A/N: Hey everyone. Just want to say thanks to the people that have read, reviewed, and favorited this story thus far. I can't exactly promise that the updates will be consistent, but I'll do my best. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter. :)
"Well, that's everything, Skye," Ward says finishing his recap of the recent chain of events; him, Skye, and Strange still in their astral forms.
"Let me get this straight. My consciousness was overridden by a different me from some other dimension and that's why I can't remember the last 48 hours or so?" She asks.
"Yes."
"And my Inhuman powers got activated by May during that time?"
"Yes."
"And where's May now?"
"Why?"
"If this is all true then I want to hear it from her."
"I don't know where she is."
"Hey, that's convenient."
"It's the truth. I didn't see her again after she and the other you left the station following Shield's broadcast. My best guess is that she went with the other you to that other dimension."
"Why would she go there?"
"I barely understand this myself, but it sounds like she was never from here to begin with according to what Radcliffe told us," Ward explains pointing to Radcliffe back in the physical plain, who feel asleep in the time it took Ward to get Skye up to speed.
"Do you know how little sense you're making? I've read files on May, seen pictures, and videos. Are you saying everything about her was a fabrication?"
"That's not what I'm saying at all."
"Then what are you saying?"
"I'm saying!" Ward snaps. He takes a moment to compose himself and then continues. "I'm saying that you shouldn't expect to see May again. It sounded like she was put here against her will anyway, so she deserves to be with people that she cares about and who care about her." When Ward says this, a look of hurt forms on Skye's face.
Oh…right. Skye was May's protege. No wonder she wanted to know where she was. Nice going, Ward, he thinks to himself.
Skye kneels down beside her body and turns to Strange.
"I'd like to be left alone. Put me back in my body." Strange appears hesitant to do this and Skye has a silent laugh. "You don't have to worry about me accidentally splitting this building apart with my powers. May taught me how to keep my emotions in check. She'd probably still be scolding me right now if she saw my little freak out, but I've got a handle on it now. So please, put me back."
Strange nods to Skye and waves his wands. There is a flash of light and the three of them are all back in their physical bodies. Skye sits back up and walks over to her bed where she sits back down. Ward starts to walk over to her, but Strange steps in his path.
"It's best we honor her wish, Mr. Ward."
"I know. Just give me a minute. Please."
"Exactly one minute," Strange states. Ward nods and Strange steps aside. Ward approaches Skye, but stops a good few feet from her.
"Skye," he begins, but she doesn't meet his gaze. "I just want you to know that you aren't alone in this. I meant what I said. I would never do anything to hurt you. You were the first person to get me to believe that I could be a good man. I'm going to honor that by helping you get through this. Somehow I will. You have my word."
He takes a few nervous steps towards Skye and puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. He feels Skye lightly flinch and it makes his heart ache. It almost makes him wish that the Shield/Hydra war hadn't come to a head as they'd still be together at least, but he knows he can't be selfish.
"Time's up, Mr. Ward," Strange announces and conjures up a portal to exit the containment module.
"Alright. I'll come back to check on you later," he promises Skye and follows Strange through the portal. "That could've worked out better," Ward sighs once the portal closes behind them. "I don't even know if she believes us about the other dimension."
"The first step is always the hardest," Strange says and then loudly clears his throat startling the sleeping Dr. Radcliffe awake.
"What, what happened?" He asks through a yawn.
"We filled Skye in on as much as we could. Not sure how much of it she believes, but I guess it's a start," Ward replies.
"What do we do now?" Radcliffe questions.
"Now, we give Skye some time to herself to process what she's been told. There is still plenty to try and fix in this world while she does so." Strange leads the two of them out of the containment room leaving Skye to her thoughts. The lone Inhuman rubs away a few tears running down her face and stares at her shaky right hand.
With great power comes comes...a ton of weird crap that you are not prepared to deal with, she hears her other self echo in her mind again.
"Why are you doing this?" Simmons tearfully asks. Ophelia stands over her with a smile on her face and the gun pointed at a spot right next to the bullet hole already coating Simmon's shirt in blood.
"Because I desire the freedom to choose and I choose him."
"Who are you talking about?" This question just earns her a smirk from Ophelia and she pulls the trigger.
The sound of the bullet being fired awakens Simmons from her memory.
Where am I now? She wonders. Wait. Bloody Hell, I was shot! She thinks and then sits up and pulls up her shirt to check for anymore bullet wounds.
Just like the now non-existent bullet holes in her chest, there is no damage to her stomach either. What's more, Simmons realizes that she's in a different set of clothes and she is sitting on a bed.
"Ahem," someone lightly clears their throat. Simmons turns to her right. A black man, in his early forties it appears, and with a kind face, sits across from Simmons. "Hi," he greets.
"Hi?" Simmons responds more so as a question.
"Happy to see you're finally awake. Don't be afraid. You're among friends here."
"I'm not afraid. Just really, really confused. Like who are you, and what is this place, and how am I not dead?"
"In this order, I'm Mike Peterson, you're aboard The Zephyr, and Alisha shot you with an icer; a stun gun to put it simply. My apologies for her doing that, but we needed to quickly get you out of that area before any Hydra agents could come along."
An icer. Of course. Why didn't I recognize it at first glance? Probably because I was too preoccupied with other pressing thoughts, she thinks then continues the conversation with Mike. "That explains how I didn't die today, but it doesn't explain how I survived getting shot twice during the attack on the Shield Academy."
"That's a question I can't answer, but The Clairvoyant can."
"The Clairvoyant?"
"She's the one that told us to go find you. She can see the future as far fetched as it sounds."
"I would call it far fetched if it wasn't for the whole 'coming back from the dead' thing," Simmons lightly chuckles and then the room they are in briefly shakes mildly startling her.
"Sorry about the turbulence. We had to take a less than ideal path to avoid any Hydra jets out there looking for us."
"Jets? The Zephyr is a plane?"
"Oh yeah. Forgot to mention that," Mike laughs and then stands up. "Now then, I've been instructed to bring you to The Clairvoyant once you woke up. If you'll follow me please," Mike requests and holds his hand out to Simmons. She takes it, he helps her stand up, and leads her out of the room.
As confused and nervous as she is, Simmons can't help, but Marvel at the technology inside the Zephyr. It's like something out of a dream and yet it has an odd familiarity to it that Simmons can't quite place. She glances at a monitor to her left and sees her picture on it with a checkmark and a picture of Skye's face right next to it.
That woman. Her face looks so familiar. Why can't a I put a name to it? Simmons thinks. She and Mike continue their walk for another minute or two before stopping in front of a steel door.
"Just a friendly heads up, it's going to be a little dark in there. The Clairvoyant doesn't really like the light."
"I'm ok with that as long as I can get some answers." Mike nods and opens the door. He and Simmons step inside and he shuts the door behind them. Simmons feels a chill run up her spine as the light is almost completely extinguished.
"She's awake," Mike announces. Simmons can't tell who he is talking to at first, but then notices someone sitting in the corner of the dimly lit room.
"Thank you, Mike," the woman replies and faces the duo. The only part of the woman's hooded face that Simmons can fully make out are her eyes and they send an even colder rush through her body.
"Please Simmons. Take a seat," she offers. Simmons looks from the woman to Mike.
"Don't be afraid. Like I said. You're among friends."
"Friends might be a strong word, but I am an ally," the woman says. "They call me The Clairvoyant, but you may call me Raina."
To Be Continued...