Chapter 64

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners.

AN1:

December 9th 2013

It's early morning and because the team do not currently have a case Melinda and Daisy are training in the cargo bay on the mats.

"ugh," Daisy says as she gets knocked off her feet.

"On your feet, Daze," Melinda tells her daughter, as she sticks out her hand to help her daughter up.

"I don't know how it can be considered training if I keep getting knocked on my ass," Daisy admits, as she gets back onto her feet.

"It's training you what not to do," Melinda explains. "Getting knocked down is a key part of how you learn, but what matters is what you do next," Melinda says.

"I know, I know," Daisy says, rolling her eyes, as she has heard it all before.

"This is serious Daisy," Melinda tells her daughter in a stern voice. "You're in the field now, acting as if you were an agent. You need to know how to defend yourself, and the members of your team," Melinda explains to her daughter.

"Mom, I know," Daisy says. "I've been learning for years, and I've had the best example there is… you," Daisy informs her mother, who smiles.

"May, a word?" Phil asks, and once he does Melinda hurries up the stairs and once she is on the catwalk above Daisy, from below, watches as her Mother and Uncle have a hushed conversation, and just by looking at them Daisy knows it is tense.

"What's going on?" Daisy asks, not being able to hold in her curiously anymore.

"Pack up, we'll all meet in the command centre in five," Melinda tells her daughter, and once she does she and Phil head into the main area of the plane.

"Okay then," Daisy says to herself, wondering what is going on.

Five minutes later Daisy's question is answered as she is in the Command Centre with her mother, Uncle, and the rest of the team watching a video of guys dropping through the roof of a prison.

"At zero eight hundred hours, three men infiltrated the Havenworth federal penitentiary," Phil explains, as the team watch the video.

"Infiltrated? More like cannonballed," Daisy comments, feeling shocked, as while the men look like her Dad does when he breaks through something in his Iron Man suit these men are clearly wearing no type of armour.

"They were in and out in less than two minutes. Left no prints at the scene, but we do have one lead," Phil explains, and as he does he presses a button.

"Centipede," Simmons realises.

"Seems like they salvaged some of their research from Hong Kong," Phil explains.

"So, we were right. Chan's platelets solved their combustion problem. Now they can create supersoilders with no fear of explosion," Simmons explains, sounding excited.

"Maybe don't get so excited about it," Fitz advises.

"Two of centipede's labs have been destroyed, but they keep popping back up. Now they have at least three of these guys, maybe more," Ward says, knowing the facts but he has to act clueless.

"Who'd they break out?" Melinda asks, as when Phil was filling her in on what was going on he didn't mention a name.

"Edison Po, former Marine, expert in tactics and rapid response. He fell of the grid in '08, reappeared eighteen months ago at a diner in Boston. Where he stabbed a friend's eye out. with a steak knife, then finished his meal," Phil explains.

"That's funny, Po doesn't look crazy," Daisy comments, causing everyone to look at her. "I'm kidding. The guy is a walking mug shot," Daisy comments.

"Which means he shouldn't be too hard to track down," Phil comments. "Finding Po and these Centipede soldiers is a top priority for SHIELD. We'll be running point, but we won't be working alone," Phil explains.

"What team did HQ send for backups?" Ward asks, as he needs to know how on his guard he needs to be.

"Not a team… a person," Phil reveals, and as he does Daisy feels a glimmer of hope that Phil is talking about her sister. "Someone who can help us fight fire with fire," Phil reveals, and while Daisy is still hoping he is talking about her sister she also knows that not a lot of people in SHIELD know about Bobbi's powers.

"Someone we've worked with before?" Ward asks, feeling suspicious.

"Not exactly," Phil answers, as he and Melinda exchange looks.

A little while after the conversation in the Command Centre, while the rest of the team are waiting on the plane Melinda and Phil have made their way to the Academy where they walk up to Mike Peterson who is pushing a tractor.

"Excuse me," Phil says.

"Agent May? Agent Coulson?" Mike asks surprised.

"If you're willing, we need you to suit up," Melinda says, clearly making it his choice, as she knows she wouldn't want anyone to force Bobbi into helping with something just because of her powers and so she doesn't want to do that to anyone else.

"Of course," Mike answers.

"Then put that bulldozer when you found it and come with us," Phil instructs.

"I just want to say something first," Mike says, looking between Melinda and Phil. "When I found you and Daisy I wasn't who I wanted to be, but now I get it," Mike admits. "Having all this… it's a privilege," Mike says, gesturing to everything that is around. "And training to be an Agent, working with SHIELD it's me trying to do better, trying to be better," Mike explains, as Melinda nods.

"You're getting a second chance because everyone deserves one but let me be clear… there will not be a third," Phil explains.

"Understood," Mike confirms.

"Let's go," Melinda says, and they leave.

Back on the plane, Daisy, Fitz, Simmons, and Ward are all in the command centre as they know Melinda and Phil have gone to get Mike.

"It's not good. At all. The guy was a ticking time bomb… literally," Ward explains.

"HQ wouldn't have sent him if he was still combustible," Fitz comments.

"They must have found a way to stabilize him somehow," Simmons realises.

"They stabilize his attitude? Cause he was pretty hostile last time we saw him," Ward comments.

"How would you know? You didn't even talk to him," Daisy argues. "He was angry, and scared, but he's a good guy," Daisy argues.

"Who's been in the Centipede program," Simmons says, clearly showing that she is on Daisy's side.

"Exactly. He can give us some superpower backup," Fitz argues.

"Yeah, just saying, this could easily go sideways. I mean, the last time we saw this guy he was a raging homicidal maniac…" Ward starts to speak, and as he does Phil and Mike walk up. "He's standing right behind me, isn't he?" Ward asks, and Daisy gives a nod.

"Mr Peterson, you didn't get a chance to meet the rest of the team last time. This is Agent Grant Ward. He's the one who shot you in Los Angeles. Fitz-Simmons designed the weapon he used, and I think you remember…." Phil starts to introduce.

"Daisy," Mike finishes.

"It's good to see you again," Daisy tells him, meaning that, which surprises Mike.

"You too," Mike admits. "Look, I know LA could have gone another way. Another team might not have let me walk away alive. I owe you, all of you," Mike says, knowing that he owes Daisy and Melinda in particular.

"That's bygones and water under a distant bridge far away," Daisy assures him. "How's your son?" Daisy asks curious

"Still with my sister," Mike explains. "He thinks I'm working construction, but he's good. Happy," Mike reveals, being glad of that fact.

"So, what do we have?" Phil asks curious.

"Not much on Po. I checked his previously known addresses and old military contacts… came up empty," Daisy explains.

"We've been looking at where Po might be on the outside. Let's look at his life on the inside, "Phil instructs. "At the prison. See if that gets us any leads," Phil instructs. "Anything on the Centipede soldiers?" Phil asks curious.

"We found a facial recog match on one of them," Ward explains. 'Name's Brian Hayward. Stationed in Afghanistan for three years then fell of the radar when he got back. Only living relative.. sister," Ward explains putting an image on the screen. "Laura, Sophomore at the University of Ohio. She's our best shot at finding Hayward," Ward explains.

"You and I will go talk to her," Phil realises. "Daisy, go ask your mom to set a course for Cleveland," Phil instructs.

"Yep," Daisy says, before heading out of the command centre.

Seconds after she left the command centre Daisy walks into the Cockpit where her mother is on a tablet, unknown to Daisy she is returning a text from Tony.

"Uncle Phil said we're going to Cleveland," Daisy says, as she sits down next to her mother.

"Did he say where in Cleveland?" Melinda asks, looking at her daughter.

"Somewhere near the University of Ohio," Daisy answers. "That's where the person we need to talk to is," Daisy explains, and Melinda nods, as she does she notices something.

"You okay, Daisy?" Melinda asks concerned.

"Yeah, it's just…" Daisy starts to say, but trails off, as she does her mother gives her a look. "I thought, just for a bit, that Uncle Phil was talking about Bobbi when he talked about backup," Daisy admits. "It's stupid…." Daisy starts to say.

"Not at all," Melinda says. "You miss your sister, and she would be amazing backup," Melinda assures her daughter.

"Do people in SHIELD even know about her powers?" Daisy asks curious.

'No, not for the most part," Melinda admits, and Daisy nods. "Buckle up, I'm going to start take off," Melinda tells her daughter.

"Okay," Daisy responds, as she buckles herself in.

A while later Phil and Ward have gone to talk to Hayward's sister, and while Fitz and Simmons are in the lab with Fitz and Simmons Daisy has finished the work she had to do that and because of that she is placing a video call to her brother and sister. To Daisy's relief they both answer quiet quickly.

"Hey you two," Bobbi greats, with a smile.

"Where are you?" Peter asks, as he thinks it a rather strange background behind his oldest sister.

"That's classified," Bobbi answers, smirking at her siblings.

"He's not asking the actual place more like where you are in that place," Daisy explains to her sister.

"Oh, in a bathtub," Bobbi answers, like there is nothing strange about that.

"Why…." Peter starts to ask, then thinks better of it. "I don't want to know," Peter admits. "Daze, you're on your plane right?" he asks curious, clearly moving the focus from one sister to the other.

"Yep, we're working, but I've done what I had to do," Daisy admits. "I'm waiting for Mom," Daisy admits.

"And you decided to call us while you were waiting?" Bobbi asks curious.

"Well duh, it was the best idea," Daisy admits, and as she does her mother walks up. "Mom, say hello to Bobbi and Peter," Daisy says, turning her computer to face her mother.

"Hey," Melinda says, smiling at her kids.

"MOM I GOT A + IN PHYSICS," Peter says excited.

"So your Dad told me, I'm so proud of you," Melinda says, smiling at her son. "But Daze and I have to go. We've got to work," Melinda explains. "I love you both," Melinda says.

"Love you too," Peter and Bobbi say.

"We love you too, Daisy," Bobbi says to her sister.

"I love you guys too," Daisy says, moving the computer around to face her, and once she speaks Melinda ends the call.

"Daisy, we're a mission," Melinda tells her daughter, looking disapproving.

"I know," Daisy says. "I found something, but you were taking a while, so I thought I'd call Bobbi and Peter while I had a few minutes," Daisy admits. "I know I probably shouldn't have, but I miss them," Daisy admits.

"I know," Melinda says, as she pushes her daughter's hair back. "What did you find?" Melinda asks gently.

"Po only had one visitor during his prison stint," Daisy says, as she walks over to the command centre with her mother right behind her. "Her," Daisy says, referring to the image that is on the screen. "You notice the outfit?" Daisy asks, and Melinda nods. "Miles said that a girl in a flower dress asked him to hack SHIELD. This could be the same girl," Daisy explains.

"Can we hear the conversation?" Melinda asks curious.

"That's the bummer… there was no audio, but it's not a total loss," Daisy admits. "I was able to use SHIELD's lip-reading program, because we have one of those, which is awesome and I really want to talk to Dad and JARVIS to see if they have a program like that," Daisy says, clearly about to go off on a tangent.

"Daisy,"

"Right, it didn't work on the girl because she never looks up at the camera, but Po did, once, and it caught this," Daisy says, before pressing a button.

"The Clairvoyant does not like to be touched," A creepy electronic voice says.

"I wrote that down, so we don't have to hear that again… ever," Daisy explains as while she is not a stranger to electronic voices, she grew up with Jarvis after all, that was creepy and the creepness was only highlighted because of what was said.

"The Clairvoyant," Melinda repeats.

"Yeah. Does that mean something to you?" Daisy asks, and her mother shakes her head.

"But it means something to them. To Po and whoever that woman is," Melinda explains to her daughter.

"Her name is Rania," Mike explains as he walks up to Melinda and Daisy.

"You know her?" Daisy asks surprise.

"Yeah, she recruited me for Centipede, came up to me at the hospital where I did my back therapy out of the blue. Told me she could change my life," Mike explains.

Over the next few minutes Melinda and Daisy work on a theory and send everything to Phil who they have called.

"We're running her through our system," Daisy reveals. "Maybe we can get an ID, but we're guessing she's Centipede's recruiter and Po's her latest recruit," Daisy explains.

"Three super soldiers dive-bomb a prison, pluck him out? he's her number one draft pick," Phil realises.

"Maybe they want Po to coordinate them, lead them," Daisy suggests.

"His background's tactical strategy. He fits the bill," Melinda reveals.

"So, these guys have super soldiers, an expert military strategist, and a Clairvoyant who can see the future," Daisy says. "Anyone else thinks about switching teams?" Daisy asks, and as she does her mother gives her a disapproving look.

"They couldn't have a psychic. There are none on the index. They're a myth," Phil comments.

"Ah, Uncle Phil, so was Thor," Daisy comments.

"Maybe it's an alias," Phil suggests. "Run it through our database and see if anything pops up," Phil instructs. "Ward is approaching Hayward's sister now," Phil reveals.

A while later Ward has talked to Hayward's sister and both he and Phil are back on the plane. Because she is curious about how he is doing Daisy has headed to the cage where through the open door she sees Mike looking at a picture.

"Oh, it looks almost homey in here," Daisy notes. "is that Ace?" Daisy asks, as she sits down next to Mike.

"Yeah," Mike says, as he hands the picture over.

"What a cutie," Daisy comments. "He must be so proud of yhou, his dad working for SHIELD, I know I always have been," Daisy comments.

"You knew what your mom did when you were a kid?" Mike asks, sounding surprised.

"Yeah," Daisy says, then she realises. "Right, sorry I forgot that for most of SHIELD things are classified," Daisy comments.

"It's alright, he knows I'm working," Mike reveals. "Called him on his birthday and gave him all the 'Heroes of New York Action figures," Mike reveals.

"Nice," Daisy says, wondering if she could arrange a signed set for him. "Are you two close?" Daisy asks curious.

"We're a team. I'd do anything for this little guy," Mike comments. "What about you? Are you and your mom close?" Mike asks curious.

"Beyond close," Daisy answers. "Me and my Dad too," Daisy admits, thinking about Tony. "I know I didn't grow up in the same way most kids did, but I loved every second. I always wanted to grow up to be a hero like both my parents, like most of my family," Daisy reveals, and before Mike has a chance to say anything Phil walks in.

"You wanted your shot. Here it is," Phil says, handing over a outfit.

"I'll let you get ready," Daisy says, before heading out of the cage, and as she walks out of the cage.

A little while later Daisy, Fitz, Simmons, Ward, and Mike are all in the cargo bay together, Mike is moving around in the suit to see how it fits.

"I think it's quiet smart," Simmons comments.

"How does it feel?" Fitz asks curious.

"Feels good. Comfortable," Mike admits.

"Having powers is cheating," Ward comments, as he really feels like that. "But the suits pretty cool," Ward admits, as he can't help it.

"It's perfect for an array of tactical missions," Fitz explains.

"Yeah, also measures your heart rate, systolic pressures, and glucose levels. All while providing state-of-the-art ballistic protection," Simmons explains.

"Thanks," Mike says, feeling grateful as he really likes the suit.

"Oh no, thank you," Simmons says.

"We've never been so proud," Fitz comments as Melinda and Ward walk up to the group.

"Hayward's cellphone has been traced to an abandoned factory about eight miles from here," Phil explains.

"Probably Centpede's new lab," Ward comments.

"Certainly, been there MO. We destroy one factory, they set up another, putting us back at square one," Phil explains. "This time I want answers," Phil says.

"Means we go in quiet, do minimal damage to the facility and the people inside," Melinda explains.

"Ward, May, you'll go in through the west entrance," Phil explains. "Mr Peterson and I will enter through the loading dock," Phil explains. "Daisy, Simmons, Fitz, you'll run back end from outside," Phil explains.

"And you will stay in the van unless told otherwise," Melinda says, looking at her daughter as she stresses her words.

"Yeah, okay, but are we seriously doing this just us?" Daisy asks. "We've been playing whack-a-mole with these guys since I decide to stoy away. Shouldn't big SHIELD be sending in backup?" Daisy asks, thinking of her sister, or Aunt and Uncle, or Sharon and Trip.

"Trust me, they already did," Phil says, looking at Mike. "Let's go," he instructs.

A while later the team have gone after Hayward, but to their disappointment they didn't get much info as he was killed by an eye device just like Amador. As they have a lot to discuss Daisy, Phil, Fitz, Simmons and Mike, who was hurt, are all in the lab together.

"The one on the left is Akela Amador's. Hayward's is on the right," Fitz explains. "Now, his prosthetic was slightly damaged, but based on digital reconstruction, we can now confirm that the technology is virtually identical," Fitz explains. "Hayward's prosthetic has the same internal power source, backscatter capabilities, and biomechanics as Amador," Fitz reveals.

"So, Centipede also designed the eye implant?" Phil asks.

"These guys are serious multitaskers," Daisy comments.

"Who's akela Amador?" Mike asks curious.

"Former SHIELD agent, the first person we encountered with this eye technology, a good agent who was forced to do some bad things," Phil explains.

"We helped her," Simmons explains.

"Kind of a pattern with you guys," Mike realises. "So then, those soldiers at the warehouse were forced to attack us through that eye thing?" Mike asks, trying to make sense of everything.

"They were getting orders," Phil explains. "When the tide turned in our favour, Centipede flipped Hayward's kill switch, told the other guys to run," Phil explains and as he does he realises something. "Can you track the eye feed like before, find their location?" Phil asks curious.

"Nope. They've upgraded since Amador. Their feed's untraceable now," Daisy explains, though she wants to get permission to send the feed to her father to see if he and Jarvis can trace it.

"Their technology keeps advancing at a disturbing rapid pace. They must have endless manpower, resources," Phil says, feeling worried.

"And someone with a fat wallet," Daisy says, knowing that they would have to.

"That makes sense," Fitz says. "If I could see the future, I'd go straight to Las Vegas," Fitz comments.

"Whoever's behind them may or may not be psychic, but they're one step ahead of us every time," Phil says, looking worried. "I need to update HQ. this is bigger than we thought," Phil admits, and as he does Daisy wants to loop in her father even more.

Upstairs, May who is angry at something Ward did during the fight, is storming up to Ward who is at the bar.

"I'll pour you a Scotch," Ward says, as he sees Melinda.

"Don't do that again," Melinda says angrily.

"Brandy then?" Ward ask confused.

"I've been fighting since before you were born, I don't need your or anyone else protecting me," Melinda says angrily as she has never let anyone protect her and she is not going to start now.

"Time out. still playing catch-up here. What are you talking about?" Ward asks.

"You, taking a punch for me," Melinda says. "I didn't need you to do that, I do not need your protection," Melinda explains.

"You think I don't know that? I took that punch cause you're faster than me. You could do more good on your feet. It was tactical not out of some misguided attempt at protection," Ward explains.

"My mistake," Melinda responds.

"Good, glad that we're on the same page," Ward says, before walking off, and as he walks away Melinda leans on the bar.

"Wow, that seemed intense," Daisy says, walking up to her mother and as soon as she hears her daughters' voice Melinda looks happy. "You okay?" Daisy asks concerned.

"I'm okay," Melinda assures her daughter. "Daisy, I think you should go home to New York," Melinda tells her daughter.

"What! NO!" Daisy exclaims.

"There's a Stark Facility nearby, from there you'll be able to get a plane home, a safe one," Melinda explains.

"No, I'm not going anywhere," Daisy argues.

"Things are getting dangerous," Melinda tells her daughter.

"That's nothing new," Daisy tells her mother. "Mom, I a member of this team, and yeah it was scary when I knew you were fighting in that warehouse, but I did my job, and I'm going to keep doing it," Daisy argues.

"Daze…." Melinda starts to say.

"Mom, I know you want to protect me, but I want to do this. I'm not going back to New York," Daisy argues.

"Okay," Melinda says, against her better judgement.

"But I do want to send a copy of the eye feed to Dad. I've done everything I can think of, but maybe there is something he and Jarvis can do," Daisy explains.

"Do it," Melinda tells her daughter.

"On it," Daisy says, before heading to her bunk.

A little while later, to Mike's horror he has learnt that his son has been captured and so the entire team are in the main area of the plane talking about what they are going to do.

"They want a trade… Ace for his father. They've sent a time and a place," Phil explains, and as he does Melinda can't help but glance at Daisy.

"Bloody savages," Fitz comments.

"They want to experiment on him, determine how he still has his abilities," Simmons explains.

"And we're gonna let them?" Daisy asks, sounding horrified.

"We've fought these guys before. We don't have a chance," Ward says, saying what he knows he should rather than what he really thinks.

"The instructions they gave Mr. Peterson were very specific. I called HQ told them to stand down," Phil explains.

"Stand down?" Daisy asks shocked.

"So we take them alone," Ward says, as that is exactly what he wants.

"We should at lest have a hostage-rescue unit in support of this," Melinda says, saying what she would want if it was one of her kids in this situation.

"They said they would murder my son," Mike says, and as he does Melinda feels her heart sink. "If we make one wrong move. Any electronics, any comms, any sign of surveillance and they'll terminate the arrangement," Mike explains, and as he does Melinda can hear the pain in his voice, the pain of a parent which she recognizes. "I'll give myself up, no problem, get him back. I can figure it out from there," Mike explains.

"You're still recovering," Daisy points out. "We can't just hand you over to them like that, can we?" Daisy asks, looking between her mother and uncle.

"Fitz-Simmons have a non-electronic method of tracking him," Phil reveals, as while he doesn't like the plan he knows it is necessary.

"Simmons has fabricated an odourless scent," Fitz reveals. "I have an instrument which can detect it. Works like a bloodhound. Can track someone from over 50 kilometers," Fitz explains, and as he does Ward knows that that could be potentially problematic.

"After we make the trade, we'll be able to follow Mr Peterson. Buy him some time to get his strength back. We'll find him," Phil explains.

"I don't care what happens to me. As long as my boy is…" Mike says, and Melinda knows that she would do the same to save one of her children.

"I promise you, we will get your son back," Melinda says, looking right at Mike and because he knows she is a parent he believes her.

A little while later Melinda and Phil are in the SUV at the bridge where the exchange is going to go down. While they are in the car Fitz, Simmons, Daisy and Mike are by the van, and Ward is in his chosen location with a gun.

"At least let me escort him out for the exchange," Melinda says, as she feels it would be best.

"Mr Peterson requested me. I'm comfortable with that," Phil explains. "And if thigns go south, I need you back here, taking point on the team," Phil explains. "Is Ward in position?" Phil asks curious.

"Yes," Melinda confirms. "But I don't like any of this," Melinda admits.

"There'd be something wrong with you if you did," Phil says, and they head out of the car.

"Once the swap happens I'll fire up my equipment," Fitz explains as Simmons puts the substance on Mike. "We'll be able to track you wherever they take you," Fitz explains.

"Just don't do anything that'll endanger my son," Mike requests.

"We won't, but we want to make sure Ace has his dad at the end of the day too," Daisy explains.

"Time to go," Phil says, as he and Melinda walk up, and once he speaks he and Mike walk towards where Rania and centipede soilders are.

"This will work, right?" Daisy asks her mother concerned.

"I hope so," Melinda says, as she leads her daughter back to the SUV where she, Fitz, and Simmons sit to watch the exchange.

"Let me know when I can activate comms and the tracker," Fitz says from the backseat, and Melinda nods.

"There's his son," Daisy says relieved as she sees Mike.

"Oh thank god. I have no stomach for this," Simmons admits.

"On my mark, activate comms and tracker," Melinda instructs, and to her horror they watch as Coulson is taken as Mike starts to run back towards them with his son.

"What happened? They've taken Coulson," Ward says through the coms. "We need backup. I have a shot," Ward reveals, even though he doesn't.

"Do not engage. They'll kill Coulson," Melinda says as she, Daisy, Fitz and Simmons hurry out of the car. "Stand down. I'll contact HQ," Melinda says, grabbing a wakie. "This is SHIELD RG422. We need immediate satellite support," Melinda explains, as Mike and Ace get to them, and Mike puts Ace down on the ground and squats down.

"Ace, I've got to make something right. Daddy loves you so much, okay? Stay with Daisy and Melinda. You remember them right?" Mike asks, and Ace nods.

"Keep him safe. Take care of my boy!" Mike says as he runs off and Daisy ptus an arm around Ace.

To everyone's horror they watch as part of the bridge blows up and then a helicopter files away, clearly with Coulson onboard.