A/N: Hey guys! I am SO sorry about the delay in updating! I can't believe how quickly the end of summer has gone by! I tried to post this chapter a few days ago, but for some reason I couldn't log into my account. I don't know what it was, but everything's good now, so here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
In the three jailbreaks he had done, Fitz hadn't killed anyone. He hadn't needed to. He hoped he wouldn't have to kill anyone in this next, big raid. He didn't really want to.
"Sometimes you must kill." Doc said as Fitz chose his gear. "You might have to in this mission."
Archie took him aside after Doc told him this.
"Listen kid. I know you'll do whatever Doc asks, but don't be completely mindless. If you don't wanna kill, use a stun gun or something. It's not as final, but it gets the point across."
"Alright." Fitz said. He was happy to know Archie understood him. Fitz would do whatever Dr. Nast needed him to. He felt obligated to him, though he didn't know why. But he felt like killing was wrong. You didn't need to kill to have power, and power was their goal. At least, that was how Fitz understood it.
He knew there would be many obstacles, so he didn't just carry his signature shield with him. He also strapped a weapon like a gun to his back, a weapon that fired rays to knock out everyone they touched.
"This seems familiar." He murmured as he picked it up.
"Because everyone uses those things. When Whitehall's feeling nice he lets his men use them instead of real guns. Doc found the design and improved it." Archie said. "It has a general feel to it; not too heavy or light." He looked around and whispered to Fitz with a conspiratorial wink, "I hear Whitehall stole the original design from S.H.I.E.L.D. Hit 'em where it hurts, right?"
Fitz nodded, Archie's comments clearing his head. "It'll work."
"That gun you have will do better than work. It'll hit multiple targets at once at a farther distance than your shield, and doesn't need to recharge."
"Then I guess it's perfect."
"Damn right." Archie said, picking up a weapon identical to Fitz's. "Now let's go bust some people out of jail."
Fitz went on autopilot during their jailbreak. He led the force with his shield out, and when they got to the blockade of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents at the doors he pulled out his stun gun, dropping multiple targets at once.
It was exhilarating, but he kept his mind focused. Archie stood immediately behind him, offering encouragement when needed and keeping their men's spirits up as Fitz calculated the best course of action.
There were thirty men imprisoned in the facility. Not all of them would work for HYDRA, but most would. So in the final push for access to the prisoners, Fitz raised his shield above his head and cried "HYDRA!"
His men echoed his cry, and Fitz saw movement start in the cells ahead of them. The loyal prisoners were starting to fight even harder to escape to their HYDRA rescuers. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were quickly overcome by the force led by Fitz, and the prisoners struck out at any guard unlucky enough to step near them. It was over in minutes.
Then Fitz ordered the doors unlocked and thrown open, and instructed Archie to stay behind while their numbers (more than doubled with all the prisoners) streamed out of the facility. He looked up at a surveillance camera and put his shield across his back.
"Hail HYDRA." He said to it.
Archie nodded, and they ran out, back to the buses they had brought with them.
"That was great!" he said once they were driving away.
"I've never felt so powerful." Fitz said. "I thought it would be hard to lead the others, but it's not."
"I knew you had it in you." Archie said. "Never doubted it for a second."
"Thanks." Fitz said.
"Let's just keep up the good work."
"Think the Director will like my message?"
Archie smirked. "I know Doc will."
"We need to see if there's a pattern to the raids." Coulson said.
"With only three sites that'll be pretty hard." Skye said.
"Maybe the pattern is the people they broke out." Jemma said. "All scientists, right?"
Coulson looked at the files projected in front of him and then nodded. "Yes."
"Do they have anything else in common?"
"Other than the fact that they're smart, unstable, and until recently incarcerated?" Skye asked.
"Stay focused." Coulson said, an authoritative tone creeping into his voice. He sighed. "So they're all scientists. Why does HYDRA need more scientists?"
They all thought for a minute.
"I have absolutely no idea." Jemma said.
"We need something new." Skye said.
"Something like an attack on a larger facility?" Coulson asked, looking at his tablet.
Jemma and Skye looked at him, their mouths open.
"There's been another breakout." He said. "All the prisoners are gone."
"So they're not going for scientists anymore." Skye said.
"Now they're just going after people." Jemma said.
"They're building up their ranks." Coulson said. "That's my guess. But why… that's what I still don't have a clue on."
"So what do we do now, sir?" Jemma asked.
"We study up on our holding facilities and plan a stake out." He said. "Let's tell the others what we know."
Skye smiled. "Finally."
Once everyone was gathered in the op center, Coulson pulled up the surveillance video of the attack on the prison facility. They watched with little comment.
"We had more guards than they did people, and they beat us in no time." Trip said.
"It's their super soldier." May said. "He's powerful, and just the fact that he's leading the charge gives the followers more spirit and strength."
Coulson watched the end of the tape again, with the super soldier calmly replacing his shield and pronouncing Hail HYDRA before walking away.
"They're mocking us." He said.
"Could you play that again?" Jemma asked.
Coulson did as requested. Jemma focused on listening. She thought that voice sounded familiar; very familiar, like… Fitz. But she shook her head and pushed the thought away. She was so desperate for a clue as to his whereabouts that she was imagining things.
It was understandable. She was overtired.
She needed sleep.
She hadn't slept well since he had been taken.
Looking around, everyone needed sleep, but most noticeably Director Coulson. Jemma guessed he had been staying up late every night to search for information about Fitz. It sent a burst of affection through her.
"I think HYDRA is recruiting men." Coulson said. "By freeing S.H.I.E.L.D. prisoners, they don't have much convincing to do to turn them HYDRA."
"So what sort of places do you think they might strike next?" Hunter asked.
"The four events have all been within a four hour radius, and there are only two other facilities that close to us. One houses eight people."
"It's pretty safe to bet they won't worry about that one, then, right?" Bobbi asked.
"Unless they want more scientists. We have no idea what their goal is, so I want you, Hunter, and Skye to go there."
"What was the other facility?" Trip asked.
"A penitentiary for very violent people." Coulson said. "I'm going there with May and Trip."
"Is that enough? Someone else should go with you." Bobbi said.
"I want the three of you to cover the smaller one. A smaller facility means that if they strike there, the attack will be well-coordinated, and we have practically no defense. You'll need three people."
"I'll go." Jemma said.
Silence.
"Jemma, you're not -."
"I may not be the best person with a weapon, but I can work technology well enough, and you might need me if someone gets hurt."
"Still -."
"You saw the last video. They needed a doctor. What if the same happens at this penitentiary?" Jemma looked Coulson in the eyes, willing him to understand her need to help. She had to strike out at HYDRA, because they were the ones who took Fitz. She had to do something, even if it didn't directly help him.
"I understand why you want to come, but I don't think it's a good idea." Coulson finally said.
Jemma looked down, breathing in slowly.
"Can you program your drones to attack?" May asked.
Jemma looked back up, startled. "Yes." She said.
"Then I think she should come." She said to Coulson.
They shared a look, and then Coulson nodded. "Alright. We need to assume they'll strike soon, so we'll move out in two hours. That should give us plenty of time to plan our defenses and prepare."
The meeting ended, and Coulson asked Bobbi, Skye, and Jemma to stay behind for a moment.
"Skye, I know May's been training you, but listen to Bobbi's advice." Coulson said. "Bobbi, show her close combat moves. Prepare her."
"I'm ready for this Coulson." Skye said.
"I know." He said, looking at her with complete sincerity. "I just need to make sure."
He didn't say anything else, so they walked out. Coulson turned to Jemma. "I don't want you in the fighting." He said. "I don't even want you in the facility, but I know why you have to be."
"Thank you sir." She said.
"How are you programming the drones?"
"I'm going to equip them with the dendro-toxins we use in the ICERs. Then I can remotely operate them and take down enemies."
"Good. We'll find a place for you to operate them once we get there, as far from the fighting as we can."
She smiled her thanks and then walked out. Coulson silently swore that she would see no direct action; he had to keep everyone else safe. That was why Skye was at the smaller facility. If he could get away with it he would send Jemma there too, but he knew the attack would be on the penitentiary.
Once she was gone Coulson sighed, and a moment later May walked in.
"You really think it's smart to let her come?" he asked with his back turned.
"Bobbi is right about needing another person. Simmons can help if she's focused enough."
"And with Fitz gone, she's found the focus she needs." He said. He turned around. "I just don't like it. I don't like sending Skye to the smaller facility, and she's trained with you. Simmons hasn't had any of that experience."
"We face threats like this all the time." May reminded him.
"I know. It just seems like now they're really hitting close to home."
"That's because they are." May said. "But we need to treat it like any other mission because of that. If we focus on how personal this could be-."
"We'll start to fall apart." Coulson said. He smiled. "I needed that."
"Everything will work out, Phil." She said as she walked out. "Wheels up in two hours."