Hi everyone! I want to take the opportunity to thank you all for reading and reviewing so far. It makes me feel happy to read them and know that you enjoy it as much as I do writing it. I hope to update once a week, on Sunday, but with NaNoWriMo coming up that might be sorely tested. I also need to finish writing this one too, as I only have 9 chapters so far, and I think I'm only about half way.Enjoy, and remember to R&R! Thanks!
Skye POV
Half an hour later and we were all settled around the table, computers, tablets and papers littering the surface.
Coulson started the meeting off. "We've received intel indicating that Hydra is attempting to reform somewhere in the UK, and they intend to hold a gathering some time in the next few weeks."
"Why have they waited so long?" Fitz asked, earning smiles from everyone.
"Fury believes it's because of the damage we've dealt them over the last few months, They may have needed to go through back channels to contact each other, and also be completely confident they're not Shield spies." The boss tells the room at large.
"What is our mission?" May asks, getting the conversation back on track.
"It's an undercover mission that will likely last until the meeting occurs. Agents Skye and Ward will be going undercover as a happily married couple, who sympathise with Hydra." He held up a hand for silence when both Simmons and May started to protest. "The people assigned this mission were chosen by Fury himself, specifically for their knowledge. Skye is a computer whiz, so she'll be able to access any computer and get us the data, and Ward has an intimate and exhaustive knowledge of Hydra's inner workings. The rest of us will be on the Bus, ready to provide back up when it's needed. Our objective is to infiltrate the meeting, identify the attendees and arrest them. If this succeeds, we will have dealt them another crippling blow." I watched as they all smiled at the thought of finally taking down the corrupt organisation.
"There are a number of items that they will require if this is what you're set on doing." May said, startling them all out of their reveries.
"Yes." Coulson touched the tablet in front of him, bringing up a list already sent by Fury. We all looked to the huge screen at the head of the table, where he had sent it. "First, and most importantly, we will need a tracker for Ward so we can track his every move, and know his location at all times. We will also need a bracelet which will prevent him from harming Skye or anyone deemed an innocent. He will not be allowed access to a gun either, only an ICER."
"Not a problem, Sir," Fitz spoke up. "I can whip something up."
"We'll also need some secure computers, phones, ear pieces, maybe some glasses with miniature cameras." I add, thinking about how we'll get the information we discover out.
"What about accommodation?" Jemma piped up. "Do we even know where the meeting is set to be held?"
"We don't have an exact location yet. Just that it's somewhere in the Cotswolds." Coulson told her, bringing up a map of the South West of the UK.
"That's a beautiful part of the country." She smiled to herself, probably thinking about her home country.
"We're going to set you guys up in a little house in the small town of Stroud. It's on the western edge of the Cotswolds and is the centre for several surrounding villages. We'll set the Bus down at a small airstrip in Gloucester, roughly ten miles from the town, so we'll be fairly close should you need us."
"What about us? What will we be doing whilst Ward and Skye are in the field?" May asks, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of Ward going anywhere with me.
"We will be going through the data Skye is currently downloading from Hydras's secret server, looking for anything that indicates where the meeting will be, who will be there, how many we're looking at. Also, anything they discover whilst on this mission. We'll also be the ones coming up with the final plan to deal with them."
"So what's the plan with myself and Ward?" I ask, wanting to know what exactly was required of him and me.
"You two will be using Grant's knowledge of Hydra to get close to them. Once you do, get into their computers, find out who they're talking to. It should give us a clearer picture of who we're dealing with. Keep a look out for mentions of a meeting too. We want to be present when they get together."
I nod, not totally happy with the plan. I really don't want to be within five feet of the guy, let alone hanging on his arm, with stars in my eyes. It'll put my acting skills to the test, big time.
"Does Ward know any of this, Sir?" Jemma asked, voicing a query none of us even considered.
"No, he doesn't." Coulson shook his head. "First thing I had to do was get you up to speed and comfortable with the idea. In two days we leave for the Fridge, where Skye and I will make an unscheduled visit to brief him and bring him aboard. We'll need the tracker and the bracelet ready for when we arrive." He directed the last comment and Fitz and Simmons, who both nod enthusiastically. "Good. Let's get to work."
We all headed in separate directions. FitzSimmons to the lab, May to ready the Bus, Coulson to his office and me to my room. I have several hours of footage to get through before we meet Ward again. I need to make sure I know everything that happened in those interviews, every piece of information he offered up, so I'm as prepared as I can be when we go undercover.
I make a detour into the kitchen to grab some snacks and drinks. It's going to be a long ordeal and I'll need all the pick me ups I can get. I grab some water, coffee, fruit, chocolate, popcorn and chips and carry it all back to my room. I dump it on the bed and pull my laptop towards me. I get comfortable, open up the first file, slip in my earphones and start to watch.
"I will spend the rest of my life trying to atone for things that I cannot atone for. I've made my peace with the fact that I will never be released from here, and I will never get the chance to even offer an apology to Coulson, May, Fitz, Simmons, Trip or Skye. I deserve to be here. There is no redemption for Grant Ward."
The screen fades to black and I close the program. That was the last interview between Ward and his therapist, conducted just four days ago. Over the last two days I have spent most of my time watching the videos AC gave me and taking notes. It surprised me just how much I had learned from them. Ward had offered up nothing to start with, obviously still believing in Hydra. As the months passed and he had time to think back and reflect on his terrible choices, he began to open up and offer some good, solid intel. I now understood why Fury was adamant to have him on this mission. His knowledge of Hydra will be instrumental in rooting out the bad guys. It still didn't change my mind about him though. He knowingly killed people for his cause, good, honest, hard working members of Shield. He might want to apologise to us, but it will never be enough. His deception was far too intricate, far too detailed for a simple apology to change that. And as soon as I see him, I'll tell him exactly that.
I eject the flash drive and stand, stretching all my tired and achy muscles. I grab them both and decide to talk to the boss. We have two hours left before we land at the Fridge and 'spring' Ward. I find him in the lab with Fitz and Simmons, going over some final details about the tracker and the bracelet. I tune out all the tech speak from them both and just listen to the sound of their voices.
"Skye? Skye!" A hand waves in front of my face, making me jump and rejoin the conversation. I see Jemma standing in front of me, waiting for a reply.
"Sorry, what did you say?" I ask, paying attention now.
"I was going to explain how the bracelet works to you."
"Sure." I nod and try not to get lost in all the technical talk.
"We've modified the one we used for you." Fitz said, reminding me of my past indiscretions. "Instead of monitoring keystrokes, it will monitor his heart rate and brain waves. If he even attempts physical harm to anyone deemed innocent it will send a small electrical charge through his nervous system, rendering him temporarily incapacitated."
"How will it be able to differentiate between the good and bad guys?" I ask, confused about that.
"We will be able to program it from this tablet." Simmons holds up a small tablet that was lying next to her. "Once we know who's who, we can program it to allow him to take down only specific targets. Hopefully we won't need to do that."
I nod, happy to hear that. "What about the gun access? How will you keep him from getting a weapon when we will essentially be surrounded by them?"
"That's where the tracker comes in handy." Coulson says, joining the conversation. "As well as tracking his movements, it will be able to detect whenever he handles any weapon. If it's not an ICER it will send his hand into spasms, forcing him to release it. Unless he consciously forces his hand to maintain a grip at all times, he will not be able to fire a weapon during this mission."
I feel much better knowing his ability to harm will be severely diminished and that I'll be safe enough with him.
"We touch down in thirty minutes guys." May called out as she made her way towards the cockpit.
"Thanks May." Coulson said. "How long do you need to finish up here?"
"15 minutes." Fitz told him. "I just need Skye to link her laptop to this tablet and we're in business."
Conscious of the time limit, I hurry back to my bunk and grab it. Back in the lab I connect the two devices for Fitz, who proceeds to explain how they will be able to read anything I get in real time and adjust the bracelet and tracker settings accordingly.
"Please fasten your seat belts, we will be landing in five minutes." May announced over the radio. We take our seats and belt up, slipping back into the routine easily. The landing is deceptively smooth, considering I'm feeling especially jumpy and restless. Once the plane is down and May gives the all clear we unbuckle and start to make the final preparations.
"It's time." Is all Director Coulson says. Nothing else is needed. I silently follow him off the Bus and begin the journey down through the Fridge to one of the many interrogation rooms.