Hey everyone! I'm back with another chapter for you all. I'm so grateful to everyone who has been supporting me and this story. It's amazing. And I'm glad that you are all enjoying reading this story as much as I am writing it. :)
Also, did you all hear? BRETT DALTON WON HIS FIRST TEEN CHOICE AWARD LAST NIGHT! Agh! So proud of him and everything that he has done. You go Brett, keep being awesome and amazing, and maybe next year, you'll get another. :)
Now, on with the story! :) Enjoy!
"You're a what?" Fitz asks, after a moment of silence.
"An 0-8-4," I repeat.
"How long have you known?" Simmons asks.
"Since we went to Sic-Tech. Afterwards, Coulson told me about my past, and that I'm an 0-8-4."
"Do you know why you're classified as an 0-8-4?" Ward asks.
"Not exactly," I respond, "but I think it might have something to do with what happened today at the compound."
"We won't know much until we look more into this," Coulson says, "but from what Skye has told us about what happened, I'm guessing that it might be some type of cerebral power."
"But how was I able to do that? It's crazy!"
"I don't know, and we won't know much until we try and figure out exactly how your powers work. What triggers them?"
"No." I say without pause, "I don't want to be experimented on. I'm a human being, not a freak."
"We know that, Skye," Coulson reminds me, "just let Simmons run some tests. Maybe we can try and figure out how this power of yours works."
"Okay, but I can't promise you guys any results. I'm just as in the dark on this as you are."
"Hang on!" Ward speaks up, "I think I remember something."
"What?" Coulson asks.
"Uh, it happened really fast so I don't think I realized what was happening at the time. But there was this sort of blue light that Skye emitted, like it shot out from her and hit the three guys holding me back. Right after the light hit them, they all turned their weapons on themselves."
"Whoa," I breathe out, "seriously?"
Ward nods his head, "I don't know how or why it happened. But it did."
"I don't know how or why it happened either. And like I said, I can't make any promises about results."
"That's okay Skye," Coulson tells me, "we'll do this on your call. Whenever you are up to it, we'll try and figure things out. Now, I'm going to go and call Director Fury. Let him know what has happened. But other than him and the six of us, no one else will know about Skye being an 0-8-4 and her powers. Whatever those might actually be."
"Thank you," I smile at him.
"Of course," he says, and then he exits the lab, going towards his office.
*No one's POV*
When he gets into his office, Coulson picks up his phone and dials Director Fury's number, sitting down and waiting as it rings.
"Hello?" a voice says on the other end after a few moments.
"Director Fury," Coulson begins.
"Coulson," Fury acknowledges, "to what pleasure do I owe this phone call?"
"I have some very important information to speak with you about."
"What is this pertaining to?"
"Skye."
"Skye? That computer hacker on your team?"
"Yes sir. I have reason to believe that Skye is the 0-8-4 that was picked up all those years ago in the Hunan province in China. The baby. And our suspicions are pretty much confirmed after what happened today during the mission you assigned us."
"What happened?" Fury prods.
"Well," Coulson says, and then begins spewing out everything that Skye had told him about the mission.
"This is some extremely crucial information, Coulson."
"I know Sir. That's why I called you. I was hoping though, that this information could go no further than you and I and my team. I'd hate for something to happen because the wrong person found out about Skye."
"You have my word, Coulson," Fury assures him, "nothing that has been said on this line will be told to anyone else. Not even Hill will know about any of this."
"Thank you, Sir."
"You're welcome. Now, I must go. I have some other matters to attend to."
"Of course, goodbye Sir," he hangs up his phone and sits back in his chair, letting out a heavy sigh.
*The lab, 4 hours later, Skye's POV*
"Do I really have to try again?" I complain, fidgeting in my seat on a stool in the middle of the lab.
"Just once more," Simmons tells me, "I promise."
I sigh, "Fine." I stare at Fitz standing in front of me. I'm trying to get him to do something, anything, like I did with those men back at the compound. Nothing happens. No blue light shoots out. I sigh once more in frustration, "Nothing is happening," I say, "I can't do it. I don't know how I did it the first time, but I can't do it again."
"That's okay, Skye," Simmons says, "You're free to go now."
"Thank you," I breathe a sigh of relief and then hop off of the stool, steadying myself for a moment before I make my way out of the lab.
I head to my bunk, looking forward to some time to myself so that I can sleep, when I see Ward sitting in the lounge area, his leg propped up on the coffee table. His leg was put into a legit cast when we took him to the hospital, and then as soon as we got back, he went to the lounge to rest, and I went to the lab to start the tests. The doctor said that his cast will have to stay on for about a week, before he can get it removed. But after that, he'll have to take it easy on his knee.
"Hey," I say to him as I walk over and stand directly in front of him.
He looks up at me, "Hey Skye. How did it go down in the lab?"
I shrug, "I tried to make Fitz do something, anything, but I couldn't. I don't know how I did it the first time when we were at the compound, but I can't seem to get myself to do it again."
"You'll get the hang of it," he tells me, "with enough practice, you'll figure it out."
"I guess so," I say, sitting down next to him, "it's just weird. Knowing that I have these abilities, but not knowing how to use them. It's weird. I don't even know where I come from. Or who my parents are."
"It's okay, Skye," he tells me, placing one of his hands on top of mine, "You don't really need to know where you come from, do you? Because you have a family right here. Everyone on this plane is your family, and we all care about you a lot. Nothing else should matter, only that we'll be here for you every step of the way while you're figuring all of this out."
I look at him, with slight tears in my eyes, "Wow." Is all I can manage to get out. We just sit where we are and look at each other, neither of us saying a word.
"Oh, sorry. Was I interrupting something?" Snapping out of our odd trance, we both turn our heads to see Simmons standing in the doorway to the lounge area, looking at us.
"No," I say turning more fully towards her, "You're fine. What's up?"
"Oh, well, I just came to talk to you about something."
"What is it?"
"It's about your abilities," she says to me.
My eyes widen, "And? What about them?"
"Well, I was just thinking, that maybe, maybe your powers are triggered by some type of very strong emotion. It makes a bit of sense, doesn't it? When you were at the compound, Ward was about to be killed, and you wished that the men would hurt themselves, resulting in them killing themselves, instead of Ward."
"You're right," I say back, thinking about it, "I was pretty scared that Ward was going to be killed. And all I wanted was for him to be let go. But I guess my subconscious must have wanted those men to die instead."
"It makes perfect sense when you think about," Simmons says again, "You have a very strong, emotional, attachment to Ward. You have for some time, I think, so it made it easier for you to control those men, because they were harming someone you care deeply for."
"And maybe because Fitz wasn't in any kind of danger, you couldn't make anything happen," Ward speaks up, "Simmons said that you were able to save me because I was in danger. When you were down in the lab with Fitz, he wasn't in danger."
"But Ward, didn't you say that at the compound, a light emitted from me?" He nods. "Was it like, a big burst that hit everyone in front of me?" He nods his head again. "Then why didn't it make you kill yourself?"
"I don't know," he replies.
Jemma speaks up, "Maybe it's because you care so deeply for Ward that you didn't make him kill himself either. You care too much about him to make him do something like that to himself. And at the compound, when that light emitted from you, hitting all of those men. Your subconscious must have recognized him and how much he means to you, so it didn't hurt him."
"Wow." I say, "That actually made more sense than I thought it would."
*2 ½ months later*
Beep! Beep! Beep!
"What is that?" I ask from my spot on the couch. I've been lying here for the past hour and a half, surfing the Internet on my laptop.
"Someone is trying to dock," May speaks up as she makes her way into the lounge.
"People can dock the Bus without you authorizing it?" I question.
"Not usually," May replies, "unless someone from SHIELD overrides the system."
"Do you know who it is?"
"No we don't," Coulson says, as he, too, enters the lounge, Ward right behind him. "We weren't scheduled to have anyone board today."
"Sir," Fitz says, as he and Simmons ascend the staircase from the lab, "we heard the alarms. Someone is trying to dock?"
"We weren't sure who it might be, so we came up here to see." Simmons finishes.
"Well then," Coulson says, "let's see who's trying to get on our plane."
The six of us stand, side by side, near the base of the spiral stairs, in the lounge area. Coulson and May are standing front and center. FitzSimmons is standing next to May, with me and Ward standing next to Coulson.
Footsteps can be heard on the steps and then a large group of men descend the stairs. Standing at the front of the group is a tall, middle aged man, with salt and pepper hair, and a suit. His arms are crossed in front of him. Behind him, are multiple other agents, all dressed in tactical gear, their weapons up and pointed at all of us.
"Who are you?" Coulson speaks up, "and what are you doing aboard my plane?"
The man at the front of the group takes a step towards Coulson, his men right behind him, "My name is Agent Donovan, Level 8. I'm here for the girl," his eyes fall directly on me.
Ward steps forward protectively in front of me, his hand hovering over the gun on his hip. "What do you want with her?"
"We know that she's an 0-8-4," Agent Donovan says, causing the teams eyes to go wide, "and we're bringing her in."
"You have no right to take her," Coulson says, "she is a part of our team and…"
"She's a liability." Donovan interrupts.
"She's a human being!" Coulson shouts, "And you are not going to take her anywhere to treat her like a lab rat!"
"We are taking her in, Agent Coulson." Donovan says firmly.
"Over our dead bodies," Coulson responds.
"So be it then. Boys," he says to the agents behind him, "kill them all except the girl."
"Ward! Skye!" Coulson shouts as he grabs both Ward and I by the arm and drags us past all of the men, and down the stairs to the cargo bay, "I need you two to get out of here. Ward, keep Skye safe."
"But sir…"
"No buts, Ward. Take a chute, get out of here. I don't care where you go, just get away."
"Coulson," I say, "what about the rest of you?"
"You're our top priority, Skye. They want you; we won't let them have you. Ward, go. Now."
Ward nods his head and pulls me towards the ramp of the cargo bay, as Coulson heads back up the stairs to fight the other men. Ward goes straight for the parachutes and picks one up, strapping it on quicker than I can even register.
"Come here," he says, waving me towards him. He hits the button to lower the cargo ramp.
"What?" I ask him, confused.
"Come here. We're gonna jump together."
"Where's my chute?"
"We don't have time for you to try and get one on. We need to go. Now." He grabs my hand and pulls me closer to the edge of the ramp.
"Ward," I say shakily, "I don't want to leave the rest of them behind. What if those men come after us?"
"Hey," he says, placing one hand on my face to keep my attention on him, "I'll keep you safe. I won't let them hurt you. Now, do you trust me?" I nod my head. "Good, now hang on," he tells me. I nod my head and wrap my arms tightly around him. The next thing I know, he's jumping out of the plane, and we're both plummeting down towards the earth. Instinctively, I wrap my legs around his waist, not wanting to risk falling without a chute attached to my body. I watch as the Bus gets further and further from my view; I can only imagine what is going on up there.
And then I see the orange fabric of the parachute expand above us, and our bodies are quickly jerked backwards. Then we slowly continue our descent down to the ground.
When we land, I detach myself from Ward's body and steady myself on my legs, taking a few deep breaths. "We need a car," Ward says, looking around. I follow his gaze, looking around as well. We seem to be just outside of a small town. "Something fast."
"Maybe we can find something there," I tell him, pointing towards the town just a little ways off.
"Worth a shot," he says, "come on." He holds his hand out to me and I take it, the both of us moving quickly towards the town.
When we get inside the town, we look around, trying to find a good enough one to at least get us far enough away. "There," I say, pointing at a car off to the side, "Will that one work?"
We walk over to it and Ward checks it over quickly, "Yeah. It will." He steps over to the drivers' side, "Damn it! It has one of those combination locks that opens the car." I see him raise his fist to break the window open, but I put my hand up to stop him.
"Wait! Don't break the window. That might alert someone that their car is being broken into. Just give me a minute and we'll be inside the car." I reach into my back pocket and pull out my phone, quickly opening it up and begin tapping away on it. I hack my way into the DMV database, looking for the specific code that unlocks this car. "Got it," I say finally, moving to the buttons. I quickly input the right code, and the car unlocks.
Ward sighs in relief and opens the drivers' side door, gesturing for me to climb inside. I crawl across the car to the passenger seat, sitting down and waiting as Ward climbs inside and then hotwires the car to get it started. He closes the door and hits the gas, peeling out onto the road.
"Where are we going?" I ask him as I settle into my seat.
"Anywhere we can," Ward responds, "put your seatbelt on."
I do as he says, deciding against shooting back with a witty remark. "Who were those guys back there? The ones on the Bus?"
"I don't know. SHIELD agents is my best guess. But going after you, and threatening the rest of the team, it doesn't make any sense. They must be working for someone else."
"How do they even know about me?" I ask, as Ward begins to pull onto the freeway. "As far as we know, only the team and Fury know about me being an 0-8-4."
"I don't know," he says, "if anything…"
Ward is cut off by the sound of gunfire. I turn around to look out the back window and see a big, black SUV following us onto the freeway. A man is hanging out of the passenger window, firing his gun at us.
"It's them!" I inform Ward.
"Get down!" he instructs, "Things are about to get crazy."
I duck down in my seat, and Ward turns the steering wheel accelerates the gas, trying to get us as far away as possible. The other car speeds up too, firing on us again. Ward swerves back and forth, trying to throw off their aim of the bullets, while also trying to avoid hitting any of the other cars that are driving on the freeway.
From my spot in my seat, ducked down, I lift my eyes and look through the side view mirror to see the man emerge from the passenger window again, this time with a bigger gun in his hand.
"Ward!" I say, "They have an even bigger gun now! But I don't think it's just an ordinary kind of gun."
Ward glances through the rearview mirror, his eyes going wide. "This isn't good," he says to himself. I keep looking out the side view mirror and then I see the guy disappear back into his car.
Seconds later, the car that we are in flips over, and over, and over, landing upside down in the middle of the road. I can hear cars all around us swerving and skidding on the road. I can also hear people shouting, but I can't understand what they are saying.
Everything is blurred for a while, as I try to look out in front of me. The windshield in front of me is completely shattered, nothing left, and I can see that there are a few shards of glass in my skin. The pieces are small, but still there nonetheless. I can feel a tightness against my upper body, and I look down to see my seatbelt pulled snug up against my body. It must have caused some bruises along where it lays, but it's better than what would have happened if I hadn't worn my seatbelt. Thank goodness Ward reminded me to put it on. My eyes suddenly go wide.
Ward! I quickly look to my left to see Ward crumpled upside down in his seat, because he never put his seatbelt on; he's completely unconscious. There is blood trickling down from his hairline, and there are some shards of glass in his skin. Larger than the ones stuck in me. No! No no no! This can't be happening. I try to reach out to him, but I pull my arm back, due to the pain of the glass embedded in my skin. Then I see two pairs of feet approaching his side of the car. The two men bend down to check on him, and then as quick as they had bent down, they stand back up.
I keep my eyes on Ward, not wanting to take my eyes off of him, out of fear that something might happen. The next thing I know, I'm being cut loose from my seatbelt, grabbed by the waist and pulled from the car; kicking and screaming the entire way.
"Let me go!" I shout, trying to break free of the hold from the two men. "Let me go! Ward!" I scream, "Ward! Wake up and save me! Please! Grant! Please help me! Don't go! Wake up! Please!" I can feel the tears falling from my eyes.
I keep struggling, trying to break free. Just please let me go. Suddenly, the grip from the two men loosens, and I turn to see them standing in front of me, a dazed look in their eyes.
"Did I really just do that?" I ask myself. I look around, trying to see if anyone else is around me. I turn back around to see one of the other men standing in front of me. He just smirks, and before I can say anything, I feel a strike to the back of my head, and everything goes black.
Dun dun duuunn! So? What did you think? Let me know in a review down below. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Also, if anyone is interested in participating in a special project for Chloe, please let me know and I can get more information to you. Thanks!
Until next time,
Jellybean96 out!