Ghost Rider
Daisy was at a loss for words. The night had started out like any other. She’d been tracking a high tech weapon that was being transported by a number of criminal organizations and had been battling against members of the aryan brotherhood when she saw it. A flaming car and what looked like a guy with a flaming skull. She’d decided to do a little digging and had found that this guy was a local boogeyman known as the Ghost Rider. The guy had taken the only survivor of the night’s attack, presumably to interrogate. Daisy knew if she had any chance of finding this weapon, it was this Ghost Rider.
---
Ward had been having a rather shitty few months. Ever since Daisy had disappeared he’d been burning the candle at both ends trying to find her. But every time he, Coulson, and Mack would get close, she’d slip away. But he refused to give up. He promised her that he’d always be there for her and no matter how much she tried to push him away, he wasn’t gonna give up on her. Unfortunately despite the leeway the new Director had given them, there were still instances where his agenda took precedent. In this case it was tracking down an energy weapon in LA. Coulson was briefing him and Mack on what they currently knew about the case.
“There was an attack late last night.” Coulson stated. “Four men. three bodies were recovered. One disappeared.”
“Aryan brotherhood?” Mack scoffed. “Not my kind of brothers.”
“Says here they’re suspected in the theft of a yellow big rig.” Ward stated. “Shouldn’t be too hard to find. Do we know anything about who attacked these guys?”
“There’s been chatter about these guys being the latest victims of a local boogeyman called the Ghost Rider.” Mack said. “Could be an enhanced individual doin’ some vigilante justice.”
“Can’t rule anything out.” Coulson said. “Mack and I’ll do what we can to find this energy weapon. Ward, you dig up whatever you can on this enhanced. Find out what we’re dealing with.”
“Thinking he’s some kind of inhuman?” Ward asked.
“Maybe.” Coulson nodded. “He could also get his powers some other way.”
“I’ll look around, see what I can find.” Ward nodded.
---
O’Brien was getting his ass kicked. May had chosen him to demonstrate techniques on to the strike team and new recruits before they took off for the mission. May pinned him onto the mat and held him there until he finally tapped out.
“What was his mistake?” Kara asked the team as May helped O’Brien up. Nobody spoke up. They just looked at each other expectantly, like someone else might have the answer. Piper finally spoke up.
“He tapped out.” she said.
“Correct.” Kara nodded. “In a real fight there’s no tapping out. You win or you die plain and simple. As an Australian ASIS agent I worked with once told his recruits, there is no giving up to these guys.”
“Alight that’s enough for today.” May stated. “Everyone get on board the Quinjet. We need to be ready in case Coulson needs backup.” The team nodded and began grabbing their gear. “You’re a good leader.” May said to Kara as they made their way to the Quinjet.
“Thanks.” Kara smiled. “It’s still strange having people take orders from me.”
“You’ve come a long way since coming back to SHIELD.” May said. “You should be proud of yourself.” They arrived at the Quinjet to find Lincoln waiting there for them.
“Hey.” Kara smiled. “What’s up?”
“Oh Fitz told me you guys were heading out to back up Coulson, Ward, and Mack so I thought I’d come see you off.” Lincoln answered.
“Not to worry Sparkplug we’ll be back in a few hours.” Kara assured. “I’ll have plenty of time to kick your ass in Blackjack then.”
“You have such a high appraisal of your card skills and I have no idea where it comes from.” Lincoln chuckled.
“Probably all that money I won from you.” Kara smirked. Lincoln shook his head and walked off.
“Anything going between you and Lincoln?” May asked.
“What? No we’re just friends.” Kara chuckled.
“Right.” May drawled knowingly. “Well if you want my two cents, Lincoln wouldn’t be opposed to more than that.” Kara blushed at May’s comment. The two of them had grown closer over the past few months. With Daisy gone and things having changed so much at SHIELD, Kara had bonded even more with her old teammate. She hoped that Director Mace would let her restart the Caterpillars program again. They’d done a lot of good in the few months they were active and she believed it would be a good way for people to see inhumans in a positive light. She couldn’t deny how relieved she was when the fracturing of the Avengers had led to the collapse of the Sokovia Accords. The moment Captain America went against them half the countries that had initially been for them had reconsidered, America being one of them. Probably because going against the hero wearing your country’s flag doesn’t present a great image. Either way, Kara was glad she was still allowed to use her powers without approval from fifteen different government officials. Made missions a lot easier. And it meant that the Caterpillars program could be brought back at a moment’s notice.
---
“Hello?” Simmons said as she looked around the large empty space. “Hello? I hear my voice echo, but it sounds strange in my head. The detail is amazing.” She then looked down and added, “However, I am 3 feet off the ground.” She and Fitz were in the process of playing around with a new project of his and Radcliffe’s. Fitz quickly made the adjustments and Simmons felt her feet make contact with the floor.
“What does that look like now?” Fitz asked.
“Better.” Simmons answered. “The CPU seems to be handling the high poly count. Textures are impeccable. We should build a place to get away. A meadow or a cottage somewhere.” Simmons sighed dreamily at the idea. “I wish it were ever this quiet.” She then removed the headset and was greeted by the hustle and bustle of the now constantly crowded lab as well as her boyfriend’s excited face, with Donnie standing next to him.
“Direct-current stimulation.” Fitz grinned. “Creates the other senses like touch and taste but also takes feedback. So I've just mapped your brain's response…”
“Response to the environment.” Simmons nodded. “Of course. Doctor Radcliffe came up with the architecture?”
“Yeah yeah, he calls it ‘The Framework.’” Fitz nodded. “But all the transcranial apparatus, that's all me and Donnie.”
“No. Of course, you're brilliant, too, both of you.” Simmons smiled.
“Of course.” Fitz agreed.
“Soon we won’t even need the headset cause it’ll all be inside your head.” Donnie grinned, excited about working on the project with Fitz.
“So May's strike team will be able to train virtually instead of May constantly breaking their ribs.” Simmons joked. ”Well give Doctor Radcliffe my regards when you see him later.”
“You can’t make the match can you?” Fitz’s face fell. This had been happening often with Simmons being part of the Director’s inner circle.
“I have to finish my reports.” Simmons nodded.
“No I get it.” Fitz sighed. “It just sucks that we can’t spend as much time together as I’d like. I mean when was the last time Coulson, Mack, and Ward were on the base.”
“At least we’re all still together.” Simmons said. “The Director has been a lot more generous than others might’ve been.”
“And he hasn’t kicked us powered people off the team.” Donnie added.
“That’s true though I think we all know why.” Fitz said. “What about you Donnie? Are you still able to make the match?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Donnie grinned.
“Fantastic.” Fitz beamed. He liked having Donnie around. It was like having a little brother. And he’d always wished he’d had a sibling to bond with. Ward and Mack always talked about their little siblings with happiness in their eyes. It was nice to get to experience that for himself.
---
Coulson and Mack followed the trail of the stolen truck to a warehouse where it had been stashed. Inside the truck they found two dead men who’d seemingly clawed each other’s eyes out. One of the men had been wearing a uniform for the docks. With no better leads, they made their way there, and just in time to see the Chinese show up to collect the box.
“May. Bring your team down here in case we need to go in.” Coulson stated into his comms.
---
Radcliffe walked into the living room and heard the doorbell ring. He opened the door to see Fitz standing there with beer in his hands and Donnie right behind him.
“Hey, just in time. They've just taken to the pitch.” Radcliffe grinned as Fitz walked through the door. “Where's Jemma? Is she not coming?”
“Yeah, she wanted to.” Fitz sighed. “Same story.”
“All work and no play, huh?” Radcliffe comforted. “That's a bit disappointing. Still, make yourself comfortable. I'm just, uh, finishing cleaning up.” As Radcliffe left the room, Fitz took off his jacket and picked up a bowl of snacks, tossing one into his mouth and watching the TV.
“You know I never really got into soc- I mean football.” Donnie said, quickly correcting himself. He didn’t really want another lecture from the two Scottsman about how American football was not football.
“No worries.” Fitz shrugged. “I’ll explain anything you don’t understand.”
“Thanks.” Donnie smiled, sitting on the couch.
“Should be pretty lopsided, don't you think?” Fitz called to Radcliffe in the other room. “Their keeper's absolutely crap…” Fitz dropped his bowl and his eyes went wide as they landed on a very beautiful, very naked woman. “Oh, my gosh! I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I had no idea there was somebody here.” At Fitz’s reaction Donnie spun around to see what Fitz was talking about. Seeing the woman he promptly averted his gaze to the TV. Fitz sat down on the couch and held a hand over his eyes and used the other to block the sight of the woman’s body.
“Hello.” The woman greeted as Radcliffe reentered the room.
“You... you weren't meant to see that.” Radcliffe stammered.
“Hello.” The woman greeted. “I'm glad to final-” She suddenly stopped talking as if it had been cut off. And then she repeated, “Hello. I'm glad to final…”
“Fitz, Donnie, meet Aida.” Radcliffe introduced as Adia continued to repeat herself and while he wrapped her in a bathrobe. “She's uh crashed.” After she was dressed, Radcliffe grabbed Adia’s remote and used it to turn her off.
“What the hell?” Fitz asked, his eyes wide.
“Well, I've just upped her PSU to compensate for image processing.” Radcliffe explained. “Must have overcranked it. I'll reboot.”
“Unh-unh, that's not what I meant.” Fitz stated, still staring at the frozen Adia. “I meant…” he paused. “...what the hell?!”
“Well, you've already met Aida.” Radcliffe said. “Digital personal assistant, as a voice on the computer. So, uh... I built her a body.”
“Yeah, a naked body.” Fitz hissed. Donnie nodded frantically in agreement with Fitz.
“I-I was just now installing new hardware, updating her gyroscopic sensors.” Radcliffe explained indignantly. “I'm not some sicko.”
“When did you build this?” Fitz demanded. “Have you forgotten the very strict stipulations that came with your pardon? You are not allowed experimentation without approval and oversight!”
“Oversight, I know.” Radcliffe muttered. “I'm well aware of that, yeah. That's why I wanted Simmons here. I wanted to show both of you. Look. This has been a lifelong dream of mine, Fitz. When I saw the work you and Simmons were doing in replicating human tissue and internal bone structure in Coulson's hand, I knew... I knew right then that this was within reach.”
“A robot?” Fitz frowned.
“Not just a robot.” Radcliffe shook his head. “It's one that can cross the uncanny valley and come out the other side. Pass for a human. I mean, it has bloody micro-expressions.”
“She.” Fitz interjected. “It's a... it's definitely a ‘she' cause I saw…”
“Yes she has micro-expressions.” Radcliffe corrected. “Full range of motion. I mean physically, it's, she's, nearly perfect.”
“She is... very realistic.” Fitz admitted.
“Now, mentally, well, you've spoken with Aida.” Radcliffe continued. “She's bright, she laughs at the jokes I programmed her to recognize, but she's never pass the Turing test. At the moment, that's a pipe dream. However, I think, with your help…”
“No, no. No, no, no, no!” Fitz insisted, shaking his head. “We have to report this right away. You could lose everything.”
“I know.” Radcliffe sighed.
“Or you could go to jail.” Fitz added.
“I know!” Radcliffe agreed. “I know, you're right. Full disclosure at this time is the best course of action. I... I agree.” Fitz looked up from where he was leaning on the couch hopefully at Radcliffe. “At least let me show you how it works.” Radcliffe added pleadingly. After a long while, Fitz nodded in agreement and they took her to Radcliffe’s lab
“You know this could be very dangerous.” Fitz stated as he took a drink from a beer. “So much could go wrong.”
“Ultron, yes. I know.” Radcliffe nodded. “But this is not AI. AI is banned, and that's good. This is mimicry of human behavior.”
“I mean it’s still a robot.” Donnie said. “Deathlok and Coulson’s hand are proof enough that something like this could be a weapon.”
“Exactly.” Fitz agreed. “Is that the idea here, a weapon?”
“No, absolutely not.” Radcliffe insisted. “Look, I know the dangers. That's why I've been... I've been reticent to divulge. I don't know these new people at S.H.I.E.L.D. But a weapon is absolutely not the idea.”
“Well, then, why?” Fitz asked. “What's she for?”
“Why not let Aida tell you herself?” Radcliffe suggested. With the push of a button, Aida awoke.
“Hello.” Adia smiled. “I'm glad to finally shake your hand, Leopold.” She extended her hand to Fitz and he reluctantly took it. “Yours as well Donald.” Donnie reluctantly shook Adia’s hand as well. “Where's Jemma? We were hoping that she would come.”
“S-She's, uh... indisposed, I'm afraid.” Fitz said slowly. “Aida... I was wondering if you could tell me exactly what it is you are designed for.”
“Of course.” Adia nodded. “Doctor Radcliffe, time and again, has expressed his deep regret for causing pain when all he ever wanted was to prevent it. He speaks often of the pain that you and Agent Simmons have had to suffer, having lost so many friends. Andrew Garner. Antoine Triplett. The hope is that I will be able to prevent future tragedies. Save the lives of agents by putting myself in harm's way in their place.”
“To kill?” Fitz asked.
“No.” Adia shook her head. “I am incapable of that. I will protect. I will serve as a decoy target, a safeguard. A shield.
“Okay. T-Turn her off.” Fitz stammered. Radcliffe nodded and deactivated Adia before looking at Fitz expectantly. “We can't tell Simmons about this.” Fitz murmured, his head in his hand. “She takes regular lie detection tests and would have to tell the Director.”
“What?” Radcliffe frowned. “Don't we want to move forward? Her approval is…”
“This is too dangerous to show the new Director.” Fitz stated. “We don't know what he'd do with it. And she would have to tell him, so... she can't know. Not until she's perfect.”
---
Coulson, May, Kara, and Mack watched as the gangsters opened the box. Their visual went strange for a moment but once it returned, the gang leader began shooting at everyone he could see. The strike team rushed in and took out the gangsters. But as they did, May thought she felt something pass through her. When she looked around, she saw nothing.
---
Daisy had followed the trail on the Ghost Rider’s car which led her to a body shop scrapyard. Inside she met a man named Robbie who offered to let her look through the shop’s purchase history. But as he was leading her to the office, she started to get a strange feeling listening to Robbie jangle his keys. Until suddenly it clicked. Extending her hand quickly, Daisy blasted Robbie against the side of a van. He picked up a pipe and it ignited in flame.
“So.” Robbie growled. “You’ve got the Devil inside you too.” The two rushed at each other. Robbie swung the pipe but Daisy caught it. She’d sparred enough with Ward to know how to fight someone with powers like these. She slammed him against a wall and held him there with her powers. “You shouldn’t have gotten involved.” Robbie snarled.
“Serial killers always complain when you try to intervene.” Daisy shot back.
“I only kill asesinos who deserve it.” Robbie chuckled. “It’s vengeance chica.”
“For what?” Daisy scoffed. “You killed a detective.”
“But he had blood on his hands.” Robbie replied. Daisy whacked Robbie across the face with her powers to increase the force, drawing blood.
“A teacher!” Daisy snarled.
“A pedophile!” Robbie shot back before grabbing her arm and headbutting her. Daisy did a roundhouse kick and shot her powers through her leg, sending Robbie through the wall.
“You don’t get to decide who deserves to die.” Daisy spat.
“I’m not the one who decides.” Robbie said simply, his eyes glowing read. His face burned away, revealing a flaming skull with glowing eyes in it’s place. Daisy took a couple steps backwards as the Rider approached. He punched her square in the chest, knocking her to the ground. As the Rider stood over her, a fire ball hit him square in the chest, sending him flying. Daisy turned her head and, to her shock, Ward was standing a few feet away, his hands enflamed. Acting fast, Ward grabbed Daisy and hauled her out as the Rider watched them flee.
---
“That didn’t go as smoothly as I’d hoped.” Coulson sighed as he rolled his dice on the backgammon board.
“Well at least we recovered the men who stole whatever the hell this thing is.” May replied. “Spend a lot of time in here?”
“Too much.” Coulson chuckled. “Mack and Ward seem to have aligned to take every dime I have.”
“Where is Ward anyway?” May asked.
“He’s running down another lead.” Coulson answered. “Local boogeyman. They call him the Ghost Rider.”
“Think that’ll go anywhere?” May asked.
“Who knows.” Coulson shrugged. “But he’s a serial killer. If nothing else Ward can bring him in. Stop him from hurting anyone else. It’s nice to have a moment just us. It’s been a long time since we had a moment alone.” As Coulson spoke, May saw his eyes and mouth blacken and his skin pale, like he’d been possessed. Coulson noticed her change in demeanor and asked if she was okay.
“Yeah I’m fine.” May nodded. “It’s been a long day.”
---
“Your arms aren’t looking too great.” Ward commented as he tossed Daisy an ice pack.
“I didn’t need you to come and save me.” Daisy murmured as she placed it on her aching right forearm.
“You know it’d be nice to hear something like ‘hey thanks for saving me Ward’ once in a while.” Ward grumbled. “Matchstick looked like he was about to kill you.”
“I don’t need you to protect me.” Daisy snapped. “How’d you even find me anyway?”
“For the record I wasn’t looking for you.” Ward stated. “I was following a lead on a robbery that happened a couple days ago. One I’m guessing you were present for. I was tracking down Ghost Rider. Followed up on the car like I’m sure you did. Was told to go to that body shop. So who’s the mystery man?”
“Why would I tell you?” Daisy frowned.
“So we can go looking for him.” Ward answered. “Unless you were planning on holding him in your basement?” Daisy didn’t have a response to that.
“Fine.” she sighed. “He said his name was Robbie. I should be able to get some intel on him. But you know this is only temporary right? I’m not coming back to SHIELD. I can’t.”
“Because of Hive?” Ward frowned. “Skye you know as well as I do the team would welcome you back with open arms.”
“That’s why I left.” Daisy stated. “I don’t deserve forgiveness. Not from the team. Not from May. And not from you.”
“Don’t you think we should be the ones to decide that?” Ward asked. Daisy didn’t say anything in response. She just climbed into bed and went to sleep.