kidnap a priority red asset, a Canadian physicist by the name of Dr Franklin Hall."
Skye starts to explain, making a small break to take a deep breath. Giving Stark and Pepper a few seconds to let what she already told them sink in.
"Since Quinn decided to hide the Dr here, it creates a big problem for S.H.I.E.L.D. If S.H.I.E.L.D were to enter Malta, the agents will be shoot on sight, legally for some reason. They needed a man on the inside and since I'm not a S.H.I.E.L.D agent, it was easy to send me."
She can see worry and concern in Stark and Pepper's eyes at this information.
"However..."
She quickly adds before has a chance to interrupt her.
"Maybe you could help me out instead Stark. You are already past the 20-foot-high neodymium laser grid that surrounds the area, and you are a consultant for S.H.I.E.L.D too. And then there is the fact that you are an Avenger, you will be able to handle yourself without a problem. Because I presume you took your suit with you, right?"
Skye finish explaining, keeping her eyes on Stark. She can see how he is thinking it all over, worry that he might say no, Skye starts to come up with other ways to get him to help or find out another way to get Coulson and Ward through the fence.
"I'm in."
Stark says after a minute of silence, making Skye let out a sigh of relief.
"I knew there was something going on here tonight, I just couldn't figure just what it was. Now, what was the plan?"
He then adds, making Skye smile slightly. Things was starting to look bright once more.
"The plan itself is quite easy, I was to enter the party, find a computer with a signal that the team on the outside could use to reboot the 20-foot-high neodymium laser fencing so a two-man team can enter the cave system to reach Dr Hall."
Skye starts to explain, opening the bag once more to pull out the compact.
"This is the device I was sent to use, but since you are already inside of the lacer fence, we might not need it for more than a distraction."
Skye explains as she opens the compact to show how it works when she realises something.
"You never answer me if you have your suit with you."
She adds, the big smile Stark gives her at this makes Skye rolls her eyes and she can see she isn't the only one.
"He never goes anywhere without it."
Pepper points out and Skye nods her head.
"So, I guess I'll just act as if there is a two men team waiting to be let in."
"Pepper, get out of here and make sure Happy is ready with the car."
Stark orders Pepper who nods her head before he turns his attention towards Skye once more.
"Once you get a signal on that thing, you drop it and walks out. Join Pepper and Happy and they will take you to a safe location until all of this is over."
Stark tells her, his eyes narrowed, and Skye can see there is no way out of this. She would ask why all of this, but she still has S.H.I.E.L.D in her ear.
"Once more, green, drop, walk... pie."
Skye repeats what she told Simmons earlier that day. Seeing how Stark nods his head, Skye places the compact in her bag once more. Just in time to see Quinn walking towards them.
-X-X-X-X-
Dropping the earpiece in the champagne glass she took when she arrived, she hopes Melinda and Coulson will forgive her for this. Leaning back in the couch in Quinn's office, she looks at the man.
"Much better. Haven't felt that 'someone's watching my every move' feeling since I failed my driver's test."
Skye tells him, trying to play as cool as possible.
"You want to tell me what the hell's going on? S.H.I.E.L.D got to you?"
"They picked me up in L.A., I helped them in a crisis, and now they want to recruit me."
Skye tells him, shrugging slightly. It wasn't much of a lie, Coulson wanted to recruit her, and she did say yes after all.
"Of course, they did."
Quinn replies with a roll of his eyes.
"So, I played along. Talk about inside info... I have a bunk on their plane. I've been gathering intel, biding my time until I could become useful. I thought this qualified."
"Why would they trust you with a covert operation like this?"
"Something about S.H.I.E.L.D not breaking international laws. They had no other options, whereas I like to keep mine open."
Skye explains, keeping her eyes on Quinn as he moves around.
"You're saying they wanted to rope me in because I pose a genuine threat."
Skye then adds, knowing what Quinn is trying to do. All she must do now is remembering what her siblings has told her so many times over, she has nothing to doubt.
"Yes, and it fits their profile."
"Profile?"
"Sure. You're a criminal. You have a warrant somewhere."
Skye couldn't deny that part.
"Probably."
"Specialized skill set."
"I try to stay humble but fail."
"No family."
This makes Skye look down, without being able to stop herself.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit a nerve, but that is what these people do. S.H.I.E.L.D... they prey on fear and loneliness and desperation, and they offer a home to these who have no one else to turn to. I can offer you something better."
Quinn continues to explain, Skye keeps looking down. He was right on a few thins about S.H.I.E.L.D, but far of on a few other things. Knowing he is saying all this to make her question the organisation that has been in her life since she was young.
"You stay with us, there's no secrets, no lies, and no agenda. You're free to do what you do without big brother watching over you. But first, you have to tell me exactly what agenda S.H.I.E.L.D sent you in here with."
Quinn continues to speak, and Skye looks up.
"Well, they wanted me to do whatever it takes to get I here."
Skye tells him, reaching for her and takes out the compact. Opening it, she acts as if she is checking her make-up. In reality she is checking the connection.
"Get in here and...?"
Quinn asks, seeing that the signal turns green. Skye smiles and places the compact on the table.
"Bat my eyes. Get you talking."
She tells him, hopping that Stark has found his way and that she will be able to get out of this as quickly as possible.
"No, you can't be the only angle. S.H.I.E.L.D's thorough enough to know about me and my exploits. It takes more than a pretty face to disarm me."
Quinn says as he starts walking around once more. The door to his office slams opens as a guard enters the room.
"Sir, we have a security breach."
The guard informs Quinn who turns towards the table to look at the compact. Skye lets out a laugh.
"Oh, the timing on that was perfect."
She says, happy that things are going well. Only to lose the smile as Quinn grabs the compact, breaks it before pulling the guards gun and points it towards her. Grabbing hold of her, Quinn pulls her from the couch to push her up against the wall.
"Don't you get it? S.H.I.E.L.D's against everything you stand for. They're big brother."
Skye must agree, she's a better actor than she would give credit for. Since everyone seems to think she is the hacker she's been playing. Natasha will be so proud.
"They might be big brother, but they are not the one here. Sure, the plan was that a two-man team would get through the laser fencing in the three seconds it takes for it to reboot and head for the cave leading to where you are keeping Dr Hall. But you gave us something so much better."
Skye tells him, smiling big as she adapts Natasha's style.
"Letting me and Stark into the same party, now that was a very stupid decision."
Skye adds before grabbing the gun from Quinn, just as quickly as she had done on Melinda earlier, turning the gun to point it towards Quinn. The man takes a step back, eyes growing in surprise in the sudden change.
"Don't listen to everything you hear about people. I might be with big brother, but they aren't the one that have taught me what I know."
She tells him, her smile growing larger.
"Kid's got balls."
One of the guards says and Skye rolls her eyes.
"Thanks, but… yuck."
"But do you have what it takes to pull the trigger?"
Quinn asks and Skye looks down at the gun. She could easily pull the trigger, but Clint and Natasha told her that if there is any other way out, she should take it. They don't want her to go through with pulling the trigger. And Quinn never closed the doors to his balcony and there was a pool just below, which is a perfect escape for her.
"Nope."
She says, turning quickly and runs out of the room. Pushing herself to run faster, she jumps over the railing and lands in the water below. She can hear shouting behind her, and she quickly makes sure to get out of the pool and heads for the meeting point. Only to stumble when the ground starts to shake.
"Oh, Stark what are you doing?"
She asks herself, pushing onwards. Swiftly moving past the now scared guests of the party, Skye's eyes lands on a car at the front gate, Pepper standing at the door opening, looking just as worried as Skye feels. Reaching Pepper, she nods her head for the car and Skye swiftly enters it, Pepper following her.
"Get us out of her, quickly Happy."
Pepper says the moment she closes the car door.