Washington D.C.
The White House
The President of the United States descends in an elevator to a level of the White House that few know the existence of while trying to process everything that took place since earlier this morning. Shield rising up, the riots at the Hydra facilities, the global disappearing acts; he wasn't prepared to explain any of it. Worse yet, he knew that the people knew that he did not know what he was talking about. This feeling of no control was foreign and unpleasant to him and damn it all if he wasn't going to get to the bottom of this. The elevator reaches his chosen floor and he steps out into a dimly lit hallway. He swiftly traverses the hall to the other end of it and opens the door to a small conference room.
"Ah, so nice of you to finally join us," Daniel Whitehall greets from a small circular table where a few other individuals also sit.
"That's no way to speak to your President, Mr. Whitehall," he says taking a seat himself.
"That's Doctor Whitehall to you and while you're The President up there, down here you're just Alexander Pierce. Understand?"
"I understand. I understand that you're insane to think you have any real power over me. After all, who was it that fished you out of that prison Agent Carter left you to rot in?"
"Gentlemen please. Calm yourselves," said the collected voice of Gideon Malick. "A Hydra whose heads don't work together in harmony," he begins.
"Is destined to destroy itself," his brother Nathaniel finishes for him.
"Forgive me, but unity is the last thing I'd expect to hear a Malick of all people talk about," Whitehall insults. Nathaniel begins to stand up, but Gideon places a hand on his shoulder to get him to sit back down.
"Enough. I agree with Gideon. This is no time for pointless bickering," Wolfgang von Strucker says.
"You are quite right," Pierce agrees. "Now then, how is our patient doing?"
"Our dear Madame Hydra? Her situation is peculiar. Yes, quite peculiar indeed. Her brain activity is quite unlike any coma patient I've seen. The best way I could describe it is like a computer attempting to reboot itself."
"Has she been Inhuman this entire time?" Gideon asks.
"Perhaps or this could be a side effect of the Inhuman experiments she did with Doctor Fitz," Strucker suggests.
"I say we just pull the plug on her. In the span of just a couple of days she's managed to nearly destabilize everything Hydra has worked so hard to achieve, lest we forget the agents we lost getting her out of the Triskelion. And for what? That top secret project she and Fitz were working on. Where the Hell is he anyway?"
"Whitehall, come now. Hydra has survived worse than this. Cut off the head and two more shall take its place after all," Strucker reminds him. The sound of a knock at the door interrupts the group.
"Come in," Pierce says and a masked individual enters the conference room. "Agent Rumlow."
"Sir. All the patrols have reported in. They lost sight of the Zephyr somewhere around the Canadian border."
"And you felt it necessary to come to us with only bad news?" Whitehall asks.
"Of course not, sir." Rumlow approaches the table and places a manilla folder on it. "According to the communications we managed to intercept before losing track of the Zephyr, the Resistance is trying to find these four individuals." He opens the folder revealing pictures of Skye, Simmons, Radcliffe, and Elena.
"I recognize the first two. That's Skye and the second woman is Jemma Simmons. Someone that should be dead I might add. But who are the other two?" Whitehall asks.
"I believe the Colombian woman was one of our research subjects, but I have not seen this Holden Radcliffe before. I wonder what the Resistance could want with him," Strucker comments.
"And why are they trying to find Skye and Jemma Simmons? Last I checked they were already in the Resistance's ranks," Whitehall recalls.
"Just say the word and I'll take my men to go find out," Rumlow eagerly offers.
"Thank you, but I believe this situation calls for a more inconspicuous approach," Whitehall counters. He rolls up his sleeve revealing a wrist communicator and activates it. A few seconds pass and then someone answers on the other end.
"Sir?" A female voice replies.
"Ah, Kara. I'm so relieved to hear your voice," Whitehall says with the utmost fake sincerity. "After this global disappearing act, I was worried something terrible might have happened to you."
"Thanks, but I know this isn't a social call. What do you need?" Whitehall does not respond. "Sir," Kara adds.
"That's better. I have an assignment for you. Report to our base in the White House's bunker at once. Am I understood?"
"Yes sir."
"That's a good girl," Whitehall chuckles and ends the call. Pierce gives Whitehall a sour look earning him an even bigger laugh from the Doctor.
"It's not wise to taunt her like that, Daniel. Not with her mental state the way it is," Pierce chastises him.
"Mr. 'President', you worry too much. What's a screw or two loose? She's still one of our best. No offense, Rumlow."
"None taken. I like her," Rumlow laughs.
"Just remember, gentlemen, that removing the Resistance from the picture won't mean much if we can't get the people back on our side," Pierce warns them.
"Perhaps we don't win them back over then," Nathaniel suggests.
"You remember how trying to force people to surrender their freedom worked out for the Red Skull, don't you?"
"That's was decades ago. Look at Hydra now. We have more than enough numbers and strength."
"No. We do this smart or not at all."
"That's enough out of both of you," Gideon interjects. "You both make solid points, but for now our effort is best focused on dealing with the Resistance. Remember. A Hydra whose heads do not work together in harmony is destined to destroy itself."
To Be Continued...
A/N: Seven chapters in and the plot is finally starting to advance. Sort of. Lol. Thanks again to everyone that has read, reviewed, favorited, or followed this story. See you next time.