Freya and Monica walk into the control room side by side. The others look up and smile when they see them.
"Everything okay?" Steve asks.
"Yep, we're good," Freya smiles up at him.
The two women come to a stop next to the group and Freya gestures toward the new, temporary addition.
"Monica, this is Hope Van Dyne," Freya introduces. "Hope, this is Monica Rambeau."
"It's so nice to meet you," Hope smiles and sticks out her hand.
"It's an honor to meet you," Monica grins and returns the handshake.
"I'm assuming you've all been acquainted," Freya asks Darcy and Jimmy.
"Oh, hell yeah," Darcy grins. "Thanks for letting me meet another Avenger!"
"That's not why she's here," Freya chuckles.
"She explained why," Jimmy nods with an excited smile. Freya just rolls her eyes and turns to Hope. She doesn't miss the stares directed their way at the small group of Avengers gathered near Monica.
"You find anything?" she asks.
"Maybe," Hope hums out. "Inside the anomaly is definitely changing with the time periods, but it's not quite time travel. The data you guys are getting is so odd."
"Tell me about it," Jimmy sighs.
"Morning," Hayward announces when he walks in. He glances at Freya's group and does a double-take when he sees the new addition. "Hope Van Dyne," he states.
"Yes, sir," Hope nods and stick her hand out. "It's nice to meet you, Director Hayward." He silently returns the handshake before looking at Freya.
"You called another one of you out here?" he asks through clenched teeth.
"She's my consultant. She won't be here long. Calm down," Freya responds. Hayward lets out a huff before continuing to the front of the room.
"We are now assessing a more clear picture of this crisis," Hayward announces to everyone. "And thanks to Captain Rambeau, we now have first-person intel from inside the Westview Anomaly. Our initial theory had Wanda Maximoff as one of many victims. We now know she is the principal victimizer," he says pointedly at Freya. Who narrows her eyes and sighs in response. "Jimmy," Hayward nods at the other man.
Freya and Monica share an uneasy glance before focusing on Jimmy as he walks up to the front of the room next to Hayward.
"Quick history on our subject," Jimmy begins. "Born in Sokovia in 1999 to Irina and Oleg Maximoff, both killed during an air raid when Maximoff and her twin brother, Pietro, were ten."
Freya frowns at the information and her stomach knots up. She doesn't miss the glances sent her way by the agents around the room. Steve steps up next to her and grabs her hand to comfort her. She squeezes it in thanks.
"The twins were subsequently radicalized, volunteering at HYDRA," Hayward adds.
"That's an oversimplification, but, yes," Jimmy nods hesitantly before continuing. Hayward sends him a stern look for a moment, which Jimmy misses. "After unspecified experimentation with the Mind Stone, Maximoff gained telekinetic and telepathic abilities, much like our Mercury here," Jimmy gestures to Freya. Who shifts uncomfortably on her feet and smiles awkwardly.
"Back up, Jimmy," Hayward interrupts. "Does Maximoff have an alias?"
"No, sir," Jimmy shakes his head.
"No funny nickname?" Hayward asks Freya this time.
"If she did, you obviously wouldn't have to ask," Freya responds. Hayward glares at her for a moment before turning his attention back to Jimmy.
"And earliest tracking had her using her powers against the Avengers," Hayward states as he glances at Freya and Steve. "Is that correct?" Freya's eyes briefly flicker in anger at his callous attitude. Steve squeezes her hand, making her sigh.
"Right before she earned their trust and became one herself. Right, guys?" Jimmy asks Freya and Steve.
"She's an Avenger," Steve responds. Hayward pauses for a moment before pulling different videos up on the monitors.
"Lagos and Germany, we all know how that turned out," he says pointedly to the two Rogers. "Thanks, Jimmy," Hayward says with a fake smile. Jimmy awkwardly nods and walks back over to everyone else while Hayward continues to talk to everyone. "Now that we have the lay of the land, let's talk about strategy."
"I, uh, try not to speak ill of people..." Jimmy whispers to them.
"Then allow me," Darcy mumbles. "Hayward's a-
"-Terrorists," Hayward says, inadvertently finishing Darcy's sentence. Freya has to choke back a laugh and clears her throat to stay serious. Steve holds back a smile while Hope pretends to scratch her nose and silently snickers behind her hand.
"You were right, Hayward is an asshole," Hope whispers to Freya.
"Told ya," Freya sing songs back.
"Wanda's not a terrorist," Monica responds to Hayward.
"By your own account, you described the experience of being under her mind-control as..." Hayward pauses as he opens the folder in his hands. "Excruciating, terrifying, a violation." He signals someone to play clips of her in the anomaly, which makes Monica roll her eyes.
"My point is..." Monica begins. "I don't believe she has a political agenda or any inclination toward destruction."
"Monica, she blasted you halfway across New Jersey," Hayward responds.
"And I survived because she chose to protect me," Monica counters. Freya knows she's right. She remembers seeing the scarlet glow of Wanda's powers encasing Monica when she got kicked out of the anomaly.
"She's holding thousands of people hostage," Hayward shakes his head.
"And it could have been thousands more if she hadn't put up her own quarantine," Freya speaks up.
"Exactly," Monica gestures at Freya. "Listen, I don't believe this is a premeditated act of aggression."
"You don't?" Hayward asks with a hint of a smug smile. He turns to an agent and nods. "Bring up the visual." The screens flicker and begin to play security footage from S.W.O.R.D. headquarters. "This morning, I received authorization to share this highly sensitive material from S.W.O.R.D. headquarters." Everyone walks forward to get a better look at the footage. "Until very recently, it was the top-secret location of the Vision's corpse."
Freya's face instantly contorts into anger. She glares at Hayward before focusing back on the footage. It shows Wanda breaking into the facility. But something doesn't seem right. No one is acting surprised. The workers and agents are still walking around like everything is okay. Wanda breaks the glass leading into the room where Vision is being held. But instead of a whole body, his parts are strewn across multiple tables haphazardly, making Freya sick to her stomach.
They were experimenting on him...
"Vision..." Freya whispers. She watches as the screens flicker and go dark.
"When was this?" Monica asks with a hint of anger.
"Nine days ago," Hayward answers. "Maximoff stormed our facility, stole the Vision's body, and resurrected him."
"But that's in direct violation of Section 36 B of the Sokovia Accords," Jimmy adds.
"Which we never signed," Freya mumbles to him. His eyes go wide and he clears his throat with a nod.
"And the Vision's own living will," Hayward nods.
"He didn't want to be anybody's weapon," Jimmy shakes his head.
"Maximoff, in her grief," Hayward continues. "Disregarded his wishes."
"And how exactly is what you were doing to him respecting his wishes?" Freya asks angrily. "You were experimenting on him. Which can also be seen as a violation of the Accords."
"We were dismantling him," Hayward responds.
"Bullshit!" Freya snaps. "I don't believe you."
"All right, that's it for now," Hayward ignores her as he ends the meeting. "Let's work the problem people. Dismissed." Hayward leaves as the other agents around them start to bustle around the room.
"I think that's my cue to leave," Hope frowns.
"You're probably right," Freya sighs. "I'll have FRIDAY fly you back home. Take what you can with you. If you find out anything, let us know."
"Of course," Hope nods. She hugs Freya and Steve and says goodbye to everyone else before departing.
"I like her," Darcy smiles.
"Yeah, she's a sweetheart," Freya nods. She watches Hope leave before turning back to them and initiating a mental connection.
"Did anyone else notice how the agents in the security footage seemed unfazed by Wanda when she 'stormed the facility'?"
"Whoa!" Darcy exclaims out loud while Jimmy's eyes go wide. Monica just smiles, having done this with Freya before.
"Don't draw attention to us. Just try to act natural," Freya tells Darcy and Jimmy. "Just concentrate on speaking back to me through the link. You should be able to feel it. I don't want people listening in on our conversation. But, back to my original question."
"Yeah," Steve nods with everyone else. "Hayward's not telling us something."
"He also knew what he was sending you into, Monica," Freya says. "He knew Wanda was already here."
"You really think so?" Monica asks.
"Without a doubt," Freya nods.
"But how'd she even do it?" Jimmy asks. "Bring him back without the Mind Stone?"
Freya shrugs and silently shakes her head in response.
"Who knows?" Darcy sighs. "But she has the world's only vibranium synthezoid, playing Father-Knows-Best-In-Suburbia. What happens when he learns the truth?"