Disclaimer: I do not nor will I ever own Agents of SHIELD or any part of the Marvel franchise
Previously on Project Insider: The Recruitment
"I don't remember Coulson saying that someone was coming aboard the BUS today." Skye says with her brow furrowed.
That's when Coulson comes running out his office towards the two breathlessly saying, "It's Fury. He knows."
That's strange. If Fury knew about her relationship with Grant he wouldn't come to separate them himself, surely they're not that important, Skye thinks. And that's when it dawns on her. Fury isn't coming here because he knows about me and Grant, it's because he knows I'm an 0-8-4.
Chapter 3
Ward seems to have reached the same realization as Skye because his grip on her hand tightens.
"Is there a plane docking?" Fitz emerges from the lab closely followed by Simmons. The two quickly notice the serious looks on Skye, Ward, and Coulson's faces.
"Might you know who it is?" Simmons's asks tentatively. The tension in the room is thick enough to be cut by one of Simmons's scalpels.
At the same time, May is seen streaking towards Coulson's office. When she sees the rest of the team in the lounge she says, "Phil, someone is requesting to board the plane
The sound of heavy footsteps soon reach the team's ears. They quickly become louder and louder until Director Nick Fury emerges into the BUS's lounge area.
Nick Fury, Skye observes, is the not the sort of person she would want to get on the bad side of. He is a tall, African, bald man with the stiff and upright posture of a military general. Clad in black leather and an eye patch to match, Skye feels intimidated. Of course, Skye being Skye doesn't let it show and instead chooses to quip, "Is someone going to tell Pirate Patch over here he landed on the wrong Jollyroger?"
Both Coulson and Ward shoot her an exasperated look as if they knew that she would say something of the sort while Fitzsimmons both giggle behind their hands. However, Skye doesn't fail to notice May's small smirk.
"That's one gutsy recruit you got there," Fury says in a loud, booming voice that somehow manages to travel to every corner of the room. "Funny that you forgot to mention that she's an 0-8-4." Fitzsimmons give an audible gasp. They were the only ones on the team that did not know of Skye's origins. "Not to mention that she and Agent Ward are involved in a relationship unfitting of a supervising officer and rookie."
"Director –" Begins Coulson.
"Save it, Coulson." He puts up his hand. "You're lucky you are not being court marshalled considering you are commanding officer. Now if you don't mind, I would like to discuss this with Skye privately." Everyone looks at Skye while she stays frozen to the spot. The only thing anchoring her to the ground is Grant and that may not even be for long.
"Sir, as you said I am her commanding officer so I am requesting to be there on Skye's behalf." Coulson says calmly and in a business-like voice.
"And I, too" Ward speaks for the first time since Fury's arrival.
"No," Says Fury sternly, "This is a matter between myself and Skye, no one else." He gives them a glare as if daring them to protest again.
"Follow me." He says curtly. Before anyone, specifically Ward, can protest May sends them a glare that warns don't make this worse.
"It'll be okay." Skye whispers into Ward's ear before she slowly follows Fury towards Fury's (technically Coulson's) office.
Once they reach the office, Fury shuts the door and sits in Coulson's chair while Skye sinks down into the seat across. They spend a minute observing one another in silence.
"You're name is Skye, no known last name." Fury finally speaks. "You're an 0-8-4. You're close to Grant Ward."
"I'm pretty sure we established this already so if that's all –"
"There is no record of you ever existing except for the redacted files." Fury continues as if she hadn't said anything. "You're the perfect candidate."
"I'm sorry, I must be missing something." Says an exasperated Skye. "Candidate? What are you talking about?"
"I'm recruiting you." Fury says with all seriousness.
"What?"
"I am recruiting you." Fury repeats slowly. "I am recruiting you on a highly classified solo mission."
A mission? Solo?! I'm not even an official agent yet! Who does he think he is, who does he think I am?
"I don't understand, why am I a perfect candidate?"
"First, legally you don't exist; you're virtually untraceable. Second, you're also an 0-8-4 which makes you a wildcard and gives you an advantage. And third, you care about Agent Ward."
"What does Grant have anything to do with this?" She asks warily.
"I'm sure Ward has told you about his brother, Christian." Skye nods. "I have recently discovered that Christian has ties to Hydra. He is climbing through the ranks there and I am worried as to what his agenda is."
"Hydra? I thought that they were defeated during World War II." This was sounding crazier by the minute. Hydra? Christian? Christian was a monster when he was a child, who knows what he can do now with his loyalties to Hydra.
"That's what we thought," Says Fury gravely, "But it seems like they have been hiding, biding their time. To make matters worse, they've been hiding inside SHIELD itself for the past seventy years."
Skye blanches. "Hydra is inside SHIELD? You don't mean to tell me that there are Hydra agents inside SHIELD right now?" Fury nods gravely. "Well what are you doing to stop it?"
"That's where you come in. You will infiltrate Hydra, get close to Christian Ward, and report back so we can stop this war before it even begins."
"Why are you telling me all of this? What makes you think that I'll even agree to this mission at all?" Skye questions.
"Because you care about Grant Ward and you know what Christian is capable of. Christian Ward is a popular and highly influential senator who just so happens to be a part of Hydra. Think of the things he could do if he convinces the rest of the government that Hydra is the way to go. The whole government will become corrupt—even more so—and the country would fall and eventually so will the rest of the world. Hydra will finally get their chance at world domination. But you could stop it, you could become SHIELD's insider, you can take them down from the inside. You are the only one that can. Given that you are untraceable except for the backstory we will give you, your cover will not be compromised. Every other agent doesn't have that and I can only trust a select few. If I could, I would send Romanoff but Hydra would catch her before she even steps foot into their HQ thanks to the media after New York. Another reason why I want you on this mission is that with you," Fury leans forward in the chair, "With you, this mission is personal. You know what Christian has done to Agent Ward and that he will not hesitate to do worse to millions of others."
"And if I don't accept?"
"Then you'll stay here on this plane constantly wondering who at SHIELD you can trust and knowing that you could have stopped the future events from happening." Says Fury simply. "That you could have protected them." That you could have protected him.
"What happens if I do accept to take on this mission? I haven't even finished my training."
"You will be moved to the Triskelion where there are a select few that know about Hydra and this mission. They will train you and help to establish your cover until you are activated."
"Move to the Triskelion?" All of this is beginning to overwhelm Skye. "I can't just leave my team! They're all I have, they're my family, and Grant –. I can't just –"
"You can and you will if you want to save them and the rest of us. Now before we can do anything else, I need to know. Do you accept this mission?"
It doesn't take Skye very long for her to make her decision which, in a way, scares her. How much are you giving up for this, she worries, how much more will you have to throw away in order to save?
These questions swirl around in her mind until she hears herself whisper, "I accept."
AN:
Chapter three is now complete and it is my shortest chapter so far (can you hear me gritting my teeth in shame?). I am still working on my Skyeward one shot and no it will not have a happy ending (I'm sorry, not sorry). Like I said before, it's going to be very angsty.
Hugs, kisses, and Skyeward tears,
~Hannah