AN: Hey! Here comes the latest chapter. First things first, a big thank you to MegaDiary123. Also, at the end of this chapters things happen. You're gonna have to bear with me until the next update to learn more on those. Until next time...
All rights go to Marvel
Skye's POV
Finally, the mission had finished. It was a handful, that one. True, the end result could have been a lot better, but at least we had secured Amador and her handler was no more. On the other hand, we knew that both of them were just pawns to a greater game and we still didn't know who the chess master was, we didn't know who we were playing against.
But, as we handed Amador to the S.H.I.E.L.D. representatives in Minsk, we were finally flying back towards the US, where I was hoping to get some time off. This mission being straight after Malta, the team didn't have any time to really recharge their batteries, myself included. Plus, there were a few things that happened during the span of those last few days that had me thinking and I wanted to do some questioning and digging on my own.
Despite most of the team being at their respective bunks and areas, instead of going to my room, I decided to hide in one of the vans again. It was something about the small and fully enclosed space that gave me the sense of security and privacy. True, I had secured my bunk and no-one but me could enter, but it was still bigger than that place. Plus the darkness that engulfed the interior of the vehicle was something that my room, in the middle of the day, didn't have.
Never really shutting off my powers, I could sense Coulson walking towards my location and turned to look at the door when he opened it. "Are you still needing your you time?", he asked with an easy smile on his face.
He seemed almost relaxed. No, relaxed isn't the right word. I don't think I've seen him properly relaxed since I met him again a few weeks back. I would say that he gave out more of a weight-finally-lifted-off-my-shoulders kind of vibe. "Nah, I think I'm quite good for now. Unless you are here to give me a lecture" I half-heartedly challenged. When he shook his head I let out a sigh. "Good, then there's room for you. Slide in" I prompted and moved to the other seat, providing him with more space.
"Why would you think I would give you a lecture? What did you do?" He asked as he closed the door behind him and settled on the backseat.
"I don't know" I tried, shrugging my shoulder and playing it cool but he wouldn't have it. A pointed look was all it took for the truth to come out. "Look, I've been with this team for a bit more than a month now, and I don't want to repeat myself over and over again, we already went through my thoughts right before each of us left for our parts of the mission in Malta. I just feel that even if I do something right you're gonna be there, finding a flaw or something to complain about in my work and I guess I was just expecting to hear something similar now" I trailed off. Normally I would avert my eyes but I wanted to see his reaction, which is why my gaze was locked on his, taking in every small move or micro-expression he did.
He, just as I did, had his whole focus on me. After a bit he let out a heavy breath, his shoulders slumping ever so slightly as his expression softened. "When we first met, you said you knew me. But you didn't know I was alive. When we talked with Maria, she said that your operation in the Rising Tide was only accessed by herself and the Director. That means, and you have proven so during the time you've been under my command, that you are a very capable agent. And must be quite high up in the hierarchy as well for such a mission to be assigned to you. Which means that during my time as Deputy Director I would have worked with you. At least that's what my logic tells me, and yet I cannot recall you no matter how hard I try, no matter how much I search in the agency's database.
"It's like you don't exist and that doesn't bond with me well. And when Fury came in and asked you in his office, you had that serious expression on your face and you talked with him for a while. I understand that you have secrets and there must be things that Fury, you and Maria know that I am unaware of and not classified to know. I trust the system, I trust Fury with my life…" he said and my instant thought was 'you shouldn't' but it remained just a thought. "And I might have taken my frustrations about the whole situation out on you. And this was wrong of me. I will try to be more open minded from here on out and I hope that one day you can forgive me". He finished and silence engulfed the van.
His words were going through my head once more, just to make sure that I had absorbed all of what was said just seconds ago.
I understood him, I really did. And how could I ever hold a grudge against Coulson? He was like, one of the nicest people on planet Earth, well that was when he wanted to be apparently. Because, boy, that man could hold a grudge if he wanted to.
"I get it" I eventually said. "And don't worry about my forgiveness, there is nothing to forgive, it was just you adjusting to some new variables that you hadn't taken into account before. Plus, you are a cool guy. Not many people would have made that call, give Amador a second chance. I know you told me that you got yours and so you extend the same opportunity to others, but no-one would have judged if you decided not to"
I finally took my eyes off him and trailed them at the back of the seat in front of me.
"I can understand why you like it in here" his voice ringed though the small space not long after I finished talking.
One corner of my lips lifted at that. "It's more peaceful here. More so than the rest of the Bus that is, maybe with the exception of the cockpit. It's also nice knowing that someone has my back. No matter what" I decided to add the last two sentences just to register his reaction.
But even without looking at him, his heartbeat remained the same, not spiking at any point, as he took in my words. "Yeah… peaceful is good" he said and I felt him actually relax next to me.
It was in the middle of the night when, after sleep escaped my grasp for a few consecutive hours, I decided to head to the cockpit to be with the only other person who I thought would be awake at this ungodly hour.
After gently knocking with our prearranged pattern to know that it was me walking in, I gently slide the door open only to find that my speculation was indeed correct and the pilot was still on her feet. "I know you are probably going to decline, but I could take over for a few hours for you to lay back a bit. I have had the proper training, Clint's courtesy" I said.
The sideways look that I got from her was all I needed to know. I raised my arms, palms facing her in a surrendering manner. "Didn't mean to offend you" I joked. "What's our ETA?"
"9 more hours until we reach New York" she simply replied.
"Nice. Do you mind if I sit with you?" The small shake of her head was all the confirmation I needed to make myself home at the shotgun seat.
It was a silent agreement that we had. She didn't mind me joining her during her piloting as long as I either kept quiet or actually had something that we needed to discuss, usually mission or Fury related. And the truth was that there was a topic that had just stuck to my mind and was what was keeping me up at night, but I really didn't know how to approach this issue.
I knew that May wouldn't hold it against me if I asked, and that she would reply, but I just… I don't know. I felt like it was like an old would that had healed and didn't want to dig into it again, but my curiosity had sparked again after my talk with Ian Quinn and I couldn't shut it off. True, with my Level Clearance I should be able to have access to the files, but I couldn't be sure, and I sure as hell was not going to ask the Pirate for any favours. Maybe I could—
"Skye" May's voice shook me off my train of thoughts and I actually had to blink a couple of times before turning to face her.
"Was I thinking too loudly again?" I asked, having had a similar conversation another night when she was at the stick and I had woken up by one of my not-so-pleasant dreams and came to join her in this room.
"No, there is actually something I need to talk to you about"
I had to do a double take, not really believing my ears. May never initiated any short of dialogue. Like… ever. Not unless she had some questions that she needed answered. Ah, so that must be it, I mentally noted and nodded my head. "What can I help you with?"
I saw her grip at the wheel tighten ever so slightly as she prepared herself to speak. Nothing much, nothing close to her knuckles turning white from the pressure (this was May we are talking about here, her composure levels are skyrocketed). "We haven't talked about it at all ever since you told me about your abilities…" the mention of my powers is enough to explain her lack of comfort "…but I need to ask you something. Something about Phil"
I had a feeling that I knew where this is going, but I couldn't be sure. "What about him?"
"When we had that conversation, you had some other information that you didn't disclose. And though the Director specifically said that you can bring me in on anything or nothing you want, I have been meaning to ask. I want to know what happened to Phil, why he doesn't remember you". Of course she said that she has been meaning to ask but there was no trace of an actual question in her speech, making it sound more like a command. But I knew that that was her way of actually asking.
"Why the sudden interest?" I asked as I stood and walked to the door to lock it. I was guessing that the microphones were already turned off, she wasn't stupid to leave them on. "Don't get me wrong, but we haven't even remotely talked about anything similar to that matter. Something must have triggered this. You are not the patient kind when you want answers" I said bluntly. No point in sugarcoating my words.
Just as blunt was May's reply. "When I handed Amador to the other agents, she said something that intrigued me. She asked what happened to him, claiming that he is different. And when I told her that he's just loosened up a little bit she shook her head. 'Yeah, but what did they do to him?', she questioned and when I couldn't answer she just told me to forget about it"
At this new information my mind started racing a million miles per second. "It sounded like she knew something, or that she was asking for something in particular" May continued. "And since him forgetting you is the only missing element, I am guessing that it's related to that".
I was still trying to piece together the pieces in my head. I guessed I must have remained quiet for way too long because May turned on the autopilot and stood to come next to me, "Skye?"
"Where did your orders to land to New York come from?" I whispered but I knew she heard me just fine.
"Coulson" she answered, and though she tried to mask her voice I could direct the confusion behind her words clear as day.
"You have new orders" I turned to face her. "Set course to Washington, we need to go to the Triskelion as soon as possible". When May looked at me like I had grown a second head, I suppressed my annoyance and looked at her pointedly. "I don't have time for you to question me, okay? I need to get to the HQ asap"
"I am sorry Skye, but you don't have the Clearance to—"
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I asked as I run out of the door, to my bunk and back as fast as possible. "Foxtrot-20 Uniform-13. I do have the Clearance and your orders have been over-ridden, May. Now, will you change our destination or will I have to?" I asked exacerbated, showing her my Level card.
"No, I'll do it" May recovered quickly from her initial shock. "You know that he's not gonna be really happy about it, right?"
"Well, he's just gonna have to live with it I guess". I reached into my pocket and took my phone out, getting into a specific locked program and bringing the microphone close to my mouth but before I spoke to the device I turned to look at May, "This doesn't leave this room, I will know if it does. Remember what I told you before, when I told you about my powers? This is even larger"
"You can trust me" May said from the pilot seat, her voice confident.
I nodded in thanks, sure she would be able to see it and turned back to my phone. "Voice activation, Skye Q 2000"
"Hello Skye, how can I help you?" came an instant reply from my phone.
"Hey, T.A.D.A.S.H.I., I need a favour. I need you to log into the Bus' systems and block all the files from our latest mission. Start from whenever we got word about what happened to Stockholm. After that, I'm gonna open a back door for you and you're gonna go into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s security system and do the same for any documents related to it. Only the people in my Grudge List are allowed access. Got all that?" I asked as I put my phone down and opened the laptop which I had brought back with me when I went into my bunk to grab my Level card.
"Of course" answered the American accented U.I. voice. "I'll be done in about half an hour with both of requests. Is that time frame satisfactory?"
"Yes, man. Just do it as fast as possible please"
"Will do"
After that, the cockpit was filled with the noice of my keyboard. Not long after, my phone rang and I checked the caller I.D. making sure that it was the person that I was expecting a call from. I plugged my earphones, making sure that May wouldn't be able to listen to my conversation when I answered.
"Is this line secure?" The voice came from my phone.
"It is J. May's in the room but I'm gonna bring her up to speed when we land. You're not on speaker" I replied, never slowing down my typing.
I could hear a heavy sigh from the other end of the line. "I guess that you using just the initial and not the full name is a progress? Now, why did I get an alert that your system is in my system?"
"We are coming to Triskelion. There have been some new developments regarding the holes in your clothes and those files that Tee is securing are for that purpose" I explained as best as I could without giving too much information. The reason why I was doing this in the cockpit instead of my own bunk was that this room was soundproof, but still, you could never be too sure.
"Motherfucker" I heard him curse. "You sure about May?"
"You started it when she became your rat. But yeah, she is the only person here who I trust that can actually keep a secret" I admitted.
"Can't argue with your logic" he concluded. "I will let Maria know to expect you, though I have a feeling she already knows. Want me to do anything?"
I was about to say no to that, but then I thought I might as well use him for something not too significant. "I over-rode Coulson's orders since we were headed to New York. Could you sent him an order from the HQ for the change in destination? I don't want him asking questions"
"Fair enough. I will arrange everything" and with that the line went dead.
After that it mustn't have been 10 minutes before T.A.D.A.S.H.I. said that he finished with his work. "You are amazing Tee. Thank you. Deactivation Hamada 2010".
After securing all the files, I shut my computer down and put it to the side. This new development was not something I wanted to deal with at the moment, but I didn't have any choice. I looked outside the window only to be met by the dark sky. I should try to get some sleep if I could… the next day was going to be a very long one.