Chapter 13
“You’re looking at the only known level 5 infected.” Johnson told them “What was once Dr. Jemma Simmons.”
Her skin was a polished sliver color in most places. Her hair was almost like it was thin strands of wire, seeming to bend and flex on their own. Her eyes glowed a dim red color.
“Why do you always talk about me like I’m dead?” the Simmons in the cell asked in her electronic voice.
“Because clinically you might as well be.” Director Fury said, “You haven’t had a pulse in over two years.”
“I didn’t need a heart anymore.” She just said.
Scott stepped the glass.
“They said you infected types are all connected to him. That true?”
“Yes, Agent Riley, it is.” She said, using his name as proof she knew who he was, and by extension so did Stark.
“Where are they?”
“They’re safe. For now. My king does not wish to harm them if you will come to meet him. Alone.”
“Ok, I’ll come. Just tell me where he is.”
“No, I’m going to bring you to him.”
“The hell you are.” Director Fury said.” Don’t know if you noticed, but that box is seal shut.”
“Director…” Robo Simmons said, shaking her head. “You’ve always underestimated me. I tried to help you. Tried to make this war end. But you just can’t see reason. The human body is weak. My ‘Infected’ as you call them, are the future.”
It was at this point Scott realized it wasn’t Simmons speaking.
“Stark… You don’t know what you’re dealing with. Those machines are dangerous, that’s why Skye and I hunt them down, to destroy them.”
“Funny, your robot seems to say otherwise.” Jemma’s body said before closing it’s eyes. It suddenly reopened them “Well, it seems my king has blessed you with his presence. Rejoice. For he has seen fit you shall not be killed.”
“Killed?”
Suddenly, an alarm klaxon began to sound.
“All hands, code red, we are under attack!”
Fury ran over to a console on the wall, and a security monitor switched on. There were thousands of Iron Legion drones approaching the ship.
“I take it that’s not a regular occurrence?” Scott asked.
“Fuck no.” Director Fury said, while Scott’s “Uncle Nick” went straight for the door.
“Where are you going?” The director asked his counterpart.
“To do a job you seem to be unable to do…” he said as he left.
Scott ran after him, followed by Fitz and Simmons, with Johnson chasing after them.
“That’s the kind of dedication you could only hope for.” Metal Simmons said in her cell.
“Shut up.”
Daisy was laying on a bed. She hadn’t moved and barely eaten since she was tossed into the cell and told Scott was dead.
“Come on, sis, you gotta eat SOMETHING.”
“If they can swing me a double cheeseburger and my man to share it with, then we’ll talk.”
“Daisy… maybe we should face facts…”
“NO!” she said, sitting up.
“Daisy, why would they lie? You think I like the idea of my best friend gone?”
“They’re not lying, they just… They just don’t know him like I know him. Yeah, he’s a self-aggrandizing know-it-all who never shuts up about how smart he is and all the cool stuff he can do and all the places he’s been and all the important people he’s met… But he” she began to cry “… his heart makes up for all of it. He cares.”
She realized at that moment, how much of an ass she’d been since the doctors ordered her off her feet. Then she realized Skye might be right, she’d never see him again.
“If I’d have…”
“Daisy,” Skye said, “Please don’t start with the ‘Ifs’. That can only end badly.”
She gave her twin a hug.
“I never really saw him as self-aggrandizing…” Skye said
“Maybe I was just getting my feelings off my chest.” Daisy admitted. “Dating someone like Scott… can be ruff.”
“Try working with him.” Skye countered.
“Try living with him.” Daisy retorted back.
“I did, for a few weeks, remember?” Skye said with a laugh, sitting on the end of the bed.
“You think he’s still out there?” Skye asked
“I know he is…” Daisy said, lying back down.