Chapter 29 - Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Ever since the Loki crisis had ended, the world had been edgy. The Avengers now hid themselves from the world to the best of their ability, S.H.I.E.L.D. offering them the courtesy of keeping their movements a secret from humanity. Some of them though, Tony Stark for example, were less enthusiastic about staying hidden.

Shortly after the Chitauri attack, Stark went neck to neck with his old adversaries: The Ten Rings. Under the leadership from a man named Aldrich Killian, the Ten Rings, actually a cover-up for the technology industry A.I.M., was responsible for a number of mysterious bombings throughout the world. What made the bombings so mysterious was the lack of physical evidence from the explosion, except for the enormous smoldering craters they left behind. No fragments, no traces of a bomb. When his own life was threatened by these mysterious attacks, Stark traced the disasters to Extremis, a serum that allowed the human body to regenerate lost tissue and limbs. It also amplified the body's strength and gave them full control of their body heat, allowing them to burn anything through touch.

Killian had been upgrading the formula, which was originally conceived by his former colleague Maya Hansen, whom Killian had murdered before a more viable solution to the formula's unstable after effects could be solved. In a fit of megalomaniacal rage rivaled only by that of Loki's, Killian attempted to use Extremis in a plot to assassinate President Ellis, but through the efforts of Stark, James Rhodes, and Ms. Pepper Potts, the attempt was stopped. S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't even have to step in.

But that doesn't mean the event left its scars.

The Battle of New York was the end of the world. After that was the beginning of a new world. New phenomena started taking place. The Extremis incident was one thing, but that added with the appearance of a certain pink alien life form in the Rocky Mountains and a strange telepathic broadcast from outer space forced S.H.I.E.L.D. to focus its attention on the growing paranormal occurrences that were flooding across the globe.

It was time to bring in the best.

ooooo

In an as of now undisclosed location, Agent Maria Hill sat calmly at a desk, her hands folded as she stared at the simple looking S.H.I.E.L.D. agent sitting across from her. The agent, Grant Ward, clearly did not want to be here. But recent events had pulled him from his preferred solo operation in Paris. Recent events that Hill did not feel inclined to fill him in on just yet.

To say that pissed Agent Ward off was an understatement.

"Agent Ward," Hill said, sitting back in her chair, "what does S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for?"

Ward gave her a frown. "Strategic homeland intervention enforcement and logistics division."

Hill smirked in satisfaction. "And what does that mean to you?"

Not liking the smirk, Ward's frown seemed to increase. "It means someone really wanted our initials to spell shield."

Hill just smiled, nonchalant over Ward's evasion of the true topic. She gave Ward a look, one that told him she was in no mood for wisecracks. As one of the agency's highest ranking operatives, Ward knew what that look meant, and grunted.

"It means we're the line." Ward said. "Between the world, and the much weirder world. We protect people from the news they aren't ready to hear. And when we can't do that, we keep them safe."

Hill sat back further in her chair, crossing her legs as she nodded in approval at Ward's statement. But Ward wasn't finished. "And when something turns up,"

Hill's eyebrows furrowed when she saw Ward reach into his pocket, pulling out an object. Seeing the design and dead blue lights along the device, Hill's eyes narrowed. Ward slid it across the table, and Hill, albeit relunctantly, took it. "Like this Chitauri neural link, we get to it before someone bad does."

Hill got up from her seat, walking over to an agent who was standing by the door. He opened up a suitcase he was carrying, and Hill placed the device inside. Once the man closed the case, he nodded to Hill and left. Hill turned her attention back to Ward.

"Any idea who the guys were trying to sell it to?"

"I'm more interested in how these 'Rising Tide' guys got to it before we did." Ward said, eyes narrowed at Hill. "I thought they were just hackers. What changed?"

Hill sighed. The Rising Tide were a new issue that S.H.I.E.L.D. presently had their hands full with. It had started as a simple conspiracy website that had been exposing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operations to the world. The website had video clips from the battles in Harlem and at the Stark Expo. Shortly before the Battle of New York, the website had gone dark, but S.H.I.E.L.D. had been receiving different messages as of late that warned of the Rising Tide's return. What scared S.H.I.E.L.D. intelligence most is that the messages were somehow able to make it past the agency's most secure firewalls.

Hill looked back at Ward, hands on her hips. "Everything's changing. A little while ago most people went to bed thinking that the craziest thing in the world was a billionaire in a flying metal suit. Then aliens invaded New York and were beaten back, by among others, a giant green monster, an alien from a near-extinct race, a precognitive teenager, a wraith, a costumed hero from the forties, and a pair of Norse gods."

Ward lifted an eyebrow. "Eh... technically, Lewis and Sif aren't really gods."

Hill just chuckled. "You clearly haven't seen them in action."

Ward rolled his eyes, but decided to let Hill continue. "The battle of New York was the start of a new world, Agent Ward. People are different. They have access to tech, new formulas, secrets they are not ready for..."

"Why was I pulled out of Paris?" Ward interrupted, staring hard at Hill.

"I can answer that."

Ward blinked, and turned around to see a woman in a leather jacket, white t-shirt, and jeans. Her long, curly brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She gave Ward a smile. "Grant."

For the first time since he arrived, Agent Ward smiled. "Soladat. Things suddenly seem much clearer."

Soladat smiled, and waltzed into the room, standing near Agent Hill. "Normally I wouldn't pull you out of an operation on such short notice, Grant. But Director Fury's made a propisition. One that we'd like you to become a part of."

Ward lifted an eyebrow. "Yeah? What kind?"

Soladat smiled. "We're bringing you up to our range now, Grant. Welcome to Level 7 clearance."

ooooo

Not to long after, the three high-ranking agents exited an elevator, stepping into the building's main laboratory. A number of scientists and agents were bustling around trading necessary information and date. As they walked through, Ward turned to Soladat, giving her a sympathetic look. "Hey, Soladat. I'm sorry about Coulson."

Hill closed her eyes, letting out a sight, while Soladat's face grew hard, and her fists clenched briefly. "We all are. His loss was a major blow to our operations. But recent events have compensated for his loss."

"Ah, yes." Ward said, smirking. "I heard about your little excursion to the Rocky Mountains. I heard you encountered an alien life form?"

"Encountered, and captured." Hill said this time. "I wasn't there, but it sounded like a handful."

Soladat huffed. "Don't even joke."

Ward's face soon grew serious again. "So Level 7? Any reason for the sudden promotion."

"Yes, actually." Soladat said, and directed Ward's attention to a large screen on the wall. Ward frowned, watching a newscast that showed a burning building. To his surprise, a hooded figure leapt from the top of the structure as it suddenly exploded, and he fell from a great height. Instead of falling and injuring himself like most would, he landed perfectly on his feet, the impact leaving a crater in the streets.

"Who's that?" Ward said, glancing at Hill.

"That," Soladat said, hand on hip, smirking, "is our latest newcomer."

"An unregistered gifted." Hill said. "Identity unknown. We're lucky to have gotten the footage. It was little gift from our old friends."

"The Rising Tide." Ward stated, glancing at Soladat, who nodded. Ward looked completely baffled at this. "How are they getting this stuff before us?"

"The same way they cracked our RSA implementation." Soladat stated firmly. "These guys aren't pushovers, Grant. So we need a counter. That's why we've called you in."

"Director Fury has given us permission to form a mobile command unit, mean to directly deal with any form of paranormal or extraterrestrial disturbances." Hill said. "The project was initially conceived by Coulson. You were one of the first he considered before his... loss."

"And some of us plan to honor his ideals." Soladat said, dead serious. "He died believing everyone had a hero somewhere in them, no matter what flaws they possessed. The Rising Tide wants to draw us out, make the secrets we've been keeping public knowledge. We've decided to do something about it."

Ward frowned. "You want me to draw them out?"

"Sort of." Soladat said. "As of now, the Rising Tide is our secondary priority."

She glanced at the picture of the mysterious vigilante. "Because of the Tide, this man's life is about to get much more interesting. Maybe too interesting. If the Rising Tide were able to get to him before we could, who's to say they won't discover his identity, and expose him to the public? He'd be making himself a target of some unwanted parties."

"I see." Ward said, folding his hands and thinking. Soladat and Hill stared at him, waiting for some sort of response.

Eventually, Ward sighed. "I'm sorry, Soladat. If this were a normal operation, I'd help. But from day one, I've worked as a specialist. I go in alone, and I get it done. If you want a nuke disarmed, I'm game. A welcoming community?"

Ward crossed his arms, giving Soladat a sorry smirk. "Not my speed."

Soladat chuckled. "I'm perfectly clear on what your standards are, Grant. Agent Hill here made a very detailed assessment of your last three missions."

Ward's face contorted into a frown as Soladat pulled out a dossier. His dossier. She started reading it. "Combat, top grades. Espionage, almost makes the Black Widow's look like child's play. But for people skills, it looks like she drew a... poop. With knives sticking out of it."

"What?" Ward said.

"Agent Wrekk." Hill said, blushing, while Ward blinked in confusion and looked over to see if what Soladat said was true. To his embarrasment, Soladat was right. She gave him a smirk.

"I'm pretty sure that's bad. Don't you think so, Grant?"

"Hm." Ward grumbled, crossing his arms.

Soladat gave him another smirk, and looked back at the dossier. "Also, I don't mean to sound rude, but by the looks of your family history... well, I think you get the picture."

"What's your point, Soladat." Ward said, glaring at Archangel.

"My point is that your just the man for the job." Soladat said, putting the dossier aside. "You don't like working with others, I understand. Well, neither did I at first. But your outlook on things tends to change when you start associating with a different crowd. It changes you. Maybe you need a little change in your life."

"I'd rather keep things as they are." Ward said back.

"We'll see." Soladat said, smiling. It was then that an African American man in a labcoat entered. Soladat noticed, and gave the man a nod. "Doctor."

The man nodded back. "Agent Wrekk. Hill."

Hill nodded to the man as well, and took a file he had recently looked over and handed it to her. "Team's been approved. Physicals are all fine. But Fitsimmons hasn't been cleared for combat. Thankfully, I've been told that's not an issue."

"That's right." Hill said, looking over the file.

"Agent Ward's, however," The doctor said, glancing at Ward, "he's almost too fit."

"That's an issue." Ward said, stepping forward. "That should be an issue. Maybe I can't join the team..."

"Ward." Hill said, not even looking up from the dossier. "You are dismissed."

Ward glanced over at Soladat, who just gave him a smile and shrugged. Grumbling, Ward left the three alone, exiting from the lab. Once he was gone, Hill looked up at Soladat, giving her a glare.

"It was a porcupine. Not a poop. It just means that..."

"Oh, calm down." Soladat said. "I was just kidding. You take things way to seriously sometimes."

"Whatever." Hill huffed. "And it's not just Ward. The whole roster is sketchy. Fitz, Simmons, even May, who hasn't been on the field for who knows how long."

"I didn't choose the candidates." Soladat said, frowning and crossing her arms. "You know that."

Hill sighed. "Yes, I know that. But still..."

"They're already cleared, Maria." Soladat said. "Plus, Coulson saw some value in them. We can at least give them a shot."

Hill shook her head. "Soladat, you may be Coulson's second, and you may have cooperated with the Avengers, but this is different. These aren't superheroes or gods or whatever. They're people. Ordinary people who don't deserve the kind of trauma this job has in store for them. You don't..."

"Have any experience with the real world." Soladat said, glaring at Hill. "Is that it?"

Hill frowned. "You know that's not..."

"It's fine, Hill." Soladat sighed. "I get you're point. But just trust me on this. If this doesn't work, then we'll all just get back to doing what you think is best."

Hill was silent for a few moments, before giving in. "Alright. But remember..."

"Stay discreet. Yeah, don't worry about that, Maria." Soladat said, smiling. "I don't plan on letting the wings loose unless the situation really calls for it."

Hill couldn't help but smile, and nodded. Soladat was about to leave, but then stopped, remaining still for a few moments. Slowly, she glanced back at Hill. "Maria, about Phil..."

Hill sighed. "We're doing our best, Soladat. But the technology... it won't be him. You know that, right?"

Soladat looked down sadly. "I know. But... if there's any progress..."

"I will." Hill promised, smiling. "Good luck, Soladat."

"Thanks." Soladat said, and then left the room.

ooooo

"... as of now, the identity of the mysterious hero has yet to be discovered. But the woman who was rescued from the incident remains thankful for his heroics."

In a diner in Los Angeles, Mike Petersan, an African American man, frowned at the TV, sighing in frustration as she stared down at the table in thought. He was just getting ready to pay the bill for his meal, with what little money he had left, when out of nowhere, a woman sat in front of him. He blinked in surprise, and looked the girl over. She was young, perhaps in her mid twenties, and was dressed as any common girl would be dressed. She was looking around, eyes darting back and forth as if looking for someone specific.

She leaned close to him, and whispered. "Just act natural."

Mike just blinked. "What?"

"SHH!" The girl shushed, frowning. "Just pretend we're not talking."

"We are..." Mike said, looking at the girl, confused.

The girl ignored him, and continued to look around carefully. "You never know who's listening."

"I don't even know who's talking." Mike said, frowning.

Immediately, the girl's demeanor changed from that of a secretive stranger to a bubbly teenager. "Sorry. I'm Skye. And you're the hooded hero."

Instantly, Mike leaned away from the girl, Skye, who just gave him a smile. "Please tell me you're not sticking with that name."

"Excuse me?" Mike asked. "I'm not a superhero. I'm a factory worker."

"Sure. By day." Skye said, smiling. "I saw you! You're a hero, a for real superhero. But don't worry, I'm not the stalker type or anything, but... this is just so cool!"

Mike couldn't help but feel amused by this girl's demeanor. She had the personality of a goofy fangirl that you'd run into at comic-con. "Uh huh. Was there something..."

"Right, right." Skye said, getting serious again. "I wanted to tell you not to draw to much attention to yourself. You're in danger."

Mike frowned at Skye. "Look, lady. I think you've got the wrong guy..."

"No, you've got the wrong approach." Skye snipped rudely. "That woman you saved is at the hospital dying to thank you and possibly..." Skye smirked, "thank you, and you're here hiding! I mean come on! The clip of you rescueing her has had the most hits since that puppy with vertigo. And you..."

Skye looked Mike up and down, and looked at him sadly. "You can't even find a job."

Mike frowned, and sat back stubbornly. He looked back at Skye, giving a no-nonsense glare. "What do you mean about danger?"

Skye suddenly got apprehensive again, looking around carefully. Slowly, she leaned in, and whispered, "S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Shield what?" Mike said, puzzled. "I should carry a shield?"

"No! S.H.I.E.L.D. Government." Skye clarified. "Scary men in dark suits who come after guys like you. They knew about the battle of New York before it even happened. They know things about Iron Man, the Hulk, and whatever sci-fi fantasies you'd see walking around in broad daylight. And each time, they've cleaned it up before anyone can ask any real questions. And in just one night!"

The whole time Skye had been talking, Mike started to look worried, fear etched across his face. Skye stared hard at him. "How long do you think it'll take for them to clean you up, huh?"

Mike looked at her suspiciously. "And you want to know why I'm hiding?"

"What if you didn't have to hide?" Skye said. "What if you got in front of this and let people know that you're a hero?"

"I'm just a guy." Mike said defensively.

Skye just scoffed. "Yeah, well I guy like that get's works. A job. I can help you. I'm great with computers. I could help you create a whole new identity! Hell, I could even throw in a mask or..."

"Okay. I've heard enough." Mike said, standing up and putting on his jacket. Skye's eyes widened and she immediately got up to stop him.

"Wait!" She said, stepping in front of him and putting her hand on his chest to stop him, getting an annoyed look in the process. "Look you can't just walk away from this! With great power comes... er... a... ton of weird crap that you are not prepared to deal with! Now, my office is just by..."

"You have an office?" Mike said, turning to face her again, looking bemused at this statement.

Skye gave him a look. "Yes I have an office. It's a... mobile office."

Mike just stared at her, his eyebrow raising up just an inch. Skye smiled sheepishly. "Maybe a van... I live in a van. But by choice! Anyway, it's just in the alley around the corner. It's got free Wi-Fi, and you can come by anytime!"

Skye gave the man a hopeful smile, and Mike just sighed. "Thank you, ma'am."

With that, Mike turned and made his way out the door. Smiling, Skye called out to him. "They're coming for you!"

Mike turned and gave Skye another look, then sighed and left, shaking his head in exasperation. As she watched him leave, Skye pulled out a small ID card that she secretly snatched from Mike while they were chatting. It read his name, address, and current occupation.

"Mike." She said quietly, and then looked around apprehensively again, before leaving the diner as well.

And I'm back. I know it's been a while, but I had to wait until we got more development from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. These next few chapters are gonna be based on the pilot episode from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Review pleaz