A/N: I do not condone the use of racial slurs, epithets or insults. They are included in this chapter solely to show the era.
"This ship is now the property of the Strategic Scientific Reserve" a blond man aimed a pistol at them. Behind him were a few dozen similarly suited men, also with weaponry trained on the SHIELD agents.
"You forgot to cloak this thing" Daisy shouted back at Mack, still piloting.
"Everybody out!" Director Jack Thompson motioned with his pistol, "All of you. Now!"
The SHIELD agents looked from one to another Piper and Daisy were dressed appropriately enough, but everyone else, including Deke, especially Mack and Yo Yo, looked out of place for the late 1940s.
"Boys, get this crate covered up and taken back to HQ, pronto!" Thompson directed the SSR agents.
"Jackson, get some cuffs on all of them, especially this big boy over here" he indicated Mack.
Mack didn't care to be called "boy", of course because of the history behind such epithets.
"Excuse me," Jemma began, "We're actually looking for one of your agents"
"Zip it, Missy" Thompson held up a hand, thankfully not the one holding the pistol, "you sound like Marge, and I don't feel like talking with anyone who even remotely reminds me of her"
The SHIELD agents looked on in dismay as the SSR agents boarded the Zephyr, touched everything in view, and then proceeded to cover the entire ship with tarpaulins.
The SSR agents then pushed the SHIELD agents into a covered truck and slammed the doors shut.
"Get a load of the baldy baby" one SSR agent mocked Enoch
"Don't forget the chink" another agent threw out a derogatory epithet against May, "and what's that straight shooter doing with them?" he referenced LMD Coulson, who sat placidly in the truck.
"I remember why I hated this time" Melinda May frowned, "racism all around"
"As opposed to racism that's thinly veiled?" Daisy sighed
"Everyone banded together in the future" Deke mused aloud, "the Kree was the real enemy, not each other"
"That is a valid point" Enoch noted
"Maybe" Daisy grumbled, but nodded at Deke, "but yeah, we should band together" she smiled at him.
"One thing's for certain" Mack instructed the group, "if they're taking us to the SSR, they'll eventually take us to Peggy Carter"
"They could" May countered, "or they could just take us to a secluded place and kill us"
"Sure" Daisy was sarcastic, "like Tahiti"
"They won't do that, May" LMD Coulson spoke up, suddenly sounding human
"What did you just say?" May turned to him
"This is the SSR. They're the precursors to SHIELD. If Peggy Carter's there, then she'll find a way to make things work out"
"Does anyone else see this?" May glared at the group
"It would seem" Enoch began, "that the mention of that place, which I shall not mention again, has as it were, self-corrected something within this design model"
"Great" Deke grinned, "It'll be like having him back again"
"Something like that" Mack seemed unsure.
"Enough talking" Yo yo frowned, "Let's bust out of here and not wait for anyone to even think about killing us" she got up and headed to the truck's back doors.
"No" Mack warned, "we need to get to Peggy Carter"
"You get to Peggy Carter" she glared back at him, "I'm sick of being caged like some wild animal" she broke the lock on the back doors and flung them open, "Who's with me?"
Diasy leapt out of the truck, as did May. Predictably, LMD Coulson and Deke jumped out behind them.
Mack stood and grabbed Yo Yo's arm before she could leave
"What are you doing?" he shook his head,
"Don't you dare tell me what to do" her eyes threw daggers at him.
"Trust me, please"
"You saw how they treated anyone who's not lily white" she was firm. "What makes you think they'll treat either of us any better? Have you seen yourself in the mirror?"
Mack knew exactly what she meant. African Americans, people of Spanish, Mexican or other Latin American descent, let alone other minorities, were treated poorly in the late 1940s. Desegregation was unheard of now, and wouldn't be a law for about another ten years.
"Look at it this way" he pleaded with her, "We'll be safer in SHIELD- I mean, SSR custody than out there on the streets.
"Fine" she sighed, "I do trust you, more than you know, but I still feel that this is a mistake"
Deke ran after Daisy, "Wait for me"
"Ok" she stopped and turned to him, "when making an escape, don't shout!" she scolded him
"Alright"
"We need to do something about these clothes" May looked at her own black shirt and pants, as well as Deke's outfit. Neither looked very in step with the time period.
"Let's split up" Daisy suggested, and spied a clothing store across the street.
A quarter of an hour later, Deke and LMD Coulson emerged from the men's section, Deke dressed in a white shirt, baggy pants and suspenders. A driving beret was perched jauntily on his head.
May wore a printed dress like Daisy's and carried a larger than average purse
"Wow May" LMD Coulson beamed, "You look great" he smiled
May didn't know how to respond. The machine was seeming more and more human as time went on.
"We've got to get somewhere to hide" Daisy cautioned, "unless the Chronicoms find us, or the SSR guys"
"Hey, there's a movie theatre!" Deke pointed like a child.
"Good idea" Daisy agreed, "Let's go"