The Way Out
Ward and Daisy exchanged nervous looks as May came down the stairs. Ward wrapped his arm around Daisy’s waist and whispered into her ear.
“I’ll take May you take the others.” Ward stated. “When we get to the door I’ve got a car parked a block away for in case I needed to make a quick escape.”
“Pays to be prepared.” Daisy sighed.
“You two coming?” May said.
“Any idea what this is about?” Ward asked.
“I know exactly what this is about.” May stated, narrowing her eyes. “We’ve got a mole and I’m in charge of finding it. Now let’s go. I won’t ask you again.”
“Sorry.” Daisy replied. “We got somewhere to be.” She quickly drew her gun and shot two of the soldiers. Ward lunged towards May, his fist colliding with her face. The two specialists traded several blows until Ward managed to get the upper hand and knock her out. Daisy quickly dispatched the other soldiers while Ward dealt with May.
“We gotta go.” Ward stated. They bolted from the building to where Ward had the car stashed. “Skye take the wheel…” Ward groaned, clutching his head as they climbed inside.
“Grant?” Daisy said worriedly. “Grant are you okay?”
“‘Nother memory…” Ward strained. He saw a flash of him with a rope around May’s neck.
“I thought you said our thing was no strings attached.” Ward mocked. “Looks like somebody got her feelings hurt.”
“Grant?!” Daisy yelled as Ward emerged from his memory. He rubbed his forehead and nodded that he was okay.
---
“So Agents Ward and Skye are in league with the resistance.” Leopold mused as May reported to him and Madam Hydra on what had happened. “And you let them get away.”
“Ward got the drop on me.” May stated. “But I will do whatever I can to bring them in.”
“I want Agent Kebo with you on this.” Leopold said. “To make sure your failure is not repeated. And I want you to find anyone who’s had contact with Skye or Ward. I don’t care if all they did was sell them a toothbrush. Bring them in for interrogation.”
“I think I might have an idea of where they’re headed.” Madam Hydra chimed in. “Skye broke into my secure files not long before her escape. She found out where Holden Radcliffe resides. I believe she’s gone to pay him a visit.”
“Then I think it’s time for me to pay him a visit.” Leopold said.
---
“Coulson. We gotta go.” Phil looked up from a book he’d been reading to see Daisy standing in the doorway.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“Hydra knows Ward and I are with the resistance so we need to get to Radcliffe and get out of this Hydra snow globe.” Daisy answered. They made their way to the Quinjet where Ward was waiting for them. As Phil climbed on board, Daisy pulled Ward aside.
“What’s up?” Ward asked.
“Are you sure you’re alright to fly?” Daisy frowned. “With all the memory flashes?”
“It’s mostly autopilot so I’ll be fine.” Ward assured. Daisy looked skeptical and Ward cupped her face. “Skye I promise I’ll be fine.” Daisy nodded and pulled Ward in for a kiss.
“Alright.” Daisy said. “I just want everyone to get out of this alive.” She didn’t miss the way Ward’s face dropped a bit. “What is it?” Daisy asked.
“Your friend, Donnie Gill.” Ward said. “The way Hydra operates, he’s gonna be the first one they go after when they find out he came to visit this morning.”
“And I take it we can’t go back for him.” Daisy sighed.
“No.” Ward answered. “All we can do it hope he bolted the minute he heard we were burned or that he can talk his way out of it.”
---
Donnie twisted the final screw in his personal project into place. He knew he needed something to defend himself with. And with Daisy and Ward on the run from Hydra it was only a matter of time before they came for him. But hopefully he had just enough time to destroy all the research his counterpart had done. Almost on cue, Agent May and Agent Kebo followed by several Hydra guards appeared behind him.
“What can I do for you Agents?” Donnie asked as he inserted the hard drive Daisy had given him into his computer.
“We wanted to speak with you.” May stated. “You were seen visiting Agent Skye and Agent Ward this morning. They were declared traitors. What were you doing there?”
“I heard they’d encountered an inhuman.” Donnie answered. “I wanted to know if they had any intel on it’s powerset.”
“And why did you choose to visit them instead of Agent Garrett or Agent May?” Kebo demanded.
“Because Agent Garrett wasn't in the room with the inhuman and Agent May bungled the interrogation.” Donnie answered. “I figured they’d have the best insight.”
“The inhuman didn’t have any powers.” Kebo sneered.
“Yes and I was made aware of that when I visited Agents Ward and Skye.” Donnie replied, feigning irritation and impatience. “Though now I’m wishing I’d known in advance so I wouldn’t have to be having this conversation. It was a short conversation. You can ask my security detail about that.” Kebo and May looked at him imperiously until finally, the computer beeped, indicating that all of Donnie’s files had been erased. Kebo looked over Donnie’s shoulder and saw the message that read said the files were deleted. His eyes widened but before he could draw his weapon, Donnie dove to his desk for his project, the cold gun and fired it at the two agents, both of whom dove out of the way. The other guards on him as he blasted them with the cold flame. The lab doors burst open and a couple dozen more agents filed into the room.
---
“Everything all right?” Daisy asked Phil, noticing he a bit anxious.
“It's been years since I've even been on a plane.” Phil chuckled.
“It's perfectly normal to be nervous.” Daisy assured him.
“You know for the longest time I just wanted someone to believe me and tell me I wasn't crazy.” Phil sighed.
“You are not crazy.” Daisy said.
“I live alone and make my own soap.” Phil scoffed.
“Well the soap part is a bit crazy.” Daisy conceded.
“Yeah that's how my ex-wife saw it.” Phil nodded. “Who am I kidding? I'm not remotely qualified to be here.”
“You believed in me when nobody else did.” Daisy said. “I know the real Coulson, and I believe in you, even if you don't. You're exactly where you're meant to be.” Ward landed the plane and they made their way into the grounds of the house where they saw Radcliffe playing crochet.
“Doctor Radcliffe?” Ward asked.
“Oh good you’re here.” Radcliffe breathed a sigh of relief.
“Yeah thanks for the help with robo-Ward.” Daisy said. “Wait you remember us?”
“Yes yes I do.” Radcliffe nodded.
“Good well you can help us then we need to get outta here.” Daisy stated. “Ward’ll explain the plan once you and Coulson are free.”
“My dear I’m afraid I won’t be leaving here.” Radcliffe sighed. “I’m dead. Aida killed me and trapped my consciousness in the Framework for reprogramming the LMD of Agent Ward. I don’t regret it though. What they’ve done, twisting and perverting my work…”
“Shit.” Daisy groaned. “That means we can’t leave yet. It’s too big a risk trying to take Taskmaster’s plane without the whole team and we need you to bring the others out safely.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Radcliffe stated. “I built a backdoor to this place. Aida can’t get rid of it.” But before he could tell them where it was, three containment modules filled with soldiers dropped from the sky. The soldiers grabbed Radcliffe and hauled him into one.
“Go!” Ward ordered Daisy and Phil as they all opened fire. They raced back to the Quinjet and took off, Daisy’s heart sinking in despair. As they were out over the ocean, she pulled the ejector out of her pocket and called Phil and Ward over.
“We’re out of options.” Daisy said. “You guys’ll have to take Taskmaster’s plane yourselves. We’ll worry about getting the others out once we’ve got them safe.” Ward and Phil nodded and Daisy pressed the button. Nothing happened.
“We’re still here.” Phil’s eyes widened.
“Aida must’ve patched our exit.” Daisy realized. “We’re trapped here.”
---
“I never would’ve thought you capable of such treason.” Leopold stated, glaring at Donnie who was being held securely by the arms by the guards. “And you were allowed to destroy all the research for the Deathlok Project, putting us back to square one. But won’t matter. Hydra will recover. Now tell me what you know about Grant Ward, Skye, and the Resistance.”
“I don’t know anything about the Resistance.” Donnie insisted. “But Ward, Skye, they’re your friends. People who would die for you. Jemma too. I know you’ve got her locked up in the Citadel. You two have been in love for as long as I’ve known you.”
“You know Jemma Simmons?” Leopold frowned.
“In the real world yes.” Donnie nodded.
“And what about us?” Leopold asked. “I saw you as my apprentice Doctor Gill. Is that true in the other world too?”
“I saw you as a brother.” Donnie replied. “Fitz this isn’t right. None of this is. This isn’t you. You’re a good man, the guy who believed in me. You’re not the monster this place has made you.”
“What are you saying?” Leopold demanded. “You think I’m not myself? That I’ve been brainwashed?”
“It’s not your fault.” Donnie insisted. “Aida, Madam Hydra, she’s messed with your mind and made you into someone you’re not.”
“Do not speak ill of my wife Doctor Gill.” Leopold spat, standing from his desk and picking up the cold gun and activating it. “I had hoped you and I would be able to change the world side by side. But I guess that is not going to be the case.”
“Fitz I know when you get out of here you’re going to blame yourself.” Donnie said quickly as Leopold raised the gun. “But I want you to know I don’t blame you. I forgiv-” that was all Donnie was able you get out before Leopold fired the cold gun into Donnie’s chest. “I forgive you…” Donnie gasped weakly as the guards let his body drop to the floor.
“I know exactly who I am.” Leopold stated. “Get him out of here. And begin mass producing this weapon. Doctor Gill has left us with a suitable parting gift.”