Awakening Quake
By Misha

Disclaimer and Notes in Chapter One.

A.N- Sorry for the delay, the last few weeks have been crazy with end of semester work. I'm taking summer courses, so updates will be scarce until July and then I begin my life as a Stay-at-Home mom. I've also started the companion story to "So You're the One", it's called "Nice to Meet You" and it's posted here. The other reason this chapter took so long to write was that I was a bit stuck, I didn't love the last chapter and was trying to figure out where to go with this one. The action stuff is still tricky for me.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Mission

"Cool Breezes Inn and Spa is a high class women-only resort," Natasha told the group of women as they prepared to depart for their mission, "but it's also a HYDRA front. They use it as a clandestine way to pass on information."

"What's our goal?" May asked.

"Hopefully intercept some of that information." Natasha answered. "The more information that we can get HYDRA, the better equipped we are to fight them." She looked at May and Bobbi. "Our agreement with S.H.I.E.L.D is that in return for your participation on this mission, we'll share the intel."

That was the part that some of the Avengers had had a real problem with and the compromise was that S.H.I.E.L.D would get raw data, they'd have to decode it on their own.

"We're going in as a wedding party having a pre-wedding girl's weekend," Skye explained, "Bobbi's our bride and the rest of us are her bridesmaids."

Bobbi was not actually wearing her own engagement ring, because it had been decided that since Cool Breezes catered to an upscale clientele, the ring had to be appropriately ostentatious. So Tony had provided one.

"Tasha got information that a group of female HYDRA agents are poised to arrive at the spa," Skye informed the S.H.I.E.L.D agents, "this obviously means that they are going to be picking up information. We want to intercept that information. The problem? We really don't know what or who we're looking for."

Jemma looked concerned. "But then how do we do the mission?"

"We observe everything." May told her, she looked at Skye. "And I assume you have a plan to hack into their information system?"

"Not yet, but I'll figure it out once I have an idea of what I'm looking at." Skye confirmed, she turned to Jemma. "May's right. We observe everything and pick up on body language cues. This is where you and I are the novices, everyone else has year of field experience though and they know what to look for."

She was learning quickly and she'd had great teachers, but at the same time she'd been doing this for less than two years. She didn't have the skills that came with years of experience. At least not yet and she was willing to admit it.

"Don't underestimate yourself." May told her. "There have been many times where your lack of formal training has given you the perspective needed to complete the mission."

Compliments from May were rare and Skye fought the urge to blush. She'd come a long way since joining S.H.I.E.L.D but May's approval still meant a lot to her. While the older woman was no longer was her SO, she would always be someone Skye admired and strived to emulate.

"Let's go," Natasha said after a moment, "the spa awaits us."

"Welcome to Cool Breezes." A good looking man in a suit greeted. "I'm James, the manager here. Which one of you is Miss Hart?"

"I am." Bobbi said, stepping forward and shaking his hand. She'd added a bit of a twang to her voice as part of her cover.

"I'll show you to your suite." James told them. "I see you've booked the full package."

"Yes," Bobbi said with a smile, "Daddy wanted to make sure I had lots of rest and relaxation before the wedding."

"Well, at Cool Breezes we cater to your every need," James assured her leading them to an elevator. They got out on the top floor. "This is our deluxe suite. Inside you'll find your itinerary, if there are any changes you'd like to make, let us know."

"You're so sweet." Bobbi gushed. "This wedding planning has been so demanding and I'm just looking forward to some 'me' time with the girls."

"That's what we're here for." James told her. "Someone will bring your bags up shortly."

After he left, the women turned to each other.

"There are 3 bedrooms," Natasha explained, "So we're all doubling up."

"Skye and I can room together," May spoke up before Skye could volunteer to room with Jemma. "It would give us a chance to catch up." She explained, catching Skye's look of surprise.

Skye nodded. She would be comfortable rooming with Jemma, partially because her friend now knew a possibly dangerous secret. She trusted Jemma, but at the same time she worried that if Bobbi or May suspected something was up they'd try to get the information out of Jemma, who still had a hard time lying to people she cared about.

"I'll room with Jemma," Natasha volunteered, she smiled at the younger woman, "It would give us a chance to get to know each other and Skye has told me so much about you."

Skye saw a frown cross Bobbi's face briefly and had a feeling that Bobbi had intended to press Jemma for information, which meant that May and Bobbi were suspicious. Still the blonde smiled. "I guess it's you and me."

"I guess so." Maria agreed companionably.

Natasha crossed the room and picked up the binder that was on the table. "This is our itinerary. This afternoon we all have different activities scheduled, which should allow us to a good look at the place and hopefully access the facility and the staff. I assume that not everyone is HYDRA, just a few key people. We need to figure out who. We'll all have dinner together. Dinner is open and we'll have a chance to mingle with the other guests."

"And figure out who may be HYDRA." May added. "And hopefully at some point Skye will be able to assess the information system."

"I have a tennis lesson first thing," Skye told her, "the plan is to trip and fall and get a good look at the infirmary, but also hopefully be left alone for a few minutes."

"Be careful." May cautioned.

"I will be." Skye promised.

"All right ladies, let's settle in and then go get pampered." Maria announced. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I've been looking forward to a relaxing spa trip on Stark's dime."