AN: Hey guys! How are you all? As always, many thanks to MegaDiary123 for being an awesome Beta. Thank you all, also, for your patience with me. This upload doesn't necessarily mean I'll be posting weekly again, but I do sneak some writing here and there when I can. It's been a hectic Academic year so far. Thank you for not giving up on me and a warm welcome to all new readers out there.
All rights go to Marvel
Skye's POV
From that point forward, our main concern was tracking Ian Quinn. That same day Coulson gathered us all in the command centre to let us know of this development. We would still participate in minor cases and assist whenever our team was called in, but our resources would be put to tracking down Quinn and bringing him in.
And that's how sometime more than a week later we had our first breakthrough.
Ever since the event in the Academy, and whatever Coulson had said to Quinn on the phone, he had been very careful. So careful that I had a hard time finding any digital footprints of his. But eventually, something came up and we started working on a plan to bring him in.
His photo popped up in the command centre's main screen, where all of the team was gathered. His name plastered with large letters right under his face. "You found him?" May asked, looking more in my direction than Coulson.
I moved my head from one side to the other and switched the documents that appeared on the screen. "Not exactly, but I know how we can. I tracked down an invoice from one of his shell companies. He made quite a purchase recently"
"How big?" May asked again, her eyes flying through the documents on the screen.
"About a million," I said. "For his company's standards it's not too big, but it's still big enough that we think it can lead somewhere. We might have no idea what it is at the moment, but it was designed and built by Cybertech Inc. A small company that deals with advanced technology research". As I said the name of the company I side-eyed May with meaning and she got it.
After all, since she was in on the secret research we had with the pirate, she knew Cybertech's involvement and our interest in the company.
"Which is where this gets interesting. They've hired a small private security outfit to transport the purchase. Former military. Ex mercs"
May lifted an eyebrow at that. "That's a lot of security for a single package. And it's not one of the most expensive ones that Quinn's company has ever bought" she commented.
"Exactly" Coulson agreed. "And because of the stunt that Quinn pulled off in the Academy, they know that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s got eyes on him"
"Which is why they transport it old school," I said and pulled up the route of the train that the package would be in. "Via train, through the Italian countryside. From Verona to Zagreb. Very rural, very isolated"
May looked very sceptical. "And you think he'll be on the train?" The question was ever so doubtful.
"No" Coulson replied and I nodded agreeably. "But I believe they are delivering the item to Quinn himself. We got intel from Italian authorities who've been monitoring the situation"
"Well…" I dragged out as I could sense another question coming from the specialist. "We might have taken over their operation. Coulson asked nicely" I said and then coughed "Or not" in my elbow.
He just rolled his eyes at my antics and then brought our attention back to him. "If everything goes okay, Cybertech will have no idea we were even there and they will lead us to Quinn. Even if he is a no-show, in the end, we'll still be able to get the package" he explained. He then motioned to me to explain the plan that we had come up with.
"May, you'll be front and centre. You'll be the one to locate the package. I would help out with tagging it, but I need to be with Fitz in communications. FitzSimmons can't be alone, they still haven't passed their field test. Once you locate it, you keep track of it and report back. We might not be able to tag the package, but we'll be able to tag one of the security goons. Then, all we'll have to do is follow them to Quinn"
Jemma, honest to God, raised her hand after I finished talking. "And what about us?", she asked and the side looked at Coulson. "You" I said emphatically, "get to tag the head goon".
It wasn't much later when Fitz and I walked in undercover as a couple. Jemma's reaction when she found out is always going to be integrated into my mind. Everyone was getting in position just as the train started moving. I saw Fitz fidget a little at his seat and turned to look at him more properly. "Are you nervous?", I asked. The man mustn't have gotten a lot of glimpses into undercover operations. And the last one that he was in, the one with Ward, didn't go exactly as planned.
He nodded a little bit but tried and composed himself quickly. "So, are we British or American?", he questioned.
I tilted my head and raised an eyebrow. "It doesn't really matter. If it did I would have briefed you into it beforehand" I explained.
He shook his head. "We're travelling together, we should always be from the same country" he explained.
I could see that he was still nervous so I went ahead with it. If it made him feel more at ease, then I would give him that. "While I cannot do a proper Scottish accent, I have picked up on the British one" I explain in my British accent. The surprise on his face was worth it. "I have been spending way too much time with Jemma" I explained.
He made a face at that and turned away. "Eh, don't remind me. How did you two even get together? You still haven't told me" he said.
Thankfully right at that moment, the train manager was coming through and that was our cue to get in position to get the keys from his person. I nodded at him and he knew to follow my lead. "Excuse me, sir. Do you speak English?" I asked the man politely as I stood up.
He immediately smiled at me and nodded. "Of course!", he said cheerfully. "How may I be of service?"
"Can you recommend a restaurant in downtown Zagreb?" I asked as I took out a map from my bag. "Something romantic if you can, we are celebrating our six month anniversary with a Euro trip and we want it to be amazing" I closed in on him.
"Aw, young love," he said smiling as he took the map and pointed in certain areas. As I loomed over to see what he was pointing at, my hand slipped in his pocket and took his keys. Soon he finished with his recommendation and kindly handed me my map back. "That was so helpful. Thank you so much!" I moved back to where Fitz was and stood next to him. My hand found him and squeezed. "I'm sure it will be a great first night, right baby?" I turned to Fitz and kissed him on the cheek.
I could see his face growing red as he cleared his throat. "Yes" he squealed and I tried my hardest not to outright laugh. "Thank you for your help" he added looking at the train manager.
The manager nodded at us one last time before going his way, muttering "Young love" in Italian.
After that, we made our way to the luggage carriage. As I managed to unlock the door I spoke up. "You, ah… you got a little flustered back there"
"What?" He asked and moved past me into the carriage. "When you kissed me on the cheek like my grandmother? Way to sell our relationship there" he commented as he let his stuff fall on the floor. "I have a device that could have opened the door by the way" he mentioned off-handedly.
I just stared at him for a second after his last sentence. "Are you kidding me?" I hissed as I moved closer and started arranging my staff on a crate right next to him. "You should have mentioned that when we were coming up with this mission's plan. And as for the kiss, would you have liked to be the one to tell Jemma about it?" I asked and watched with satisfaction as he lifted his head, staring into nothing, and the colour drained slightly from his face. "I thought so" I smirked.
He shook his head and resumed his arrangements. "It's just that I'm always the gadget guy," he said and his voice held some sadness. "Maybe, sometimes, I wanna do things with my own bare hands. And you could have opened that door with your powers just as easily"
"Please, Fitz. You make those gadgets with your own hands" I said as I finished setting my equipment. "You know I couldn't have mentioned my powers. Coulson doesn't know and it needs to be kept that way" I reminded him. "We've talked about this, I can't just go around and showing off my powers to everyone"
At least he had the decency to look like he regretted what he said before. "Sorry. You know I didn't mean anything by it, right? I'm just stressed about this whole operation" he admitted.
I placed my hand on his shoulder and he turned his head to look at me. "I get it, I really do. But as soon as I turn the comms on, no more talking about things we're not supposed to talk about, alright?", I kindly asked him and as soon as I got a nod and a smile from him I did just as much, announcing it to the rest of the team.
We sat in silence as Jemma was rambling over in the coms. Because "She's not good in improvisation. However she excels in preparation". Her words, not mine.
As I was checking everything up I went through the plan in my head, for what must have been the hundredth time. This mission would have been so much easier with Ward. Even though I despised him and that his absence allowed some peace to fill the plane, he would have been perfect to accompany May. I felt really guilty sending her on her own, but after I discussed it with her she eased some of my worries. Plus, we couldn't possibly let Fitz or Simmons on their own. And I would have been glad to take May's place, had it not be necessary for my computing skills to be applied in this mission.
"He's headed your way" I shook my head as Fitz spoke to the other members. As soon as the head of Cybertech's security team, also known as Carlo, was tagged, the rest was up to May. She, in turn, activated her glasses and we were able to see what she saw and keep track of Carlo's movements within the train.
We worked in silence, something we had both agreed on doing when we needed to focus. I had figured out early on in our missions that if something was in dear need of being done, Fitz shouldn't be distracted. It's not that he wouldn't perform should that not be the case, the guy was a professional, but there was no reason to stress him out. I knew that he would let me know if he needed my help or if he was done with whatever he was doing.
The first indication of him wanting to talk was a heavy sigh that he let out when the announcer mentioned the three peaks of Lavaredo. "I wish we had more time to take in the scenery. It's supposed to be stunning" he said with a grunt.
I agreed wholeheartedly with that statement. "I know. We never get to see anything. If things ever calm down I'd like to take Jemma to a trip around Europe. Or maybe around the world… it would be amazing" I smiled to that thought.
I could feel him staring at me from the side and I glanced up to see the most peculiar expression on his face. "What?" I asked him.
"Nothing. It's just— How— When did you two…?" He trailed off.
I shrugged. "I'm not exactly sure when it happened if I'm being honest. At some point between finding each other again after the Academy and me joining the team it just… did, I guess. We're taking things slow" I finished talking and I felt like I needed to add something. "I'm sorry"
His expression morphed into a perplexed one. "What for?" He titled his head to the side looking like a puppy.
"I know you have a thing for her. This mustn't be easy for you"
His face went immediately red and he turned his attention back on the screen in front of him. "Wh-What are you talking about? Me? Having a- with Jemma? Pfft no," I smirked at him as he rumbled on.
My attention was suddenly averted elsewhere as I sensed someone closing in our wagon. I stood up, slowly and took my Night-Night gun with me which made Fitz stop. He looked back at the screen just as May's googles went offline. I saw that and Fitz stood up as well, getting behind me as I called in through my comms. "May, you copy? Anyone?"
"They know we're here" I heard Fitz say behind me. "All comms and phones are dead. They must use some sort of electronic scrambler"
I had made my way to the door, standing right next to it, with my back on the wall of the wagon as I felt the two presences stop by the door and get ready to barge in. I lifted my hand to my lips and then made a move as if I pushed something away so Fitz understood to be quiet and take cover.
As soon as he had done that, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I could 'see' the guy on the other side of the door, with his hand on the handle ready to barge in. As soon as there was a change in his heartbeat, I opened my eyes.
He ran in the room, gun lifted and ready to fire. As soon as he passed by me I made my move. It wasn't that hard to take him out to be honest, as his attention had zeroed in on Fitz's form hiding behind some luggage. I kicked the back of his knee, earning a yelp from him. As soon as he was with one leg on the ground, I brought the butt of my gun hard to the back of his neck and he collapsed.
I sensed another presence running towards us and I turned sharply towards the door, gun in hand, ready for whoever appeared. I blamed the fact that I was in a tense mode that I didn't recognise Jemma's vibrational signature as she closed in. But, as soon as she opened the door and kept on running, I let out a breath and lowered my gun.
She immediately ran up to me and threw her hands around me in one of her fierce hugs. "Are you alright?" I asked as I pulled away checking her over. "What happened?"
I could see the sweat gathering on her forehead from both the running she did to get here and her stress, that was pouring out of her in waves. "The comms went down and Coulson sent me to find you. We knew that we were made so he sent me here while he went to find agent May" she said.
That's right. That was the plan if anything went wrong. That Jemma would join me and Fitz and Coulson would assist May. I knew that May could take care of herself, but I was really glad for that emergency decision right now.
"Bloody hell" I heard Fitz curse from a few feet away. "What are we supposed to do now?"
Despite that I knew he was talking to himself, I found myself wondering the same thing. I looked down at the unconscious man and shook my head. "We lay low" I answered, lifting my head and found the science twins looking at me. I was the one that would lead them right now. "We wait here for a while. The plan was for Coulson and May to meet us here, so we stick to the plan. If they're not here in the next 5 minutes I'm going out". I could see Jemma was about to protest but a single lift of my hand silenced her. "Coulson and, especially, May are very capable agents. But we were still made. I need to make sure they're okay. Plus, whatever comes my way, I can take it"
"What about this guy?" Fitz's head motioned to the goon on the floor. "We don't know for how long he's gonna stay like that"
I title my head to the side and check my gun, seeing how many Night-Night bullets I had. I shot him in the chest three times. "That should keep him out until we need to leave the train" I reasoned and they both sharply nodded.