Hand nodded, "We heard everything."
Agent Shaw, following Hand's gesture, removed the listening device hidden in the control room.
Coulson let out a sigh of relief and then asked, "Who else?"
"How far does it go?"
Hand glanced at the unconscious Garrett. Her expression made it clear—he was the one.
The chaos at the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility was soon brought under control as Hand's team secured the entire area. Those who had failed the trust test were detained.
Killer Bee and Fitz received the news and quickly regrouped with Coulson and the others.
As for Garrett, custom restraints were clamped on his wrists as he was dragged away to the detention area.
He exchanged a knowing glance with Ward, who had refrained from exposing his own cover. Garrett knew there was still a chance to play his cards.
Agent Triplett, furious upon learning Garrett's true allegiance to Hydra, cursed loudly. As a descendant of the Howling Commandos, discovering that his mentor had been Hydra was a disgrace beyond words.
...
In the room-
Hand reviewed fresh intelligence with Coulson. She said, "Captain America is at the Triskelion. He took down two helicarriers, but his status is unknown."
Coulson nodded grimly, "S.H.I.E.L.D. has fallen."
Hand nodded back, "The Hydra faction has seized control of our East Africa base and the Treehouse. And that's just what we know."
Coulson responded, "There will be chaos—power struggles."
Hand added, "Not just Hydra. I'm concerned other groups will make a move—rogue nations, mercenaries, even…"
She hesitated for a moment before adding, "Ninjas."
Hand continued, "I'll be relocating to the freezer section of the Icebox. It's not listed in any of the compromised files. It's still secure."
Coulson warned her, "I don't need to remind you how vital it is to protect that location."
Hand nodded, "I'll make sure Agent Garrett gets the smallest, darkest cell we have."
Ward, who had remained silent, finally spoke, "I'd like to be the one to put him in that cell, if you don't mind, ma'am."
Hand and Coulson both turned to look at him.
Ward continued, "He was my supervising officer. I should have seen it coming. It was my responsibility."
Coulson said quietly, "None of us saw it. I didn't know either."
"That's how he beat us. By being our friend."
Ward continued, "I spent years with that bastard. I respected him."
"I want to see him suffer."
Hand, seeing his determination, nodded and said, "I don't mind having company. Besides, I need someone with your skills."
As a super soldier, Ward's presence reassured Hand, who didn't have any enhanced agents under her command. Most of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s enhanced operatives were training at specialized academies.
Hand then turned to Coulson and said, "Try to stabilize what's left of the base. And this is the only way we can stay in touch now."
She handed Coulson a specially designed phone, then added, "We might be the highest-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. agents left who aren't Hydra or dead."
"Not that it matters anymore. We only have each other."
"Stay in touch, Agent Coulson." She extended her hand.
Coulson shook it and replied, "You can call me Phil."
Hand smiled faintly and nodded.
Killer Bee approached, clapped Ward on the shoulder, and said, "Stay safe—I'm still waiting for you to come to my concert!"
Ward chuckled and replied, "Time might be running out for that."
Unbeknownst to Ward, Killer Bee had quietly placed a tracking seal on him. When the time comes, he would lead his ninja squad to the Icebox's secret cold storage facility.
…
Hand, her team, and Ward, escorting Garrett, boarded a plane and took off.
As they departed, Killer Bee smirked as he watched Ward leave.
Back on the other plane, Coulson surveyed the damage—bullet holes and shattered glass everywhere.
"This is a mess," he muttered.
"Fitz, get the firmware back online."
"Simmons, gather a team to help May patch the breaches."
May turned to him and asked, "You still want me here?"
Coulson looked back at her and said, "You're not a friend anymore. But I believe you're an ally."
"And we need every ally we can get."
May watched him as he walked away, then asked, "What's next?"
Without turning around, Coulson replied, "Survive."
…
On a different S.H.I.E.L.D. aircraft-
"Flight path locked," Agent Shaw reported.
"Good," Hand acknowledged.
She turned to Ward, then glanced at Garrett. "No more stories from him?"
She asked Garrett, "Do you know what I'm thinking, Agent Garrett?"
"I'm thinking the freezer is too comfortable for you. Maybe we should bury you deeper underground."
Garrett lifted his head and looked at her but said nothing.
Hand then turned to Ward, "What do you think, Agent Ward?"
"You already shot the fake Clairvoyant. Ready to shoot the real one?"
Ward glanced at Hand, then at Garrett.
He stood up, pulled out his pistol, and performed a quick function check to ensure it was ready.
Hand's eyes gleamed with anticipation—Garrett, the traitor, about to be executed by his own protégé.
Ward finished the check, raised the gun, and aimed directly at Garrett.
###
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