Coulson returned to the Airbus and, in his office, examined his personal file.
Just then, May walked in, saying, "You need to put those files away."
Rubbing his temples, Coulson replied, "How can I? You've seen them too."
May countered, "But you keep looking at them over and over."
Sighing, Coulson said, "I just don't understand. I remember the events, the excruciating pain, but I also remember Tahiti…"
May walked closer and said, "The truth is in that file."
"Who says?" Coulson challenged.
"Director Fury," she answered.
Coulson voiced his doubt, "If I hadn't asked, he'd have kept this from me—kept me in the dark."
May asked, "And now that you know, does it make you feel better?"
"Put it away."
After a few seconds of silence, Coulson closed the file and looked up at May, "Alright, what is it? Why did you come to see me?"
May replied, "I thought you could use something else to focus on. The question is if you still care."
"Before Skye left, I did as you asked—I looked into her past and the agent who sent her to the orphanage."
"Agent Linda. She was killed," Coulson said.
May revealed her discovery, "But her partner survived. He disappeared."
She handed Coulson a tablet displaying the partner's information.
"Twenty-three years ago, he vanished on the day Linda was killed."
Coulson looked at her, "He's surfaced?"
"A few days ago, a teenage boy in Mexico posted a selfie on Facebook," May explained, "In the background, Lumley was seen walking out of a grocery store."
"If he's managed to evade S.H.I.E.L.D. all these years, he'll notice," she continued, "And he'll take action."
"We have a very narrow window to catch him."
Coulson speculated, "He may have killed Agent Linda…or he could be trying to avoid the same fate."
"Finding him will bring the truth to light."
May looked at him, asking, "So, do we keep chasing this?"
After all, Skye had left Coulson's team and joined Charles Doyle's faction, and Coulson's attempts to retrieve her had been unsuccessful.
Coulson nodded, "I need to know the truth."
"How soon can we be in Mexico?"
Seeing his resolve, May responded, "An hour and a half."
"Then let's go!"
…
Meanwhile-
Ward, Simmons, and Fitz arrived at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy's research division to investigate a freezing incident.
Fitz and Simmons had been invited to give a talk and share insights, but their presentation was interrupted when another freezing incident occurred, disrupting the event.
On Charles's end, he had entered the Kamar-Taj library and, guided by Wong, began his search through texts on energy systems.
After much investigation, Charles finally found information on natural energy in one of the magic books.
Charles understood that natural energy represented a primal energy tied to the core of the universe, released as planets themselves form.
Accessing and attuning to this energy required significant aptitude from any lifeform. He quickly realized that the mystic arts practiced in Kamar-Taj did not include methods for controlling this kind of energy.
Charles also theorized that the creation of Celestials might require not only intelligent life but also a planet's natural energy.
Recognizing the nature of natural energy in the Marvel Universe, Charles decided to leave Kamar-Taj, as further study there would not provide him with the methods he sought for controlling it.
Although the library was filled with magical tomes, they focused on the mystic arts, with no guidance on how to harness natural energy.
Not lingering in the Kamar-Taj library, Charles opened a portal and departed.
As he left, the Ancient One set down her teacup and muttered, "All that effort placing advanced magic books, yet he didn't even glance at them."
The Ancient One had hoped to tempt Charles with some magical knowledge, but Charles seemed interested only in energy classification and descriptions of power systems, disregarding forbidden spells and black or white magic.
Shaking her head, the Ancient One murmured, "It seems the Trinity's plan might fall through."
…
In Mexico City-
Coulson was parked in his beloved car, Lola, alongside May, waiting for a lead.
"Dario Marquez's clothing shop. His fake IDs aren't the best in town, but he manages without a computer," May said after scanning with her binoculars.
"If Lumley plans on fleeing, he might go to him."
Coulson nodded, "Worth a shot. We'll wait him out."
As she observed, May asked, "So, if you had to disappear from S.H.I.E.L.D. like him, how would you do it?"
Seeing that Coulson didn't reply, she shared her thoughts: "I'd hide in the wheel well of a Boeing 747 from New York to Singapore, with oxygen and a parachute ready."
"The last part would be over 3,000 miles of land—plenty of countries to choose for landing," she added.
"You'd probably head to South America since you speak some Spanish."
"Not a lot," Coulson responded.
"Lima, then," May suggested, "The food there is incredible."
Coulson looked over, "What's this about?"
She looked back at him. "What do you think?"
"You've never been this chatty," Coulson replied.
"Because you're too quiet," May shot back.
Coulson countered, "And you're suddenly invested in Skye's background?"
May answered, "She proved herself to the team, to you, made a huge contribution."
"But in the end, she left us for good."
Coulson asked, "Is that it?"
"Or are you trying to distract me?"
May sighed, replying, "A little of both."
"I know this is hard for you…"
Coulson said blankly, "They altered my memory. Who's to say they didn't change something else?"
May firmly responded, "I'm saying it. I know you."
"Phil, we've known each other for years, and if I had even the slightest doubt, I would have pursued it relentlessly."
"At least you still trust me, right?"
"Do you trust me?"
Coulson nodded, "Yes."
May nodded, "Good."
After a few seconds of eye contact, Coulson turned away, saying, "But I'm tired of secrets. That's why I'm glad we're here—we're going to uncover every last one of them."
May paused for a moment, preparing to reveal her past with Agent Ward, but Coulson interrupted by opening the car door and saying, "I found him."
Without another word, Coulson immediately sprinted after the target, paying no attention to what May had intended to say.