Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Austria 1945

"The Jedi are coming! The Jedi are coming! We must move quickly to assist Herr Reinhardt! For Hydra!" An officer called out to his subordinates

Trucks filled the courtyard and crates filled with documents and weapons were placed just outside the trucks. These objects would be scanned by a device powered by Tesseract derived technology. Then placed in the trucks to be transported to Baron Werner Von Strucker's safehouse. Yet a nervous Junior officer struggled to move a powerful weapon of great value to the commanding officer of the unit SS Daniel Reinhardt.

Reinhardt was not upset at the Junior Officer's mistake and calmly wiped his glasses with a handkerchief. He was confident the emergency protocols that the Hydra cell leaders put in place after Captain America and the Jedi defeated the Red Skull to ensure the survival of Hydra would suffice. He wasn't worried and aimed to reassure his subordinates of the principles upon which Hydra was founded.

"Are we almost finished? You're nervousness is unnecessary. Remember son. When one head is cut off two more shall take it's place. There's no need to fear because we planned for the possibility of Red Skull's defeat." Reinhardt reassured

The Junior Officer nodded and returned to his duties. He supervised an armored soldier carrying an artifact of devastating power known as the Obelisk. If touched by an unworthy persons bare hand then that individual would be turned to stone. Reinhardt knew if he could discover the secret to his power than the Jedi Order would be a threat to Hydra's vision no more. Their allies lead by Commander Peggy Carter of the Strategic Reserve would be helpless against his Hydra cell. Red Skull's vision of a world openly willing to submit to Hydra's will would be complete.

The base shook with a violent boom as cannons fired upon unseen assailants. Soon the cannons were magically lifted in the air and tossed aside. A whirring sound filled the silence and Reinhardt gasped in alarm. The Jedi Master Dooku and his student Qui Gonn Jinn had arrived and they worked their way through his armed forces with ease. The snipers hiding in the rooftops of the barracks were quickly shot down by Commander Peggy Carter and her howling Commandos.
Reinhardt and his officers were surrounded by their foes. The Jedi pointed their lightsabers at Reinhardt and Carter and her Commandos aimed their blaster cannons at everyone else.

"I've got to hand it to you. You guys's plan to bomb the Eastern Seaboard with Tesseract powered airships was impressive. Even after our guy thwarted your Red guy's plan. You still wanted to carry out the Red Guy's wishes to spread misery and terror everywhere you went. I'd give it an A for effort." Sergeant Jim Dun Dugan said to the Junior Officer Reinhardt spoke to earlier

Reinhardt detested his bowler hat and ridiculously large mustache.

"I'm actually not inclined to compliment you evil scumbags. Though I am doing my best to learn German. Any sudden moves and I'll blast a cap to your...to your...whatever the German word is for nuts." Lieutenant Pat Morita an Asian man that was a particularly good marksman

Reinhardt knew that the Furher Adolf Hitler hated how unclean this force that was once lead by Captain America was. A woman as it's Commander, an Asian and French man as it's Lieutenants, a filthy negro as it's Captain and a white man (albeit a filthy Red Head as opposed to a blond with blue eyes) as the lowest ranked officer a mere Sergeant. Reinhardt hardly cared about these matters. He knew this group got results even before the two Jedi formed a partnership with them.

"Reinhardt your cruel experimentation was a detestable deviation of nature and it's inherent beauty. It's why I take great pleasure in defeating your Hydra cell over all the others." The Padawan Qui Gonn Jinn said with disgust to Reinhardt

Reinhardt laughed, "This child must be no older than fourteen and he talks this way to elders."

"You are a madman intent on disrupting peace and causing chaos so that Hydra takes over the world. You are a war criminal not an elder. My Padawan has the right correct assessment of your lack of character." Jedi Master Dooku scolded

"And what do you have to say Commander. You've studied my file and my work for years. You know I'm no military officer. My rank is ceremonial. I'm a scientist and a researcher that seeks to understand the greater powers that govern the combined universes between us and the Jedi. I'm no fool. I know you've given amnesty to Red Skull's chief scientist Armin Zola to learn more of his research to help strengthen the newly formed United Republic. I could also play the same role for you." Reinhardt offered

"You are now under arrest and these dangerous items that you attempted to transport are under the joint supervision of the Strategic Scientific Reserve and the Jedi Order. Dugan and Morita take him and his men away. They'll be locked away in a secret location." Carter ordered

"Cut off two heads two more shall take it's place." Reinhardt said confidently

"Well I suppose will just keep cutting them off." Commander Carter said cooly

Reinhardt frowned as the Howling Commandos led him away.

"Think about my offer Commander Carter. We can do magnificent work together discovering secrets that I believe the Jedi don't want us to know."

Carter frowned but also had a look that to Dooku meant she was considering Reinhardt's offer.

"Commander Carter I strongly urge you to follow the Jedi's advice. That Obelisk must be detained within the Jedi Temple on London Coruscant. In exchange you can determine the secret locations for the other objects. I'll attempt to convince the Jedi High Council of our hastily decided arrangement but I implore you...don't ever trust Officer Reinhardt under any circumstances. Compromise even for good intentions never ends well. I'm grateful my Padawan has taken this lesson to heart and I implore you to do the same." Jedi Dooku warned

"I'll think about your offer. Right now we need to lock this site down. When we are finished we will have defeated every Hydra Cell and this long war will be over. I am confident the Jedi Order and the Strategic Reserve will have a fruitful friendship Dooku. Thanks to you and your student Qui Gonn we saved many lives by preventing these weapons from falling into the wrong hands." Commander Carter replied

"Fine. We will address this matter at another time. For now I'll trust you and so will Qui Gonn." Dooku said

Present Day March 1st, 2014

Dooku went to his private office in his mansion to speak to his master Lord Darth Sidious.

"Master please allow me to send Ventress to retrieve the Obelisk from the Jedi Temple. She's grown in her power considerably and has former Shield Agent Grant Ward to assist her in key espionage elements of this mission. He knows Phil Coulson's Shield team inside and out." Sith Lord Count Dooku requested

"No Lord Tyranus. I will trust the best bounty hunter in the business for this mission Cad Bane. You must monitor the remaining Hydra cells very closely. After the arrogance and foolishness of Hydra double Agent John Garrett. I can't risk Hydra interfering with our plans again. There is too much at risk for another blunder by them. Do I make myself clear?" Darth Sidious ordered

"Yes my master. I shall have Ventress monitor Hydra's top remaining Agent Bakshi. I do believe they've found a successful test subject for their superhuman program. Carl Creel. He could be useful to our plans Lord Sidious. He could destroy Phil Coulson and his team." Dooku offered

"Perhaps. We shall see but if anyone becomes a liability Lord Tyranus. Eliminate them."

Dooku bowed and the communication cut out.

Chapter Text

March 1st, 2014

"Remember Ahsoka to be on your guard. Cad Bane is the most deadly bounty hunter on the planet. Do not take him lightly because you're Force Sensitive." May warned

Ahsoka groaned, "My master said I've grown in my training significantly since we defeated John Garrett on Ryloth/Algeria. Coulson made me team leader for this mission."

"I don't need to remind you that you've been overconfident and taking too many unnecessary risks on recent missions. Even Anakin has lectured you about this and he's allergic to following protocol. You also need to remember your teammates on this mission are all mercenaries and not official members of Shield who are greedy bastards that only care about getting lots of money." May replied

"Excuse me I can hear you. This is a shared comm link. No need to be so rude Calvary." Lance Hunter one of the mercenaries complained

"Don't call me Calvary! Don't interrupt me when I'm instructing a young Shield Agent." May chastised

"Jeez. I was just joking. I've heard the story of your past heroics that got you the name Calvary. The story gets more extravagant with each retelling. Sorry."

"Lance just relax. This is the last mission we're running for Coulson before we move on to a more lucrative employer. So let's end our contract with Coulson on a good note." Former Shield Agent turned mercenary Isabelle Hartley stated

The trio were stationed outside the entrance to the restricted archives of the Jedi Temple in London Coruscant. This section of the Temple was reserved only for Jedi who attained the rank of Master. Even Ahsoka's mentor Anakin Skywalker couldn't access the archives because he hadn't achieved the rank of Master. Anakin's former mentor Obi Wan Kenobi was a Jedi Master on the High Council who had access to the secrets in the archives. He had agreed reluctantly on Anakin's urging to run interference for Agents Phil Coulson and Melinda May to run this operation within the Jedi Temple. Obi Wan urged Coulson to not regret allowing his Shield team unrestricted access to the Vault of artifacts and the central heating, water and cooling station for the entire Temple near the archives underneath the Temple adjacent to the Vault.

Coulson through his secret sources learned that Darth Sidious had overruled Count Dooku on the Separatists increasing communication with Hydra. Hydra double Agent John Garrett was defeated and killed
by Coulson's team. The past several months since Garrett's defeat caused some distrust between Dooku's Separatist government and the Hydra leadership that John Garrett took orders from. Now Coulson learned an object of great power within the Jedi Temple called the Obelisk was going to be stolen by bounty hunter Cad Bane on behalf of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious.

Ahsoka knew even though Coulson wouldn't say it that the Obelisk held the key to the alien writing that Garrett was writing prior to his death after he got superpowers. It appeared the alien writing contained the secret to create superhumans that both the Separatists and Hydra wanted so desperately to attain. Ahsoka wondered if the secrets to the alien writing would reveal why Skye was both Force Sensitive and a potential superhuman. One of the rare few in the world to contain both of these unique gifts. Would the Obelisk help Ahsoka and Anakin find Skye's parents. An explosion interrupted Ahsoka's private thoughts and forced her into action. However the hallway filled with smoke causing her and her team to pass out. May's worried shouting over the comm link felt like a faint whisper and Ahsoka was filled with warm gentle thoughts before everything went black.

Ahsoka woke up and learned Cad Bane, a superhuman mercenary working for Hydra named Carl Creel and her teammates fought over the Obelisk. Creel killed Isabelle Hartley and wounded Lance Hunter. Hunter contacted his old friend Alphonso "Mack" Mackenzie who was a newly hired chief tech engineer and airship operator for Coulson's new Shield team. Ahsoka could hear Mack crying and she remembered that Mack used to work with Isabelle before Hydra attempted to take over Shield. Ahsoka bowed her head in shame remembering May's words about her overconfidence being a liability.

****

Fitz looked up at Mack the newest member of the team and he was nervous. Mack was tall and muscular with a serious look on his face. However Mack gave a warm smile when he realized Fitz's initial fear.

"You've found something on that data pad that can help us stop that superhuman Carl Creel?" Mack asked gently

Fitz knew Mack was being nice because of the psychological trauma he suffered due to Grant Ward's betrayal months ago. Hallucinations of his best friend Jemma Simmons followed him everywhere. Fitz knew he was pitied by the other members of the Shield including the Jedi on the team. Anakin and Ahsoka's attempts to be nice to Fitz failed to mask their pity and shame. Fitz knew Jedi with proper concentration on their abilities can discern dishonesty and betrayal.

Anakin and Ahsoka blamed themselves for failing to expose Grant Ward as a traitor to Shield. Ward wasn't just a former member of the team. He was a friend and to Fitz he was a big brother. Someone that helped build Fitz's confidence and skills. Things changed a few months ago. In order to win a battle in Ryloth/Algeria critical to gaining a huge advantage in the Clone Wars Hydra emerged from the shadows. Hydra wasn't dead despite a thorough analysis by both the Jedi Order and an earlier version of Shield at the conclusion of War World II that stated Hydra was no more. Ward revealed himself as a member of Hydra killing over a dozen Shield Agents and almost succeeding in killing Fitz and Jemma.

Now Fitz saw Jemma everywhere and struggled to remember things and had nightmares every time he slept. Everyone either made him angry with their pity for Fitz's condition or their attempts at kindness such as what Mack attempted to do right now. Fitz wanted to be left alone and continue to do his work in silence. Yet Mack patiently waited for Fitz to answer still sporting a warm and gentle smile.

"I didn't solve this today." Fitz stuttered

"Do you think you can solve it if I help you analyze the information on your data pad?" Mack asked

"Sure." Fitz replied stunned by Mack's patience

Fitz's hallucination of Simmons gave a wide and bright smile.

"How wonderful Leo that you might potentially have made yourself a new friend."
Fitz hallucination said
....

"Why should I help you?" Hunter asked surrounded by Clones led by Commander Talbot

"Because Cad Bane is willing to work with me for a price. I figured you would be willing to work for me for a price. That Obelisk is a dangerous weapon that belongs in United Republic military property, not in the Jedi Temple and certainly not with Coulson's team. He's still wanted for insubordination to the office of the Supreme Chancellor under the United Republic Charter Article 5 Order 66." Commander Talbot explained

"I may break the rules once in a while but I'm not a scumbag like Cad Bane." Hunter complained

"I know. You were a member of the London Coruscant Honor Guard. An elite military organization charged with protecting the United Republic Senate from threats. Discharged from duty when you and your men were replaced with Clone Officers when the Clone Wars began you became a mercenary for hire.

But now...you want to avenge the death of your friend Isabelle Hartley. Killed by that super powered freak Carl Creel. I just want the Obelisk and so does Cad Bane. With your help we can both get what we want and leave Bane in the cold. It's not like you'd be betraying Coulson by taking my deal...you only work for him for money not loyalty." Talbot offered

"Oh really? A Republic military flunky like you thinks he can stop me. Ha, ha, ha. That's hilarious." Cad Bane called out

An explosive landed in the middle of the loosely formed circle around Hunter releasing smoke when it exploded. Cad Bane grabbed Hunter and injected him with a chemical that knocked him unconscious.

****

May and Ahsoka struggled to keep up with Carl Creel on their speeder bikes. He was flying a speeder bike and his powers allowed him to absorb the blaster fire from a small airship piloted by Ahsoka's close friend and the highest ranking Clone in Anakin's 501st battalion CT-7567 or as everyone called him Captain Rex. Creel could transform his body by absorbing the physical properties of the objects he touches. He touched the asphalt that was used to form the roads in the city to harden his skin so that it resembled asphalt causing the plasma blasts from the airship to bounce off of him. He showed no signs of physical pain or damage and Ahsoka realized Hydra was using Creel to send a message. They would not be pawns of the Separatists again but instead be equal partners with them or treat them as a threat just like Shield.

Creel's bike was shot down and he was surrounded by Clones from Obi Wan's unit the 212th battalion. Creel touched his destroyed speeder bike and his skin turned into Doonium based metal. One of the toughest metals in the world. Ahsoka and May stood behind Creel cutting off his path of escape. She unsheathed her twin lightsabers and ignited them. Ahsoka knew this was going to be her and May's toughest fight yet. She reminded herself to remember the training she received from Anakin and to trust in the Force.

****

The top scientists in Coulson's underground Shield facility stood at attention waiting for Fitz to speak. Fitz struggled to get the words out. He always struggled talking to people ever since Ward betrayed him and left him and Simmons to die in an escape pod at the bottom of the ocean. He still couldn't get over his fear of Ward even though his friends were in grave danger right now. Fitz knew Ahsoka and May were counting on him to find a scientific solution to neutralizing Creel's power so that they could recover the Obelisk from him and arrest him. Yet he continued to stutter and his frustration reached a boiling point. Fitz knocked over a stack of data pads on the table in a blind rage scaring the top scientists.

"Woah woah Turbo. Calm down. It's ok. I'm here for you man. Ahsoka and May are stalling until we figure out a way to stop Creel. They're going to be fine. They're elite warriors. Ahsoka got Jedi powers and May is called the Calvary for a reason. Just take a deep breath and we'll go through what you learned about Creel step by step." Mack reassured Fitz

"You don't understand Mack! I didn't solve this today! I'm trying to explain it to you but my mind is jumbled!" Fitz yelled with tears in his eyes

"It's not your fault. That psychopathic traitor Grant Ward did this to you. He's to blame. But we can do this together. You're not alone man." Mack said gently

"I didn't solve this today." Fitz kept repeating at the scared scientists

"You three need to go. You're making him frustrated." Mack ordered the scientists

The scientists left in a hurry and Mack went over to Fitz and put his arm around Fitz's shoulder. He gave him another warm smile.

"I'm right here. Are you saying you solved this a different day? Is that it? Do you remember what day you solved the problem of how to neutralize Creel?" Mack asked quietly

Fitz breathed a sigh of relief. It had been months of struggling to get people to understand him. Now Mack understood him exactly as he intended. He nodded vigorously and Mack immediately picked up a data pad and started going through Fitz's old notes. He saw designs of various devices and Fitz pointed at one that was shaped like a car battery with handles.

"I built that two weeks ago. It has the technology capability of stopping Creel from using his power. Yes! Coulson can use this to save Ahsoka and May! Thanks!" Fitz said joyfully

"You welcome Turbo. Anything you need let me know. I'm here for you." Mack reassured again

****

"Time to wake up. There's someone who would like to speak to you." Cad Bane said to a groggy Hunter

Hunter woke up tied to a chair in an abandoned warehouse staring at Cad Bane. He was leaning against the wall with a toothpick in his mouth and a fedora hat titled over his left eye.

"Are you posing for a photographer? You seem a bit too obsessed with fashion for a bounty hunter." Hunter groaned

"It's called branding my friend. It's why I was hired by such a high profile employer for an extremely difficult job." Cad Bane replied gesturing to a Holo Net communicator on the wall

Hunter turned away from Cad and stared at a cloaked figure in wrinkly skin with a sinister smile.

"Coulson told me about you. The Jedi said you were the one who sent some maniac named Maul to destroy Naboo back in the 90s. Now you have Dooku doing your dirty work. What the galaxy do you want with a guy like me? If you wanted to offer me a job you could just send me an email instead of kidnapping me?" Hunter asked

"Always one to make jokes. Especially when it masks your fear of me Lance Hunter. But I don't seek your employment. You are merely bait for my true prey..." Darth Sidious said with a smile

Right on cue Coulson used Fitz's device on Cad Bane but it turns out he was a hologram as well. Sidious then started laughing maniacally entering Coulson's mind telepathically using the Force. Hunter winced when he saw Coulson scream in excruciating pain.

Chapter Text

Coulson screamed in agony as he remembered the painful surgery he endured with the GH325 formula Shield discovered being injected into his spine by medical droids. Coulson's brain rejected the alien DNA in the formula so his memory was being rewritten using a memory erasing device in order to trick his mind into thinking no procedure took place. Each cell inside his brain needed to be rewired and the device emitted electric shocks that caused great pain. Darth Sidious or Palpatine laughed with glee as he peered deeper into the mind of Coulson to discover more secrets by tapping into the Dark Side of the Force.

Palpatine wasn't used to acting directly but the Obelisk was vital to his plans. Due to Dooku's poor sense of judgment he trusted that arrogant fool John Garrett. Garrett's failure caused significant setbacks for the Separatist military. The Avengers hadn't even reassembled but the United Republic military gained key victories in the Clone Wars thanks to Coulson's team. Sidious needed the Obelisk and its powerful capabilities to help the Separatists prolong the Clone Wars. Not only that he needed to learn the secrets of Skye's superhuman potential and her growing connection to the Force.

Coulson began to resist Sidious's mental probe when Sidious thought about Skye. He saw that Sidious knew about the alien writing and that he was dispatching Cad Bane to steal a painting in Miami, Trandosha/Florida that contained the alien writing on the back of it. Coulson needed to understand the writing to stop the Separatists and Hydra in the Clone Wars from gaining the ability to create a superhuman army but also to help Skye understand her connection to the Force as well as help her find her parents.

Sidious reached back to attack them with the dark side of the Force but cut the connection when he saw Anakin Skywalker enter the room. He saw Anakin glare at him with rage. Ahsoka tended to the injured Coulson while Anakin's anger boiled over. Sidious could feel Anakin's rage growing. He smiled as he left his hidden chamber and entered the office of the Supreme Chancellor as Palpatine after destroying the Holo Net device that was sending a signal to the warehouse. Clone Commander Fox opened the door and Shield Agent Bobbi Morse aka Mockingbird entered.

"I know a way to get Fury's toolbox. Mack has confirmed that Coulson has it in his office but is still trying to figure out where specifically in his office it's located." Mockingbird confirmed

"Good. Very good. And Coulson doesn't suspect you?" Palpatine asked

"Not at all Chancellor. I think I can get Agent Simmons on my side. I know exactly where she is."

Palpatine smiled and thanked her. He told Mockingbird that he would be having a long conversation with her Commanding officer later today about how to stop Coulson. Things were finally moving in a positive direction in terms of succeeding in executing his plans. For now he needed to meet with Ward. Senator Christian Ward of Massachusetts/Corellia the older brother of former Shield Agent Grant Ward.

****

Coulson was healing inside a bacta tank while Obi Wan had a grave look on his face.

"I don't know if it's wise to rush into going to Miami. It feels like a trap." Obi Wan told the group

"I agree with Master Kenobi. There's too many unknown variables in play and it seems like a huge coincidence that we got this lead. This Sidious guy seems to have set it up this way on purpose." Mack said

"That's an even greater reason to pursue this lead into Skye's past. If Sidious is attempting to find out more about Skye's past instead of trusting Dooku to do it then we have to go to Miami. If Skye's survival from near death using the GH325 drug is replicated by the Separatist then the Clone Wars are over and the United Republic will fall." Anakin argued

"If this entire team is killed in a trap then the Clone Wars will effectively be over." Obi Wan argued

"We can't just sit on our hands and do nothing." Anakin replied

Before Obi Wan could interrupt May said, "Anakin's right,"

Everyone in the group looked at May in surprise and even Anakin raised an eyebrow.

"When Coulson wakes up we'll plan an operation to infiltrate the auction house that contains the alien writing." May explained

"Master, R2 just received word of a major speech being delivered by a Senator." Ahsoka interrupted

"We don't have time to play politics Ahsoka. What a Senator has to say isn't relevant to our current situation." Anakin replied

"It's not just any Senator Master. It's a Senator named Christian Ward and he's openly confessed to being Grant Ward's older brother." Ahsoka said

Skye audibly gasped after being silent during the argument about the Miami mission. She was too emotionally overwhelmed to think about the alien writing and if it held the secret to the whereabouts of Skye's parents. She had too many questions about her parents and fears regarding their character. Are they good people or bad people? Did they want to keep Skye or did they eagerly give her up for adoption? Did they have special abilities? Or were her parents afraid of Skye because of her unique connection to the Force?

Skye merely followed protocols from Coulson and a team of researchers on understanding the alien writing. Her usual penchant for breaking rules to learn secrets subdued. Yet curiosity tugged at Skye from the back of her mind when she saw Coulson was...different. Ever since he defeated John Garrett on Ryloth/Algeria he'd been distant. Not talking to Skye in a friendly manner and not making his usual jokes. Ahsoka joked that May was more friendly and personable than Coulson these days. Skye wondered for a second what secret Coulson was hiding. Then she felt guilty. Coulson was injured due to Darth Sidious's mind probe utilizing the Force and he too had all the same questions about the alien writing as Coulson himself. Coulson was literally willing to fight the dark side to save Skye. Skye felt maybe she should give Coulson the benefit of the doubt.

Ward having a brother in the United Republic Senate was news to Skye. She wasn't surprised considering all the lies Ward told her while they were dating. Ward's brother was going to be a problem. Skye figured everyone in Ward's family was a scumbag at this point. That his older brother was no different than him. She listened very closely to Senator Ward's speech hoping to glean more insight into his motives.

"I regret to inform every citizen of our great United Republic that the rumors are true. Grant Ward is my younger brother and he is a traitor to our great and glorious Republic. He was a spy for Hydra for years masquerading as a Shield Agent. My brother had issues growing up that my parents thought a military school would fix.

They were mistaken but I believed joining Shield would help Ward. Get him to embrace a life of serving and protecting the less fortunate that my father the great Christian Ward Sr did as a Senator himself. I foolishly downplayed the speculation about my relationship to Ward because I was in denial. I was too heartbroken to admit the truth. I was riddled with guilt thinking that I jeopardized the safety and security of our great United Republic by not stating the truth. No more. I'm done hiding in the shadows. And I implore my baby brother Grant to do the same.

Turn yourself in Ward and face trial before the Republic military tribunal. Answer for all the innocent people you killed or else. Anyone that is suspected of helping Grant or anyone close to Grant will also face the same fate. That includes Shield Agents who refuse to turn themselves in after failing to detect Hydra hiding amongst their ranks. It's time to bring the darkness to an end for the safety and security of the United Republic!" Senator Ward proclaimed

The members of United Republic Senate erupted into loud applause.

****

"That's not good Ward. You've become an even greater liability since I agreed to allow you to work for me. Your older brother is drawing too much attention towards this investigation my top agents are doing on the alien writing. Now you tell me you don't know where Raina is and I'm supposed to rely on you? Your usefulness is starting to wane." Dooku said to Ward on his Holo Net communicator

Ward was in his apartment under an assumed name in an undisclosed location. He leaned back in his chair struggling to contain his anger and frustration at Dooku's cautious and judgemental demeanor. Dooku was annoyed that his master Darth Sidious was taking a more active role in this operation. This was an indication Dooku was losing favor in the eyes of his Master. He needed to regain Sidious's trust but not at the expense of demonstrating a lack of humility towards his Master.

"I want to find out about Skye's past as much as you do. My brother made that speech out of desperation and not strength. Christian is a snake and a weasel who always twists every situation to make it look like he's on top. That's what he's been doing to me since I was a kid. I joined Shield to spite Christian not because of idealism. Ever since my role as Garrett's inside man was exposed I've achieved clarity. I know exactly what Christian is trying to do and why he's valuable to the Supreme Chancellor. Plus I know Coulson's secrets. I even know where he sleeps. We don't need Raina to use the information I have to your advantage." Ward explained

"Fine. I will trust you to go to Miami and not my apprentice Miss Ventress. However if you fail to deliver me the alien writing you will be on very thin ice with not just me...but my master as well. Is that clear Ward?"

"Crystal clear sir." Ward replied confidently before Dooku ended the transmission

****

Raina received the data from Ward's droid AD3. He was successful in secretly letting her know that another object with the alien writing that Garrett was carving before his death was in Miami. Raina smiled when she saw that it was in an auction. Perfect. Raina was a skilled smooth talker and experienced at using manipulation to get rich and powerful people to do things for her. It's how she was discovered by Dooku's former failed student Cal Zabo.

He not only was impressed with Raina's skills but also her connection to the Force. He took Raina under her wing and tasked her with finding Skye when he learned that Raina was a Padawan at the Jedi Temple with Skye. Raina knew that she and Skye weren't ordinary Force Sensitives. They had the unique genetic potential to become a new type of superhuman. They would be the future not whatever foolishness Darth Sidious was planning.

Raina was impressed Ward was doing such a good job playing the bad guy. She thought it was cute Ward was trying to redeem himself by helping Skye find her father Cal Zabo. Raina sincerely was rooting for Ward to succeed but more importantly she knew unlocking her potential was her destiny. Fate had led her to this point and she was so close to fulfilling her goals. Raina got in her car and closed the door to drive to a private airship port to get on the fastest airship to Miami.

Raina gasped when a man in dark sunglasses sitting behind her with a blaster trained at her head. Another man approached Raina's vehicle and hacked the door with a device and sat down in the seat behind her. He was intimidating despite being unarmed and relying on the man to his left holding a weapon to subdue Raina. The man had light blond hair and cold blue eyes. He wore a gray suit that was custom made and pressed into tight rigid creases as if it were a military dress uniform.

"Hello Raina," the man said ignoring Raina's surprise that he knew who she was, "My name is Daniel Whitehall and I'm the leader of the largest remaining cell in Hydra. We had a mid level operative you were working under named John Garrett. He was seeking a way to create superhumans for us and the Separatists. His foolish antics wasted a lot of time and precious resources of Hydra and created distrust between us and the Separatists. You for some odd reason didn't tell him about the Obelisk despite you searching for it in the past. That's very odd because the Obelisk was essentially my original research into understanding superhuman genetic potential."

Raina gave a small laugh and a warm smile.

"I'm sorry Mr. Whitehall. John Garrett was a liar and a manipulative person who made me feel like a fool. I looked up to him and thought he was a visionary. Turns out you are the true visionary that I could learn a lot from."

Whitehall leaned back in his chair and gave a cold laugh.

"Raina you must have me mixed up with someone who's easily confused. Your smooth talk doesn't distract me from my objective and your role in helping me succeeding in obtaining that objective. See I know you took the Obelisk from my superhuman test subject Carl Creel and you believe the object with the alien writing is the key to understanding it. I need that Obelisk so that when I obtain the object with the alien writing I will be able to unlock the Obelisk's power." Whitehall calmly explained

Before Raina could find a way to use her words to convince Whitehall he reached over and placed a disk on Raina's hand. He then pressed a button and a toxin injected into Raina's skin. Raina immediately went into cardiac arrest struggling to breathe.

"Now Raina I'm a fair man despite how this looks. I can spare you from a slow and painful death where I harvest your genetic material to further my research. I've done it with one patient before though that patient kept screaming and it was annoying. Made it hard to concentrate so I created this device to deliver a toxin that would limit the patient's breathing. No oxygen, no ability to scream. However the antidote can be administered if the patient is on the verge of dying. Like this."

Whitehall pressed a button and Raina desperately took deep breaths struggling to breathe normally again. The antidote created
a numbing sensation so she was no longer in pain.

"As I said I'm a fair man. I'll give you 48 hours to get me my Obelisk and please don't interfere with my attempt to get the alien writing. If you do interfere...well then you'll be dissected to further my research." Whitehall said nonchalant as if this was a normal conversational topic

Raina could only stare in horror as Whitehall exited the car with his henchmen.

Chapter Text

"Senator Padme Amidala and Senator Rush Clovis will be going on a double date with May and I. Of course May and I will have false identities that Padme will briefed on. This will give us the cover to attend the auction in Miami without having to worry about clones working for Commander Talbot arresting us." Coulson announced to the group.

"What! Coulson are you insane!" Anakin shouted

The entire group stared at Anakin with shocked expressions. Fitz started stuttering saying why would a date matter to a Jedi. Ahsoka blushed in embarrassment knowing that her master was teased by other Jedi for his feelings for Padme. Obi Wan groaned and scrunched up his face in frustration. He had constantly warned Anakin about allowing his feelings and emotions to get the better of him. He had shown tremendous progress in that regard the last few months. Obi Wan even noted Ahsoka's growth in that time in not only her skills but her maturity. Yet...Anakin still had a ways to go in his own maturation.

Hunter was laughing while Mack was confused. May shook her head and gave a tired sigh. This particular reaction infuriated Anakin. He respected May but her constant judgment reminded him of Obi Wan at times. Her constant sarcasm and overly stoic demeanor added to the comparison to Obi Wan in his mind. Coulson gestured for Anakin to speak in private in his office. As Anakin walked over there he could see Skye had genuine concern and suspicion. Anakin groaned realizing Skye knew him best and had a secret relationship on duty with Ward last year. He realized Coulson and Obi Wan wouldn't be far behind in figuring out his secret marriage to Padme.

"What in the galaxy was that Anakin! You disrespect me in front of my own troops. This is a delicate operation that Obi Wan is placing his reputation on with the Jedi Order because we are still technically fugitives from the United Republic. The only reason Master Yoda overruled Master Windu is because if we succeed we'll weaken both Hydra and the Separatists' plans to gain an advantage in the Clone Wars. You screwing that up because you have romantic feelings for Senator Amidala is unprofessional and dangerous." Coulson reprimanded

"It's not about romance. It's about the risk this type of operations poses. I've done some research on Senator Clovis and he's shifty and suspicious. He could potentially harm Padme. She was the target of assassination by Dooku before the Clone Wars even started. I just don't think it's wise to use Padme...I mean Senator Amidala as bait. I can't allow her to willingly throw herself into danger Coulson." Anakin argued

"She won't be in danger. May and I will be with her the whole time. We are posing as her friends and will be watching her back in case Senator Clovis attacks her. You're right to say our intel on him is spotty. May will question Victoria Hand about his potential connection to the Separatists. He could be a double Agent for them within the Senate or a triple Agent for us. It's unclear."

Anakin slammed his mechanical hand on the table.

"I'm coming with you. I'll pretend to be your security detail."

"Anakin that's an even worse idea. You're not keeping your cool right now. Your anger will get worse on the mission." Coulson complained

"This isn't up for discussion. I'm going. That's final." Anakin said pointing a finger at Coulson

He walked out of Coulson's office and Coulson slumped into his chair exhausted as May entered.

"You've been carving the alien symbols longer than usual again and it's preventing you from getting enough sleep." May said disapprovingly

"I'm fine." Coulson lied while yawning

May crossed her arms in disapproval and shook her head.

"At this point you need to tell Skye what's going on. She's frustrated by you keeping your distance from her. You've been constantly leaving the base doing galaxy knows what-" May started to say

"I've been recruiting Agents who didn't turn themselves into the United Republic for questioning. We've expanded our ranks since we defeated Garrett."

"We've also expanded the amount of secrets we've been keeping from each other Phil. Before we dealt with Garrett you were upset at me for keeping secrets. Are you keeping secrets from me?" May demanded

"I'm trying to get us prepared for what's next. That means recruitment of new Agents and giving them assignments that are secret." Coulson replied exasperated by May's questioning

Before May could respond she said Ahsoka and Skye you can come out now. The two young women reluctantly entered Coulson's office caught red handed by May.

"How did you know I was there without using the Force?" Ahsoka asked surprised

"She's the Calvary of course she knew we were outside the door." Skye muttered

"Skye. You know better than to call me that. You two have some explaining to do for spying on us." May said glaring at Skye and Ahsoka

Ahsoka gave a sheepish smile but May continued to glare at her while Skye groaned in frustration.

****

Anakin was still in a bad mood in his quarters repairing equipment that Fitz had abandoned due to his PTSD related mental condition. Anakin normally enjoyed repairing machines especially with Fitz. However ever since Fitz's injuries at the hands of Ward, repairing machines was Anakin's way of attempting to calm down in solitude when meditation failed to work. R2 was keeping Fitz company since Mack was engaging in mission preparation work alongside Hunter and couldn't spend time with Fitz. There was a knock on his door and Anakin told Obi Wan to enter.

"I've been looking for you."

"Something wrong?" Anakin asked as he continued repairing equipment

"I just spoke with Master Yoda and he believes your judgment concerning Rush Clovis is clouded." Obi Wan replied

Anakin stopped repairing equipment and struggled to remain calm when he told Obi Wan, "I believe Senator Clovis can't be trusted."

"I believe it's more than that. I sense a deep anger in you by simply saying his name. Add to the fact you hand an angry outburst towards Coulson because he suggested Padme pretend to be his date on a mission and it's clear your hiding something Anakin." Obi Wan said

"We assumed Ward could be trusted but he ended up being a traitor. It's my fault that I didn't detect it sooner and Fitz has been hurt because of it and if it wasn't for Nick Fury Fitz would be dead. I don't want Padme to be placed in the same situation." Anakin argued walking over to this bed

Obi Wan folded his arms and countered with, "Anakin Padme has been involved in dangerous situations before including Loki's invasion two years ago that we defeated alongside the other Avengers. Padme has shown the ability to handle herself in difficult situations."

"And if your wrong? Then what. Skye and Ward had a relationship and he used that to almost destroy this entire team. What if Clovis attempts to do the same with Padme. They had a relationship when Padme was running for Senator but they broke it off before the Avengers were formed. Clovis could still have feelings for Padme and he could use that to compromise the team." Anakin claimed

Obi Wan was unconvinced despite Anakin's explanation for his anger being plausible to some degree.

"Whatever feelings develop between you or Senator Amidala it must not result in a romantic relationship. It would conflict with your duties to the Jedi Order and compromise-"

"I know my responsibilities Obi Wan! Senator Amidala and I are just friends."

"Good. Then that means you should have no problems on this mission with Clovis, Amidala, Coulson and May. I'm not your enemy Anakin. I'm just trying to help you focus on the true goal. Protecting the United Republic from the Separatist using unconventional means to win the Clone Wars." Obi Wan chastised as he left Anakin's quarters

Anakin still annoyed begrudgingly nodded at Obi Wan that he understood his point and Obi Wan left the room.

****

"So are mommy and daddy done chastising their two surrogate daughters Ahsoka and Skye?" Hunter asked

"Yeah but don't lean over me. If I lose control of Fitz's probe droid than Coulson will catch us. Even worse Agent May will catch us. She won't treat us lightly like she did Ahsoka and Skye for spying on her and Coulson." Mack warned

"May isn't anything like my ex wife Bobbi. Bob was a hell demon scarier than that Sidious Sith Lord bloke. In fact I'd prefer interrogation by Sidious over interrogation by Bob." Hunter claimed

"Hunter I'm not in the mood to hear you comparing my best friend to a hell demon or a Sith Lord." Mack complained

"I thought I was your best friend Mack?" Hunter asked disappointed

"You are... you're my 2nd best friend. Oh yes I found it. I know exactly where the...false alarm. I thought it was the data pad containing secrets on the alien writing. It's just some electrical device." Mack lied as he sent Bobbi Morse a message

The message said I know exactly where Coulson is keeping Fury's toolbox. Let the boss and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine know immediately.

Chapter Text

Skye had a bad feeling about this fake double date mission involving Clovis and Padme alongside Coulson and May with Anakin pretending to be a bodyguard. First Anakin's outburst made it painfully obvious he and Padme had romantic feelings for one another. Skye knew they were in a relationship but for how long she was unsure. It reminded Skye of her and Ward's feeble attempts to hide their relationship last year before Ward's betrayal. Skye wanted to talk to Anakin about Padme. To reassure him that she didn't think any less of him for having feelings for Padme.

Skye and Anakin had rekindled their friendship from the past. It was hard for Skye to forgive Anakin from hiding the fact her memory of being a Youngling was erased by Shield before she was removed from the Jedi Temple. Yet when Skye regained her past memories of Anakin being her closest friend at the Jedi Temple she forgave him. Anakin being around her all the time awakened Syke's connection to the Force. This Force connection heightened her concern about Anakin going on the mission.

"Skye are you there? Skye do you have audio from the auction house?" Coulson asked

"Yes sir. R2 is cloaked and a safe distance away from you and the others. I have clear audio on you guys." Skye said

"Listen Skye I understand your frustration and your concern about my behavior. How I've been distant from you, but...we need to come together as a team and achieve the main objective. This alien writing was inside Garrett's laboratory, on the Obelisk that both Hydra and the Separatists are fighting over and it's on a 500 year old painting that is up for auction. And now Senator Clovis is connected to this auction house. It's very important we get that painting before Hydra or the Separatists do so that they don't use whatever answers they find to win the Clone Wars." Coulson warned

"I understand sir. Ahsoka and I will..." Skye began before being interrupted

May was making a strange noise and it caused Skye to tense up in fear. Skye was shocked to hear May in pain and she wondered if it was because of Clovis? Was Anakin right to assume Clovis would betray everyone? Or was it Ward coming back to get revenge on the team for imprisoning his mentor Victoria Hand? Ahsoka and Fitz stared at Skye confused hoping to get clarity on what was wrong with May from Skye. Skye had trained extensively in combat with May but she never heard May make pained noises like the one she was making now.

"What's going on? Is everything already alright?" Skye asked alarmed

"Don't worry that was May. She's laughing at a joke Senator Clovis told her. I think she'll be finished laughing in a moment." Coulson explained with amusement

May told Clovis that she'll get himself and Padme more champagne. Coulson saw that Anakin himself got the champagne for the couple but "accidentally" spilled some of it on Clovis. Padme in frustration told Clovis there's a powder room upstairs that she could take him to so that he could clean his shirt.

"Follow them. I'll be on the lookout for the person that Dooku sent to steal the painting and the one Hydra sent to steal it." Coulson instructed May

May nodded and followed Anakin, Padme and Clovis upstairs. Coulson saw Admiral Talbot and before he could hide Talbot confronted him. Ward was right behind them monitoring both their movements. Coulson realized he needed to think carefully about facing two foes at once.

****

Skye warned May of Cad Bane attempting to attack Clovis and Padme. Apparently with the help of advanced sensors that Fitz programmed into R2D2 with Mack's assistance Clovis was detected as possessing the painting with the alien writing. It was clear to May and the others that Ward must have stolen the original painting for Clovis and placed a fake in its place. Bane intended to attack Clovis and steal the painting from Clovis but May was determined to ensure Bane would fail.

May kicked Bane in the back of the head before he could break into the room Clovis, Padme and Anakin were in. Bane turned and brandished twin blasters firing them at May. May somersaulted backwards to avoid the blasters before ducking behind a nearby statue for cover. She then fired her own blaster at Bane who activated his rocket boots and used them to fly towards May. May flipped onto Cad Bane's back and Bane flew into a wall. He turned his back so that May would crash into the wall but May stuck out her legs and flipped herself onto Bane's feet.

She tried to shoot Bane with her stun blaster but Bane did a spinning maneuver that prevented May from hitting Bane. May was forced to cushion her fall by landing on a nearby statue. Bane wanted to attack May who slumped to the ground falling into unconsciousness but he had to leave. His client didn't want Bane to attract too much attention to himself. Besides even without the painting he still had a more valuable prize for his client and that was The Obelisk. Unbeknownst to its previous owner who was a beautiful woman in a white and black floral dress attempting to flirt with a United Republic officer with a thick mustache Bane at least could bring the Obelisk to Darth Sidious.

****

"Coulson you and I can work together to find Grant Ward. He's here in this auction house seeking to steal the alien writing from Senator Clovis. I'm not an idiot. I know Obi Wan has been providing cover for you to seek out the last remaining Hydra cell." Admiral Talbot offered

Coulson frowned confused as to why Talbot wanted to work together now. Coulson had made offers to Talbot about working together for months via an encrypted comm link and each time Talbot aggressively refused the offer. Now Talbot calmly offered Coulson a chance to team up? Coulson wondered why? Coulson was suspicious this could be some kind of trap and was reluctant to accept Talbot's offer.

"I get that you don't trust me but I don't have much of a choice. Ward's brother is threatening my entire career in order to make Ward the priority. You're the only person that understands how Ward thinks. How dangerous he can be." Talbot reiterated

"Coulson I wouldn't listen to Sunil Bakshi if I were you. He's a Hydra operative intending to infiltrate your team and remove you from the chase for the alien writing. In fact Bakshi is working with a Shield Agent he's forced to comply with Hydra's wishes. Agent 33." Ward said to Coulson through his comm link

Coulson looked around the auction house in suspicion. All he could see were wealthy well dressed party goers laughing and talking while having champagne. Talbot frowned at Coulson's behavior suspicious of his desire to search for someone in the crowd.

"It's Ward isn't it? He's somehow communicating with you on a closed channel. Do I need to remind you that Ward betrayed your entire team and ejected Agents Fitz and Simmons from an airship into the ocean? Now you want to trust him in a precarious situation. You don't even know where he stands."

"Anakin you need to find Ward while May and I have a private conversation. Anakin are you there? Anakin?" Coulson asked

"Anakin's preoccupied with Clovis. Don't worry though I'm sure May can handle it. She's the Calvary. Don't worry though I'll help you deal with Agent Bakshi in a minute" Ward reassured Coulson with a laugh

Coulson was still confused and deep in thought but was brought back to Earth by a blaster poking him in the back.

"You are coming with me Coulson for an intense interrogation outside." Admiral Talbot threatened

Coulson wondered what happened to Anakin and May as he was forced outside by Talbot.

Chapter Text

" have contacts within the Munn government that will help you and Coulson work out an arrangement with ANN (Alliance of Neutral Nations). Padme you know the leader of ANN: Duchess Satine of Mandalore/Texas. She wouldn't want to turn to the United Republic for assistance unless it was someone she trusted. The Separatists have been encroaching on Mandalorian territory through a proxy organization called Death Watch. Death Watch wants to take control of ANN by conquering Mandalore but they need the alien writing on this painting to pay the Separatists for supporting their operation. I didn't know who I could trust after former Shield Agent Grant Ward helped me steal the painting before it would be auctioned off." Senator Clovis explained to Padme with a pained expression

Padme eyes widened in shock as she processed what Clovis told her. Clovis was waiting for an excuse to tell her this in private away from Anakin, Coulson and May. He wasn't sure how working with Ward would be received by them. Padme realized this battle to unlock the secrets of the alien writing might be bigger than the Clone Wars. It definitely was bigger than how Ward betrayed Coulson's team. In the wrong hands the alien writing could lead to the destruction of civilization itself.

"I didn't realize all of this was so personal to you." Padme said overwhelmed by what Clovis told her

"Now maybe you'll trust me and so will the other members of your team. Including the Jedi you have pretending to be your security escort." Clovis said

Padme gasped and asked, "What are you talking about?"

Senator Clovis sighed, "I'm not stupid Padme. I just act that way on TV sometimes. That Jedi was arguing with you in a manner that was like two people in a romantic relationship. I overheard you two as my limousine arrived to pick you and your friends up. It's clear to me you two have feelings for one another."

Padme shook her head and walked away from Clovis towards the window, "General Skywalker is a friend of mine. We've known each other since we were young. We bicker like siblings sometimes."

Clovis walked to Padme and grabbed her hand, "Is that why things ended between us. a few years ago? Did it end because of your "friendship" with this Jedi. Did you lie to me when you said you've become more involved with Shield prior to the Battle of New York/Lothal?"

"Clovis. Skywalker has nothing to do with my career decisions. No man does. I care about you Rush but not in the way you think..." Padme struggled to explain

"Why fight it then Padme? We both know you have feelings for me. Let's act on them." Clovis said leaning in for a kiss

"Clovis wait...we shouldn't be doing this. Stop!" Padme called out

Anakin opened the door hearing Padme call out. Anakin heard nothing from May or Coulson but what he saw made him enraged. This disgusting Senator leaning in for a kiss with his wife. Nobody kissed Padme but him Anakin thought to himself.

"Get away from her!" Anakin roared with anger

Clovis turned around startled to see a Jedi so angry. They were normally calm and serene especially on secret missions. Yet Anakin Skywalker was unlike other Jedi. Clovis realized very quickly he was in a relationship with Padme even though the Jedi Order forbade its members to engage in romantic relationships. Clovis was annoyed with Skywalker's arrogance.

"Who do you think you are to-" Clovis began

Anakin used the Force to lift Senator Clovis off the ground choking him. Then he hurled Clovis at the wall and he slumped to the ground in pain.

"Anakin you need to stop! You're out of control! Where's May and Coulson?" Padme asked

Anakin ignored Padme and Clovis slowly got to his feet.

"You should try fighting me like a man without your Jedi powers." Clovis taunted bearing his fists

"Oh it would be my genuine pleasure." Anakin replied with a grin bearing his fists

Anakin and Clovis exchanged blows while Padme kept yelling at them to stop in vain. Eventually Anakin overpowered Clovis despite sporting a couple bruises on his face from the Senator's punches.

"You were conspiring with Grant Ward behind our backs and now you're trying to trick Padme into supporting your twisted scheme! You will not threaten any of my friends you scum! You will not hurt Padme!" Anakin shouted

"Anakin! Clovis is not a traitor! He has information that can help us!" Padme shouted

"You don't have a say in this!" Anakin yelled at Padme

Anakin kneeled on Clovis lap and started punching him directly in the face. Clovis groaned with each punch and Anakin felt a sense of joy hearing Clovis groan in pain. Anakin hadn't felt this much pleasure since he snapped Loki's neck three years ago during the Battle of New York/Lothal while his fellow Avengers fought Loki's army.

"Skywalker you're a fool. You're forbidden from having Senator Amidala. She's interested in me not you." Clovis spat at Anakin with bitterness

Anakin furious at this remark started choking Clovis until he was kicked in the head. Anakin looked around for the culprit and saw May bruised and bleeding clutching her ribs. She glared at Anakin with such contempt that Anakin looked down at the ground in shame. Clovis was a bloodied mess on the ground wheezing heavily. Padme grabbed an emergency medical kit from the far end of the room and tended to Clovis wounds. Padme glared at Anakin with intense rage but only for a moment. She returned to her initial focus on treating Clovis's wounds leading Anakin to wallow in his guilt for brutally attacking Clovis.

"Clovis is a spy for our side. It's illegal for Senator's to be involved in unsanctioned spy operations. That's why he was acting so suspiciously and only confessed the truth to Padme. Clovis can't help us if he is in prison so we need a cover story for what happened here and fast. " May said to Anakin struggling to control her own anger

"Senator Amidala we heard a huge commotion and came as quickly as we could. What's happened here?" Captain Tanaka the head of Padme's official security detail asked

"There was an attack. A bounty hunter. I think he wanted to kidnap all three of us for ransom. Thankfully General Skywalker protected us. The bounty hunter escaped but I don't know which way he went." Clovis explained to Tanaka

"Is this true?" Tanaka asked Anakin

"Yes. It happened exactly as the Senator explained. I'm sorry I didn't apprehend the attacker." Anakin replied

"Please get a medical droid. Clovis and my friend Linda," Padme said gesturing towards May who was still undercover, "need medical attention immediately."

Captain Tanaka replied that a medical droid would arrive shortly and he assisted in helping Clovis onto the couch while May under her wealthy citizen disguise sat on the leather armchair near the couch pretending to groan in pain. May continued to glare at Anakin and to an outside observer like Tanaka it would mean May blamed Anakin for the "attacker" escaping. When in reality May was angry at Anakin for losing control of his emotions and almost jeopardizing the operation.

Anakin walked over to Padme attempting to apologize but Padme looked at Anakin with disgust and said, "Stay away from me."

Anakin's despair and guilt was interrupted by R2D2. He sent Anakin a signal that indicated Coulson was in trouble and Grant Ward was involved. Anakin raced over to the location that R2 sent him hoping to make up for his mistake by rescuing Coulson.

****

"You are a very annoying thorn in my master's side Coulson. I find it ironic it was a former member of our movement that exposed me. After seeing how much of a colossal failure Project Centipede was last year I assumed Grant Ward would be easy to deal with. My mistake for underestimating him." Agent Bakshi said while holding Coulson at blaster point

Bakshi was wearing a static mask that disguised his appearance so that he could impersonate Admiral Talbot. Bakshi hoped to trick Coulson into getting the painting with the alien writing for him but this plan failed due to Ward's interference.

"You know we could still work together. We take down Ward together that's one less enemy to worry about. You know the expression...the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I mean we won't be getting drinks at the bar after work like regular friends do but it beats fighting one another." Coulson offered

Bakshi laughed, "Admiral Talbot wanted to work with you. At least my version of Talbot did. I on the other hand am interested in using this device to force you to comply."

Bakshi held up a round circular device. Coulson realized he was going to be brainwashed into being a loyal spy for Hydra. He'd be pretending to be loyal to Shield but secretly working for Hydra. Coulson wondered if this is what happened to Ward. Before Bakshi could activate the device he was thrown across the parking lot into a car by Anakin utilizing the Force.

"Just in the nick of time Anakin. Thanks for saving me. Any sign of Ward?" Coulson asked

Anakin shook his head.

"Hi Coulson I have a proposition for you." Raina said over Coulson's comm link

"Raina it's horrible to hear from you. I'll switch to an open channel so that Skye can hear how horrible you are Raina." Coulson said

Raina laughed, "Oh Coulson. I'm not asking. I'm requesting we meet. It concerns your Agent and friend Jemma Simmons. Please let's have dinner and catch up on what's been happening since last year."

"What do you want Raina?" Anakin demanded

"That's not how you treat a lady Anakin. No wonder Padme doesn't want to talk to you after what you did to Senator Clovis." Raina taunted

Coulson stared at Anakin confused and Anakin put his head down in shame.

"Now Coulson. I'll send you the coordinates for us to meet. See you tomorrow." Raina said cheerfully

Coulson gritted his teeth. Ward was a problem and now so was Raina and that didn't include the leader of the new Hydra cell that Bakshi worked for, Count Dooku and finally bounty hunter Cad Bane who worked for Darth Sidious. Coulson also hadn't sorted through whatever Intel Padme got from Clovis.

"We need to regroup and sort through all this. That includes what Padme learned from Clovis." Anakin said to Coulson

"You're right. Let's have R2 chart a course to fly everyone back to base." Coulson replied

****

Ward smiled as he held the Obelisk with a metal glove. He researched how anybody without a unique genetic profile who held the Obelisk was turned to stone. Ward reasoned it was a mechanism to sort through the ones with potential for power and the ones who had no potential. He used Raina's cell phone which he also stole from Raina to contact Skye's father Calvin Zabo.

Ward knew this was an alias and not Calvin's real name. Ward even knew that Calvin even insisted to allies that he be referred to only by his false last name Zabo. Dooku even adhered to this request though like Raina Ward knew Dooku was losing patience with Zabo. Ward reached Zabo's hideout confident that his plan would work despite it permanently severing his partnership with Raina. Ward believed meeting with Zabo face to face was well worth the cost.

"Who are you?" Zabo called out in a chair with his back turned

"My name is Grant Ward. I've worked alongside Raina and your daughter Skye for the past year. I brought you a gift. Proof that I'm the one skilled enough to bring Skye to you so that you can be reunited with your daughter. It's proof that you can trust me." Ward replied holding out the Obelisk

"I'll be the judge of that." Zabo said turning around in his chair

He was a monstrous looking human and lifted Ward up with the Force. Choking him. He started closely at Ward looking him in the eyes as Ward struggled to breathe. After about a minute he dropped Ward and started destroying his office with his giant claws and fangs. Then to Ward's shock as his own breathing returned to normal he saw Zabo revert into a normal human form.

"Now that you know what I'm capable of Ward. I believe you'll have the proper motivation to succeed in bringing my daughter Skye to me. I also believe you understand what will happen to you if you fail or attempt to use Dooku or Hydra against me." Zabo said calmly

Ward nodded and held out the Obelisk to him. Zabo grabbed it without any protection but he did wince in pain to some degree. Ward realized Zabo wasn't unique genetically but was a former Jedi which allowed him to hold the Obelisk without pain. Ward needed to be careful with Skye's father. If Ward made one wrong move that caused Zabo not to trust him then Ward's hope of making up for all the bad things he did would end.

Chapter Text

"I'm just saying Skye, Coulson is up to something and this team...this team is a ticking time bomb. Between Coulson's irrational behavior and Anakin acting like the Hulk towards a snobby Senator it's only a matter of time before this team falls apart. Skye you should leave Coulson's team and become a mercenary. You're very skilled and you could make a ton of money." Hunter said to Skye

Skye shook her head and rolled her eyes at Hunter. Hunter had been making this pitch over the past couple of days to Skye. Hunter added that he and Mack discovered alien writing inside Coulson's office. That piece of information heightened Skye's suspicions to a degree but she knew Coulson was a capable leader. Leaving the team to be a mercenary was crazy to Skye because Shield wasn't just a team. Shield was her family.

"Is it always about money with you Hunter? Don't you realize there are things more valued and more treasured to people than money? Relationships and teamwork are greater than any amount of money." Ahsoka argued

"That's cute little girl but the grownups are talking." Hunter replied

"Hey! That "little girl" is the Commander of the 501st Battalion of the Grand Army of the United Republic. Show some respect...Merc." Rex challenged

"Aren't you two years old Rex? So of course a teenage girl telling you what to do seems impressive. But most rational people like me find it a bit sad. Shouldn't girls like you be painting their fingernails and going to the mall to gossip about boys with your friends?" Hunter replied

Ahsoka groaned in frustration while Skye said, "Ahsoka and I aren't ordinary women. We don't know who are parents are and we've been training to fight for those too weak to protect themselves. I've only been training with May for a few months so it's even more vital for me to stick with this team."

Hunter's eyes widened in shock.

"You're so skilled Skye. There's no way you learned how to be an effective Shield Agent in a mere few months. That's insane."

Ahsoka beamed with pride saying, "Skye was raised at the Jedi Temple and is connected to the Force. It's allowed her to learn and improve at an accelerated rate."

"You know what I think Ahsoka. I think Lance here is worried he'll have to take orders from Skye or worse from you if he stays on the team." Rex teased

"My first name may be Lance but everyone calls me Hunter. Seriously guys you cannot tell me there's no way you aren't a little concerned that Coulson is hiding alien writing in the office. Why keep something like that from us?" Hunter demanded

Ahsoka shrugged her shoulders and said, "I was just like you Hunter but now I've learned to trust the judgment of my superiors. There's a good reason Coulson is concealing the alien writing."

"That's rich coming from you Ahsoka. Your superior attacked Senator Clovis in a jealous rage. He almost jeopardized the mission and almost got Coulson and May killed." Hunter criticized

"Last year I gave into my anger and almost jeopardized the mission and I ended up leading dozens of men under my command to their deaths. My master...Anakin...didn't give up on me. He believed in me even though I screwed things up big time. I'm going to do the same for him and believe he'll make up for what he did and help us end the Clone Wars."

"Ok Hunter you failed in making your pitch in getting me to leave Shield. It's over. I need to get back to work analyzing this intel that Senator Amidala and Coulson provided me." Skye said

Skye left the wall she was leaning against and stretched briefly before sitting back into a chair in front of her laptop. Skye knew Anakin was in his quarters tinkering with Fitz's machines due to the guilt he felt over attacking Clovis. Skye could relate to feeling comfortable with a machine when emotionally overwhelmed. In her case it was her laptop that gave her peace and helped clear her head.

"Ahsoka you mind turning on the record player before you leave?" Skye asked

"Sure thing. I'll go check on Anakin and make sure he's ok." Ahsoka replied

"And I'll have a few drinks with Hunter and his buddy Mack. I'll tell Mack all about you pitching to Skye a career as a mercenary. I'm sure he'd like to hear that story." Rex replied

"Do we really have to do that? My ex-wife hated when I tried to convince people to become private security contractors. Her temper was much worse than Skywalker's. The problem was that Mack always agreed with her." Hunter complained

"That's even more incentive for me to tell Mack the story and when I tell the story I'm using the term mercenary not private security contractors." Rex replied with a grin

Both men left Skye's office and she breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Right on cue the music from the record player started playing. She started sorting through all the available information R2D2 gathered on Hydra Agent Sunil Bakshi. It was a lot to take in but Bakshi's phone began ringing startling Skye. She debated in her mind whether or not to answer the phone but ultimately decided to do so reasoning that it could help her investigation.

"Hail Hydra." Skye answered

"Hey Skye." Ward said casually

Skye jumped out of her seat and fearfully asked, "Where are you?"

"I just wanted to see if you got my present. Bakshi. I promised him a face to face with Coulson but I set him up so that Anakin could take him down. Technically speaking I gave Bakshi what he wanted but it probably wasn't what he had in mind. Don't worry I'll be helping you guys from time to time in getting key Intel from potential leads like Bakshi."

"So are you like an annoying cat bringing in dead birds?" Skye asked disgusted

"I'm just trying to help. To make up for what I did." Ward replied

"So then tell me where you are so we can talk about what you did to us." Skye suggested

"Come on Skye. I'm the one that trained you. I know you're stalling so you can get R2 to track me. I'm calling to let you know I'm not going to lie to you and I'm going to keep any promise I make to you. My first promise is to reunite you with your father Skye."

"Are you threatening my own father Ward?" Skye accused

"He's the one that's threatening people because he thinks Shield took you away from him when you were a baby. He's very angry about it and has been looking for someone to bring you to him and he chose me. I promise that you two are going to be reunited and I don't intend to brake my promise. In the meantime I have my own family matters to attend to. See ya later Skye."

Before R2 could finish his trace on Ward he hung up the phone. Skye slumped into her chair trying to process the fact her father had been searching for her and that she was taken from him by Shield.

Chapter Text

"I'm sorry Rex but you made a bad decision leading my brother's security detail. You could have just stayed at Coulson's base with your friends Anakin and Ahsoka. Oh well." Ward said as he fired his blaster rifle

Rex was hit directly in the chest and fell down a steep hill. Ward checked his droid AD3 and saw that Rex was alive but unconscious. AD3 made a beeping noise that was at a frequency undetectable to ordinary humans. Droids on the other hand could pick up this signal and that's exactly what Ward was counting on. A battalion of battle droids entered the forested area in the woods. Ward reasoned these droids were weaker in their combat proficiency than most of the units in General Grievous command so Rex's battalion should only be momentarily challenged before destroying them.

He grabbed his tied up brother Senator Christian Ward and told him to move. Christian reluctantly moved forward and stared in longing at General Grievous. He appeared with four Magna Droids but was intercepted by Jedi Master Obi Wan Kenobi and his 212th attack battalion Clone troopers. Ward glared at his brother Christian and Christian knew he had to pick up the pace. So they hurried away from the battle that began to take place in silence. After roughly 30 minutes of walking where Ward received the all clear signal from his droid AD3 then Christian started talking. Ward rolled his eyes in disgust because he knew Christian was a talker especially when he was desperate.

"Ward you may temporarily have the upper hand because you manipulated the Separatists and the Clones to fight each other. However I know there was that assassin that attacked your team last year. Ventress! She's still out there and dragging me around is going to slow you down and make it difficult for you to get away from her." Christian speculated

Ward just shoved Christian in the shoulder and he was forced to walk faster.

"What in the galaxy are you going to do if she shows up? Huh? I'm not a Separatist so I can't bargain with her. You have combat skills Ward I'll give you that but using me as bait or a distraction won't work against her." Christian argued

Ward stopped and shook his head.

"I know you're not a Separatist and that you merely took three bribes from a Hydra loyalist within the Republic. I killed that loyalist once they led me to a top level Hydra Agent named Sunil Bakshi. Those bribes helped Bakshi learn how much you knew about Senator Clovis's plans to get the painting with the alien writing. That alien writing has been an obsession of Coulson's for the past year and apparently something that's of interest to the Supreme Chancellor as well. Don't worry I won't expose you to the Supreme Chancellor because you're of greater use to me out here." Ward replied

He shoved Christian again and Christian was forced to walk in further silence. Christian began to sweat as the sounds of the battle between Obi Wan Kenobi and his Clones and the Separatists forces lead by General Grievous grew faint. Christian considered attempting to run away and call Ward's bluff if captured by him. Christian knew Ward had a tendency to make promises or claims but then not follow through on them. Yet Christian dismissed this haphazard plan as ridiculous. They were deep within the woods and Christian had no devices to navigate the area, call anyone or find someone in an airship that could help him. Ward had effectively isolated him.

"Ok are we going to talk about what you're going to do with me or are we going camping? You realize kidnapping a United Republic Senator is going to draw a lot of attention to you eventually Grant. You're going to need an exit strategy." Christian complained

"Supreme Chancellor Palpatine doesn't care about you. He's already got enough use out of you that you are no longer in his plans. He didn't even give you a Jedi for your security escort." Ward replied

"Because of my speech to the Senate Supreme Chancellor Palpatine has deemed you a terrorist. A threat to the United Republic. You'll be dead within hours if I'm not found soon."

"Keep going Christian," Ward said cracking a smile, "I'm enjoying this."

Ward shoved Christian and he stumbled forward. Christian regained his balance and turned around facing his younger brother.

"What about any of this is enjoyable! I'm just trying to have a conversation and figure a way out of this mess!" Christian shouted at Ward out of frustration and fear

Ward continued to grin, "Appealing to my emotional state through pleading, raising your voice to sound more weak and desperate, slowing down and turning to face me before making a desperate plea. I used to fall for all your tactics and tricks."

"That's not how I think Grant! It's how you think!" Christian argued

Ward laughed, "Now you're turning it back on me."

"You think this is a joke! Are you even listening to yourself?" Christian shouted

He stood up to Ward and pointed his fingers at him despite being handcuffed and continued shouting, "You twist every horrible act you do and blame it on somebody else! Mom and Dad were terrible and they made us do terrible things but you took it too far. You tried to murder Mom when you were 17 years old! Before you were in Shield or Hydra your first thought was to murder someone! How twisted and psychotic can you get?"

"Because of you! All you, mom and dad did was drive me insane. You think a kid can survive that type of treatment and not lose himself in madness!" Ward fired back

"Thomas and Diane didn't end up like that. They grew up with us and actually were good kids not perfect but nothing like us. It didn't matter that both of us were terrible older brothers to them. Even though Diane was taking from this world far too soon it's good that Thomas still has a chance to be nothing like us.

Yet you choose to ignore that Grant. You do it so you can justify to yourself that you're still the good guy despite all the innocent people you've killed and all the close friends you betrayed. It all started with Thomas and Diane. You learned betrayal when you took advantage of their trust in you. You were the one that nearly killed Thomas by drowning him in that Well." Christian said

"You know good and dank ferrik that it was you who forced me to drown Thomas in the Well. I admit that I've done terrible things but I'm going to make up for them and you're going to help me. You're going to help me become a new Grant Ward and you'll be happy to comply." Ward said while holding up a small circular device

****

Ventress found Ward bloodied and beaten near a tree. She held her lightsaber to his face and studied him. This was Ward she concluded after she used the Force to sense his mind. Ventress admired Ward's resourcefulness and skill but he was still human. A human that had no connection to the Force and no hope of defeating her in combat. Ventress tapped into the dark side of the Force to ensure there was no trap she accidentally set off.

Ventress knew Ward was a trickster and that allowed him to live for so long despite operating alone without any special abilities or powers. She knew Ward staged a battle between Obi Wan and General Grievous to kidnap his brother unbeknownst to the United Republic or the Separatists. Ventress smiled in a mocking fashion as she straddled Ward. She admitted that despite his facial injuries he was quite handsome. If only Ward was more unique in his genetic profile he could have been my servant and my lover Ventress thought to herself.

"What are you going to do to him?" Christian asked fearfully

Christian emerged from the bushes raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. He eyed her lightsaber and began to shake hoping he wouldn't fall victim to its destructive power.

"Kill him of course. You need to go to your parents house and contact me as soon as you get there. Your brother has a habit of using trickery and deception to succeed in achieving his goal. He was hoping to use you to get to them because he only pretended to believe you only took bribes from Hydra loyalists and not those loyal to Count Dooku. Take the speeder bike attached to my airship nearby to get to your parents." Ventress replied

Christian immediately started running to do as Ventress said not daring to question her instructions.

"Grant Ward. You've been helpful to both the Separatists and to Hydra. However both of these organizations are not on good terms right now. Neither Hydra nor my master trust that you won't force us to fight one another to Coulson's benefit. You're a liability and liabilities are eliminated in the Separatist movement."

"Wait wait I can help you. You don't need to kill me." Ward said weakly holding out his hand as a gesture of peace

Ventress smiled and then stabbed Ward in the chest with her lightsaber. She leaned back and sighed calmly as she twisted her blade into Ward's chest. Ward struggled to speak as he coughed up blood. Ventress gently whispered rest in Ward's ear as his breathing became faint and in a few seconds Ward stopped breathing. He lay dead sprawled on the grass nearby a tree and Ventress grinned. Killing difficult foes even those without abilities was always fun for her.

An explosion went off nearby and Ventress tapped into the dark side of the Force to see where it came from. The cabin that belonged to Ward's parents exploded and Ventress saw three burnt up bodies in the wreckage. Ward did have a trap but it was in vain because now Ward, his brother Christian and his parents were all dead. Ventress walked away from Ward's corpse and entered her airship to return to her Master Count Dooku. Her mission was complete.

Chapter Text

Coulson saw the same alien writing in the back of Duchess Satine's private chambers when she communicated with Coulson's team via Holo Net transmission. He interrupted her when she spoke about how she only was going to trust Coulson's team because she and Padme were friends. Satine explained the writing had existed for centuries and lined the caverns of Mandalore.  This was a copy of the writing notated by an ancestor in Satine's ancestral line of House Kryze. Satine finished her answer by glaring at Obi Wan. Coulson raced to his office after May gave a briefing on the details of their upcoming mission following Satine's request for help from Shield.

Coulson finally exhaled in relief once he carved the writing on the wall of his office. Panic set in when he realized these sets of carvings were too big to hide from Skye. Coulson came to the conclusion that hearing about the nation of Mandalore/Texas's involvement in the war for the Obelisk triggered the urge of Coulson to carve the alien symbols. The urges to carve were getting worse for Coulson. His relief would only last for a short time before he needed to carve on another surface again.

"Hem. Hem." Ahsoka falsely coughed to get Coulson's attention

Coulson turned around and saw Ahsoka and Skye with their arms folded glaring at him.

"No point in continuing to lie to both of you is there?" Coulson asked

"With some help from Hunter I figured it out. You realize keeping this from me made no sense. I don't feel any urges to carve because the GH325 drug that is causing you to carve doesn't affect me the way it affects you. I'm not human. I don't even know what I am." Skye replied

"I know but I...I don't want to see you in pain and Ahsoka I didn't want to scare you after what you endured in Ryloth/Algeria. There's a possibility that I might go insane if we don't figure out what this alien writing means. It means you or Anakin are going to have to kill me if that happens. You two are the only ones on this team strong enough to do it because that drug will make it just as strong as Garrett was in Ryloth/Algeria." Coulson explained

"Anakin and I refuse to do that. You forgot Coulson that I didn't give up on Master Plo  when he was marooned in space by Dooku's super weapon. I'm not going to give up on you because of this situation. I've learned that this war is going to cause bad things to happen but I can't give up. Neither will Skye." Ahsoka replied

"I couldn't live with myself if I lost control like Garrett did because he kept carving the alien writing. I love you guys and I don't want to hurt you because I lost my mind." Coulson said with tears

"You aren't going to lose my mind. That carving isn't just random writing. It's a map to some kind of cave system on Mandalore. We need to get Simmons out of Hydra and figure out what she's learned undercover. It could help us figure out which cave system on Mandalore contains the alien writing as well as where the Obelisk came from and how to destroy it." Skye explained

"The problem is that Raina knows Simmons is in Hydra. We need to meet with her first to know what she's learned. Obi Wan and Anakin can go to Mandalore to find Ward."

"Wait a minute. Ward was declared dead by the United Republic Military tribunal after a 24 hour investigation by Admiral Talbot. It was in the middle of a battle where Rex...where Rex went missing. Asajj Ventress murdered him and then bombed his parents cabin. Ward's brother and his parents died in the cabin." Ahsoka replied

"Ward isn't dead. He staged everything so that he could get to Mandalore. I don't know why and obviously we have no proof but its exactly what I think Ward would do. He's angered the Separatists and Hydra and they are watching him closely. That close surveillance has prevented him from reaching Mandalore without being attacked by either group..." Coulson explained

"So if Ward is declared dead by the government then he can get to Mandalore without any interference. Wow that's very clever." Ahsoka added

Skye glared at Ahsoka, "He's using these tricks to connect all of this to my father. I just have this feeling my father is connected to the Mandalorians somehow. That's why Ward wants to go there. He thinks this can make up for all the things he did to us."

Coulson shook his head.

"All of this will be clearer once we speak to Raina and hear what she knows. I'll have May assemble the team at the meeting place Raina designated for us. Then when Simmons debriefs us on the Intel she received we'll help Obi Wan and Anakin deal with the Death Watch situation on Mandalore."

Ahsoka and Skye nodded assured Coulson's plan would work now that they weren't keeping secrets from each other.

****

"We are going to need to upgrade all of these weapons for when Coulson and the others provide backup for Obi Wan and Anakin on Mandalore. You think you can handle that Fitz? I'm good with airships and vehicles but you are the guy the team is counting on when it comes to maintaining weapons and equipment." Mack said

Fitz just stared at the work station which was piled high with various mechanical parts. Anakin was gone. He and Fitz enjoyed working together on different engineering projects. Though technically Anakin was still a member of Shield he and R2D2 didn't spend much time in the lab anymore. Simmons being gone made Fitz physically ill at times. Simmons's absence was like being on a roller coaster that refused to slow down.

"Hello Fitz. I'm right here. We are still best friends because I know exactly what you're thinking. I don't need the Force to read your mind because we know each other that well." Fits's hallucination of Simmons said with a smile

"You're not real. None of this is real." Fitz muttered

"What are you talking about? Are you saying our friendship isn't real?" Mack asked hurt

"No. No. We are friends Mack. We are...it's not that...it's...it's so hard to say..." Fitz struggled to explain

"Is Simmons being gone bothering you?" Mack asked gently

"Yes. Yes! I wish she was here but she left. It's all my fault. I didn't...I'm still not...I'm not... I'm good enough!" Fitz screamed in frustration before he started crying

"Hey Listen Fitz. Stop it! I didn't know you before Ward injured you. But I don't care about the old you. I like this version of you. This new Fitz is a good guy that wants to help his friends. That's a Fitz that I'm proud to be friends with." Mack replied

Fitz stopped crying and looked up at Mack. He cracked a smile. He ignored the hallucination of Simmons and she vanished.

"Thanks Mack. You've been a huge help. I'm ready to start working on upgrading the vehicles and equipment for the Mandalorian operation." Fitz replied confidently

Mack gave him some tissues to blow his nose and wipe the tears off his face.

"You actually said all of that without stuttering. You doing great Turbo. And if Simmons isn't the woman you end up dating or marrying then that's her loss because any woman would be lucky to be with you." Mack praised

Fitz smiled and nodded then he and Mack got to work on upgrading the equipment and vehicles.

****

"This object is a Diviner not an Obelisk and I'm aware that you are Daniel Reinhardt not Daniel Whitehall. I'm in Mandalore which is neutral territory protected diplomatically from reprisal by both the United Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Nations or as the media says the Separatists. I'm not here to threaten you. I want to help you. To aide you in your quests but...you have to actually attack the Separatists head on. It's the only way I'll teach you the secrets of how the Diviner works." Cal said

Cal no longer operated as his false name Zabo. He realized the time had come for him to emerge from the shadows. He needed to become trustworthy towards Hydra and appear human. He couldn't risk turning into his monstrous form again. Unlike Raina whose failures grew by the second Grant Ward had been very useful. He believed Ward had the skills to ensure none of these warring factions would interfere in his plan to reunite with Skye and convince her to go through the change that the Diviner was designed to initiate for her body. However without finding and securing the correct cavern were the Obelisk's power needed to be unlocked...then all of this planning Cal did for the past 25 years would be for naught.

"Fine. You're right. I was Daniel Reinhardt but now I'm Daniel Whitehall. I have spent a long time trying to understand the power of the Obelisk...I mean the Diviner. You say that when placed in an alien temple inside the correct cavern on Mandalore it's true power will be revealed? I'll hold you to that promise but if you fail to deliver me the secrets of the Diviner then I will send my assassin Agent 33 to deal with you." Whitehall warned Cal Zabo

"I've been waiting for a partnership with someone like you for a long time. It'll be a mutually beneficial partnership trust me." Cal replied with a sinister smile

Simmons gasped as she watched this meeting unfold and ran back to her cubicle before anyone discovered her eavesdropping on her boss Whitehall.

****

Coulson sat at the table of a fancy restaurant. He'd been waiting a half an hour for Raina to arrive. She still wasn't here and Coulson struggled to resist the temptation to check his watch. Ahsoka was disguised as a waiter while May and Skye hid in the kitchen. Hunter was at the back of the restaurant pretending to read the menu watching Coulson's back. Despite his reputation for being a lone man that was proud to be a mercenary Hunter did respect Coulson and wanted to protect him.
Hunter groaned when Raina arrived in a blue flower dress.

"This tiny woman in a flower dress was the dangerous agent of a joint Hydra and Separatist operation that you were all afraid of for the past year?" Hunter asked incredulous

Raina approached Coulson's table and greeted him warmly saying, "It's good to see you again Agent Coulson."

Coulson didn't return Raina's smile and in fact frowned at her. He merely said her name and they both sat down at the table.

"You look wonderful Coulson. I'm so glad we are meeting face to face again. I admire men like yourself who do whatever it takes to support the members of your team. Your sense of character goes well with your looks. It assures me that we can have a fruitful partnership." Raina said with a sensual smile

"Wait a minute? Is she flirting with Coulson?" Hunter asked

"It's what she does." Ahsoka replied with a sigh

"She's not done yet Hunter. She's gonna try to work Coulson with flattery that hides the hyperspit coming out of her mouth." May muttered

"This is just a business arrangement Raina. Nothing more and nothing less. Whether you enjoy my company or not you're going to give me what I want." Coulson replied

"Coulson you seem different. Why the hostility?" Raina replied

"You helped Agent John Garrett terrorize the innocent Twi'lek's of Ryloth/Algeria. Now that he's dead you've been in contact with Hydra Agents according to my sources."

"I'm just trying to find out the truth about the Obelisk. It's why I was with John Garrett in the first place. I want to know the secrets of my past just as much as Skye does." Raina explained

"You wanna help find out the truth but I'm doing it in a way where innocent people don't get hurt...hand over the Obelisk and turn yourself in. We can make you a confidential informant...an asset to Shield." Coulson offered

"Obelisk is out of my hands. As I said I want to discover the truth. The same truth Skye wants discovered. I need you to help me with that." Raina demanded

Coulson leaned in and said with an edge to his voice, "I'm not helping you learn more about the Obelisk. I researched what it does and it's dangerous. It's turned people into stone. It needs to be destroyed along with the cavern on Mandalore that it needs to be placed in."

"Just because something is powerful doesn't make it dangerous. We want the same thing Coulson let's work together." Raina implored

"No thanks. We may both want answers but the way you want to get those answers doesn't work for me." Coulson replied

"I guess we aren't getting past the first date. That's unfortunate. We could have had something special Coulson." Raina said with a sigh

"I don't like going on second dates with women who have something tricky up their sleeve."

"Well it's actually in my purse. I have a photo of Agent Simmons on this data pad operating as a spy for Shield within Hydra. If I don't enter a code every 5 minutes then everyone in Hydra will receive this photo of Simmons sending Intel to Shield in secret. You have 5 minutes to allow me to take Skye to her father Cal Johnson. Ward betrayed me wanting to seek favor with her father by working for him but he underestimated me. Don't make the same mistake as Ward. Simmons's life depends on it."

Chapter Text

Obi Wan was in a foul mood. It all began with Coulson's erratic behavior when Duchess of Mandalore Satine Kryze communicated with Shield on a secure Holo Net channel. Obi Wan had to work extra hard to convince Satine to not abandon her request for aid from Shield. He appealed to Satine's friendship with Padme and Obi Wan referenced his own role as a liaison between this underground version of Shield and the United Republic and the Jedi Order. Obi Wan swore to Coulson he wouldn't allow the United Republic to take over Shield. Obi Wan made the same promise to Satine that the United Republic military wouldn't interfere with Mandalorian affairs.

Unfortunately for Obi Wan this meant traveling to Mandalore with only Anakin as backup meaning their respective Clone Battalions needed to remain behind. Mandalore was the head nation of a neutral body of nations unaffiliated with either government fighting in the Clone Wars. This group of nations was called ANN or the Alliance of Neutral Nations. Satine had open diplomatic channels with both the United Republic and the Separatists so that her people could peacefully co-exist with either military organization. Under a collection of peace treaties that date back decades prior to World War II the United Republic military couldn't set foot in Mandalore territory for any reason. Satine and her new Mandalorian government operates as pacifists and disbanded their own military and refashioned it as a local police and security force for important officials.

Obi Wan thought this unwise considering Dooku and the Separatists didn't recognize this new Mandalorian government as legitimate nor did they acknowledge the other nations in ANN as legitimate. Obi Wan was sure the Separatists would use nefarious means to attack the Duchess of Mandalore but Satine dismissed his concerns. She remarked that the aerial defense fleet on the island of Concordia which was considered a part of Mandalore in the Gulf Coast would protect Mandalore/Texas from any Separatist attacks or Hydra attempts at invasion. Yet already a suicide bomber attempted to assassinate Satine disguised as a reporter wanting an exclusive interview with her.

"Duchess Satine this Jedi's appearance has inflamed political tensions within Mandalore/Texas. There are those among our people who believe in your reforms Duchess and how they've allowed us to set up ANN as a means to protect us from getting caught up in the Clone Wars. However there are those like that suicide bomber who view you as weak Duchess. These Death Watch terrorists welcome the presence of this Jedi because it's an excuse to go back to the ways of violence that Mandalore embraced in the past. They want to challenge the United Republic and the Separatists by reinstating the Mandalore/Texas military. This Jedi being on Mandalore endangers lives because he's provoking Death Watch to engage in more violence." Governor Vizsla complained

"Governor I don't want to give the impression the United Republic wants control of Mandalore/Texas so I've come with only one other Jedi without a detachment of Clones. I'm investigating Intel regarding a United Republic fugitive named Grant Ward. There's evidence of his communication with members of Death Watch to seek an ancient cavern connected to a powerful artifact. Once I finish my investigation I'll leave Mandalore." Obi Wan reassured

"Well in that case you should investigate the island of Concordia. There's rumors of a creature that's been killing hunters in the area. The creature only appeared recently. Perhaps this unknown monster is connected to your search for this...Grant Ward." Vizsla suggested

"Fine. Once I'm done discussing the matter with the Duchess I will travel to Concordia and continue investigating there." Obi Wan replied

"Governor Vizsla thank you for your understanding in this matter. I know this hasn't been an easy time for you but I'm grateful for the support you've given to my administration during these efforts to institute reforms." Duchess Satine said

Governor Vizsla bowed and then ended his Holo Net communication with the Duchess.

"Well, Master Kenobi, my shining Jedi Knight to the rescue again. Remember that you are here under my protection. Please try not to cause problems where none yet exist. Your partner Anakin Skywalker better not offend Prime Minister Almec or Finance Minister Tal Merrik when he questions them. You're lucky Governor Vizsla didn't lose his temper." Satine criticized

"Satine even in such a foul mood I'm grateful to be around you again. I don't want to cause trouble. Think of me as an investigator searching for solutions to restore peace to your nation." Obi Wan offered

Satine shook her head and folded her arms. She walked towards her bed and Obi Wan followed her there and sat down next to her.

"I have to tell you, I'm opposed to all of this. I'm willing to do this because Padme said I could trust you. Yet...you aren't the young man I fell in love with. You're different."
Satine said melancholy

"I'd be disappointed if you weren't opposed to all this. Yes I've changed Satine because I have responsibilities. To the United Republic and to Shield. Coulson is counting on me to find Ward. He's managed to fool Dooku's assassin Asajj Ventress into thinking he's dead. Now he has his eyes set on Mandalore/Texas to do galaxy knows what?!"

"Not this again." Satine said rolling her eyes and exiting her private quarters

She walked down a spiraling staircase where her elite Mandalorian Protectors awaited her at the bottom step. Obi Wan chased after her and attempted to plead with Satine to slow down.

"Satine wait! I didn't mean to repeat myself from four years ago. I know it's been that long since we last spoke. It's just...this war has taken a toll on me. I do care for you Satine but you have to understand things change." Obi Wan explained

Satine frowned at Obi Wan but before she could speak a Mandalorian Protector announced Anakin's arrival.

"Oh um...was I interrupting something?" Anakin said awkwardly

"No...um...nothing Anakin. Did you gather anything from talking to the members of Satine's cabinet?" Obi Wan asked

"No. However there's going to be a meeting taking place where they'll present a proposal to Duchess Satine on ways to lower the political tension on Mandalore so that it doesn't escalate into a potential Civil War. The meeting is clandestine and will take place during a fancy dinner party for wealthy families in Mandalore raising money for victims of violence by the group Death Watch. I'd figure R2 and I blend in as a wealthy party goer and a fancy droid to see if Death Watch has infiltrated the Mandalorian elite." Anakin replied

"Is this spying on Mandalorian citizens and government officials even necessary?" Satine questioned

"Yes. Grant Ward has sensitive information about the inner workings of your government. All so that he can cause chaotic violence as a distraction to find an ancient temple with alien writing. Aside from the destruction such violence will cause if Ward activates the power of the Obelisk inside that Temple it could cause even more destruction that could threaten the entire planet! What good is your pacifism in that scenario Satine? I'm simply trying to preserve peace." Obi Wan retorted

Satine groaned and folded her arms.

"For a man sworn to peace, you take unseemly pleasure in the injuries of others."

Obi Wan glared at Satine in frustration and fired back, "For a woman sworn to non-violence, you don't seem troubled that people could be killed in this possible conflict."

"You think I don't care about my people. You sound exactly like the leader of Death Watch. My people have engaged in war for generations! Each clan fighting for control by poking at and exposing the weaknesses of a ruling administration resulting in excessive violence that leads to countless deaths! Trial by combat to preserve power and control...the old ways! Look outside Obi and see that most of Mandalore/Texas is desert because of this constant cycle of destruction! I've done more for education, infrastructure and the improvement of domestic industry than any ruling administration of Mandalore/Texas in over a century and that includes my own father the former Duke of Mandalore!" Satine proclaimed

"You know what guys. R2 and I are just going to head over to the airship where the Gala and secret meeting are..." Anakin said while nervously backing away

"Well, you certainly haven't changed much. You fail to understand that Jedi are peacekeepers. That means going to the front lines and using violence to stop those who wish to do harm to the weak and innocent. If I just sat back and did nothing then evil would succeed. That means I failed to do my duty to serve the United Republic and the Jedi Order." Obi Wan argued

Anakin tried to get Satine and Obi Wan to stop arguing but failed in his effort to get them to stop. He realized how similar Obi Wan and Satine's arguments were to his own arguments with Padme. Then it dawned on Anakin. Obi Wan and Satine had a romance and they were still in love. Anakin started laughing when he realized how many romances occurred within Coulson's Shield team. Fitz and Simmons, himself and Padme and he knew May and Coulson had romantic feelings for each other and now his own master Obi Wan was also involved in a romantic affair with the leader of Mandalore/Texas.

"The work of a peacemaker is to make sure that conflict does not arise." Satine challenged

"Yes, a noble description, but not a realistic one." Obi Wan fired back

"Is reality what makes a Jedi abandon his ideals? Or is it simply a response to political convenience?" Satine accused

Obi Wan had no clever retort for that final question. He mumbled that perhaps Satine had a point using Governor Vizsla as a negotiator to get Death Watch to stand down. Secretly Obi Wan wanted to use this pretense of diplomacy to see if the monster attacking people on Concordia was related to the stories about Skye's parents being monsters. There was also the phone call Skye received from Ward that ended with a promise by Ward to reunite Skye with her father. Obi Wan realized there were many pieces to this puzzle that needed to be solved. He begrudgingly accepted the fact he needed the Duchess to solve this puzzle even if it meant confronting the elephant in the room that was their romantic history. Obi Wan wondered if Coulson learned anything about Skye's father after talking with Raina.

****

Coulson was furious by Raina's decision to threaten Simmons life in order to blackmail him. Raina had a small smile and sat across from Coulson in a relaxed manner. This made Coulson more upset and his face hardened in its expression.

"I don't like being threatened." Coulson said

"This isn't a threat. Coulson this is actually a gesture of good will." Raina replied

She smiled holding up her phone that had a timer on it and a picture of Simmons sending Hydra intelligence to Shield.

"Except this gesture of goodwill comes at a cost. So you delete that photo and what do I give you in return?" Coulson aske

"Skye. You give me Skye so that I can take her to Mandalore/Texas so that she can meet her father." Raina replied

"Why in the galaxy do you think I would give up Skye to you! What in the galaxy is all of this about?" Coulson demanded

"Skye's father, the Obelisk, the alien writing and Mandalore/Texas. It's all connected Coulson. Skye's father knows everything about all of this stuff you and your team are investigating. He wants to show Skye how she fits in at the center of all this. You have three minutes left Coulson to make a decision." Raina replied

"She's lying Skye." May said behind the kitchen door

Skye started to panic. Anakin and Obi Wan were in Mandalore/Texas right now. What if all of this was a trap to kill them? Skye thought. Skye looked at Ahsoka continuing to pretend to be a waitress and felt guilty. If her mentor Anakin was killed...Skye knew it would devestate Ahsoka and she felt it would be her fault if that happened. Then Skye thought about Simmons her best friend. The one that helped her get comfortable within Shield and watched her back. If Simmons died...Skye started to shake with fear.

"You need to calm down Skye. Coulson has a plan to protect the members of this team." May said firmly

"How long have you been working for Skye's father?" Coulson asked even more suspicious of Raina

"Skye's parents were forcibly separated from Skye by Shield and the Jedi Order when she was a baby. Her father has spent decades looking for Skye ever since. I'm just trying to make the best of a bad situation." Raina said

"You want to accomplish this by threatening the life of one of my Agents."

"Coulson I'm trying to give Skye what she's been searching for her whole life...the truth. The truth about where she came from. Dooku promised her that information and she worked for his organization Rising Tide before you and the Jedi arrested her. He lied. I've been searching for the same thing. Agent John Garrett convinced me he was the Clairvoyant and knew things the Jedi couldn't possibly know about my own past. He lied to me too. Now Skye has an opportunity to find out if the stories about her parents are true. She just has to take a trip with me to Mandalore/Texas." Raina said

Skye looked at May her fear increasing but May firmly shook her head.
Coulson continued to glare at Raina refusing to say anything to her.

"Time is running out Coulson. You may have changed but you're still a good man. You wouldn't sacrifice one of your Agents on purpose just to keep Skye from her father?"

Coulson saw that Raina was beginning to express fear. The clock on her phone read 20 seconds and sweat started pouring down Raina's forehead. Coulson grabbed the phone and he saw Raina's body relax slightly but he slid the phone towards Raina.

"No deal. Skye isn't going with you to Mandalore/Texas." Coulson replied

Raina's eyes widened in shock while Skye raced towards Coulson's table. May blocked her path and forcibly shoved Skye away from the door.

"Were you not listening! If we do nothing Simmons is going to die!" Skye argued

"Stand down Skye. Coulson has a plan to protect Simmons! You need to trust him." May ordered

"That's been very hard to do considering his crazy behavior the past few months!" Skye argued

"I get it Skye. I do but Coulson has a plan. He will not let Simmons die."

"I can't believe you would sacrifice Simmons. One of your most trusted Agents. Ward told me you fought to protect Simmons from Shield quarantine protocols when she was infected by a virus from an alternate dimension. What's happened to you Coulson?"

"Simmons knew what she was getting into. The spy business is a game of risk. In your case your gamble didn't pay off and now you're at my mercy Raina."

Raina was on the verge of tears, "Please Coulson. Show mercy. I had no choice. I was out of options."

Hunter joined them at the table and smiled saying, "I'm sorry love but being an Agent of Hydra and the Separatists isn't going to get you a ton of sympathy. Maybe I should start playing the world's smallest violin as you continue to beg for mercy sweetheart."

"Whose making you do this and why? Don't lie to me Raina." Coulson demanded

"Hydra." Raina said still afraid

"Tell me what you know about Daniel Whitehall and Skye's father. Then you will be making a trip to Mandalore/Texas...with Hunter. You'll be reuniting with your old friend Anakin Skywalker Raina." Coulson ordered

"You want to use me as bait. To force the Separatists and Hydra to come out of the shadows and go to Mandalore to come after me." Raina said

"If you do your part alll of your current and former employers Dooku, Daniel Whitehall and Skye's father will be taken out by my team."

"You don't understand Coulson. The stories are true. Daniel Whitehall scared me but Syke's father is worse. He's a monster. A monster that's determined to kill anyone...even Jedi...to get his daughter Skye back. He's dangerous."

"So is Anakin Skywalker. You haven't heard. He's the Chosen One." Coulson said with a smile

Chapter Text

Anakin wasn't happy that he was forced to work together with Raina by Coulson. Though he admitted that with the large number of people at this New Mandalorian Gala his Force abilities were useless. There were too many emotions and thoughts in the room for Anakin to concentrate on and sort through. Raina on the other hand used her skill for flattery and smooth talk to work the room. Her persuasive tactics could reveal who the spy was within Duchess Satine's inner circle.

Anakin thought about Padme and her skills at talking to important people. He would prefer working together with her on a mission like this. Anakin sighed when he remembered that he worked on a mission like this with Padme in Miami. Anakin realized he messed up in a greater way than he originally thought. He allowed his jealousy and fear to fuel his rage. As a result he lost control and almost killed Senator Clovis. He was grateful this mission gave him a sort of second chance to control his emotions.

Raina disgusted Anakin with her penchant for selfishness and ego centric thinking. It made sense to Anakin that she was expelled from the Jedi Order long ago. Raina's self interest did serve a purpose in this mission but he hoped Raina's time as an asset for Coulson's team would come to an end soon. Anakin knew he and Raina needed to find the person responsible for allowing Death Watch terrorists to get past Satine's security quickly. He just received a transmission from R2 that Obi Wan and Satine were being attacked by Death Watch on Concordia.

****

Obi Wan and Satine hid behind a damaged vehicle as a wounded Death Watch soldier was executed by the leader of Death Watch for failure to capture Obi Wan and Satine. It was clear to both of them that Governor Vizsla of Concordia was the Death Watch leader. That he'd been undermining Satine beneath her nose for years by secretly being in contact with the Separatists through Raina. Now through recently captured Hydra Agent Sunil Bakshi Vizsla had connections to Hydra. Vizsla was flanked by four of his best Death Watch officers two on his right and two on his left.

"We'll have to stand and fight. Or in your case, just stand." Obi Wan whispered

Vizsla stopped 20 feet away from the downed vehicle he and Satine hid behind.

"For generations, my ancestors fought proudly as warriors against the Jedi. Now, that woman (Duchess Satine) tarnishes the very name "Mandalorian" by working with them! She claimed that Mandalore would be neutral in the Clone Wars but she's clearly lied about that. What else is the Duchess lying about? What else will she do to undermine Mandalorian tradition and values! That's why an underground movement exists to remove the Duchess from power and restore the old ways under my rule as leader of House Vizsla!" Vizsla proclaimed

Other members of Death Watch arrived in the clearing where destroyed vehicles were scattered about. They started chanting Vizsla's name in solidarity with his speech.

"At what cost Governor Vizsla! At what cost do you wish to return Mandalore to its violent militant ways? You are auctioning off the civil rights of Mandalorian citizens to the Separatists and now to Hydra! These organizations seek to use our ancestral caverns that depict the history of our people to create superweapons! And for what...for more violence?" Satine questioned standing up in front of her hiding spot

"Do not fire upon the Duchess you dangerous thugs! Yes. The Duchess and I have worked together in the past and we are working together again. It's to ensure the safety of Mandalorian citizens from your relationships with both Hydra and the Separatists Pre Vizsla. Surrender or suffer the consequences."

Satine frowned at Obi Wan because of the implied violence by his threat. Then she was startled to see the blasters in the hands of each Death Watch soldier shake and rattle. Satine realized Obi Wan was channeling the Force. The things Jedi could do use to be marvelous to her when Satine and Obi Wan were...together...but now it was just violence to Satine.

"I know Jedi are powerful Master Kenobi. But you Jedi have limits. My ancestors have fought your kind for generations Kenobi. I will continue that tradition with a duel. I'll prove to you that the old Mandalorian traditions are superior to the New Mandalorian pacifism of Duchess Satine." Vizsla claimed

He tossed Obi Wan's stolen lightsaber to him and Obi Wan caught it. Obi Wan eyed his lightsaber confused by Vizsla's willingness to hand a Jedi their most powerful weapon before challenging them to combat. Then things became clearer when Vizsla revealed a dark blade with white light outlining it's edges.

"This is an ancient Mandalorian weapon created by my people. My ancestor Tarre Vizsla reclaimed it after you Jedi stole it from us and placed it in your Temple during the Mandalorian-Jedi Civil War. This weapon is called the Darksaber and through it's weilder the Darksaber has killed many Jedi in combat throughout its existence. You will be joining that list Kenobi."

Obi Wan and Vizsla fought with intensity and Obi Wan was surprised at how well Vizsla handled this Darksaber weapon. He'd heard legends about this weapon but didn't know too much about it's capabilities. Obi Wan shifted into more of a defensive posture and started baiting Vizsla into dueling with more aggression. This strategy worked as Vizsla's footwork began to get sloppy. This created openings for Obi Wan to attack. Vizsla continued to lose ground and struggled to use defensive managers to protect himself from Obi Wan's attacks.

Vizsla activated his jetpack and soared above Obi Wan and instead of attacking with the Darksaber he used his flamethrower attached to his armor's right gauntlet. Obi Wan dodged the attack and then struck Vizsla's jetpack with his lightsaber so it got damaged. The damage forcred Vizsla to toss the jetpack far away from either of them before it exploded. Vizsla ordered his men to shoot Obi Wan but Obi Wan deflected the blasts from Vizsla's men with his lightsaber. One of the Death Watch soldiers circled behind Obi Wan in an attempt to kidnap Satine. Yet the soldier was surprised when Satine wasn't in her hiding spot. He decided to fire his blaster at Obi Wan's back but before he could Satine through a rock at his head. The sound of the rock hitting the Death Watch soldier's helmet alerted Obi Wan to his presence and he used the Force to knock him into a nearby boulder and he passed out.

"Duchess we need to retreat immediately." Obi Wan said

Satine nodded and the pair ran towards a nearby just as a Death Watch soldier fired a rocket attached to his jetpack at Obi Wan and Satine. They jumped down a mine shift to avoid the explosion and the entrance to the cavern collapsed. They slowly got to their feet after the rough landing and we're face to face with Ward, Skye and another person who looked like Grant Ward. Obi Wan realized Ward had his own Clone.

****

Anakin and Hunter were fighting an army of spider droids that R2 detected but not before they invaded the airship the Coronet were the fundraising gala was taking place. Raina identified Finance Minister Tal Merrik as the spy that was helping Death Watch while pretending to be loyal to Satine. Raina unfortunately was nowhere to be found using the distraction of the spider droids to use an escape pod to escape the Coronet.

Party goers screamed and cried out in fear as they scurried to the back of the ballroom as far away as possible from the spider droids as possible. Hunter's blaster rifle was running out of energy and needed to charge. He started throwing knives at the Spider Droids and after a short delay they exploded.

"Skywalker! Can you just end this nonsense by doing some crazy Jedi stuff." Hunter complained

"What do you think I'm doing!" Anakin retorted using the Force to crush a dozen spider droids into dust yet dozens more spider droids remained

"I understand you're doing Jedi stuff but I was hoping you'd do that Jedi stuff on a larger scale mate." Hunter specified

Anakin rolled his eyes as he ordered R2 to find the central droid that was creating the spider droids as a way to shut down all the spider droids. Hunter was forced to use a chair to bash the approaching spider droids while Anakin continued to slash at the them with his lightsaber. Anakin sighed in relief when Obi Wan contacted through his comm link that he and Satine were arriving. Obi Wan said a source told him the Coronet was programmed to explode and the person with the detonator needed to be found.

"Hunter and I will take care of the spider droids Obi-Wan. You help your girlfriend find the detonator." Anakin said

"Right...ah no, Anakin! Satine's not my girlfriend. Have you and Raina uncovered who had the detonator?" Obi Wan asked

Before Anakin could explain Tal Merrik was the one who had the detonator the comm link stopped working due to signal interference.

****

Tal Merrik's plan was unfolding perfectly. He'd inform Obi Wan and Satine that the traitor attacked him and that he needed medical assistance. Merrik knew the pair would race to his aid and seek information from him about the traitor's whereabouts. They didn't realize that Merrik himself was the traitor. Death Watch paid him a handsome salary to operate as a spy but so did the Separatists. He was underpaid and underappreciated by Satine to the point where working for Death Watch and the Separatists (despite the two groups being at odds with one another) was a lucrative role.

Merrik started laughing but was forced stifle his laughter when Satine arrived moments later without Obi Wan to tend to his "wounds". Merrik pulled out his blaster and grabbed Satine pressing his weapon to her head. Merrik was annoyed that Satine managed to scream out a warning in fear over her comm link. Obi Wan arrived a moment later with his lightsaber out as Merrik received notification from Asajj Ventress an airship would arrive soon to transport himself and the Duchess off the Coronet to an unknown location.

"You're under arrest Merrik. Release the Duchess." Obi Wan ordered with his lightsaber extended forward

"Sorry Kenobi you're too late. I took the precaution of planting a bomb that only I can deactivate with the detonation device. However any sudden moves and I'll press the button and then we'll all die." Merrik taunted

"Obi if you have any respect for me you will not gamble with the lives of the people on this airship by attempting to save me." Satine implored

Obi Wan was stuck as everytime he inched forward Merrik would move backward holding out the detonator. Obi Wan considered using the Force to bring the detonator to himself and away from Merrik but he couldn't. His fear about potentially losing Satine forever to Merrik and his handlers clouded Obi Wan's ability to tap into the Force. He tried with all his might to keep his expression calm and stoic as to not worry Satine. Satine's face contained a mixture of fear and anger as she realized she was a prop to cause pain and fear to Obi Wan someone she still loved deep down. Satine realized if she was going to kidnapped and hidden away forever by either the Separatists or Hydra then Obi Wan needed to know about her love for him. Her desire was that they rekindle their romance and get married one day. Once the pair were at the door that was the exit towards the airship Satine realized it was now or ever to tell Obi Wan the truth.

"Obi it looks like I may never see you again. I want you to know ever since you came to my aid when we were younger I've loved you. We had a relationship that ended but...I wanted to let you know I wanted us to be together. I allowed my fear and how different we are from each other to get in the way. Regardless I love you Obi. No matter what happens moving forward I will always love you." Satine said

"I don't believe this...." Tal Merrik said in disgust rolling his eyes

"Satine, this is hardly the time or place for - all right... I care for you Satine. I will always care for you but there was a time when I loved you. Had you said the word, I would have left the Jedi Order to marry you." Obi Wan said with more emotion than usual

"That is touching! Truly it is. But it's making me sick! And we really must go! My extraction airship has arrived." Merrik said

Duchess Satine scoffed in anger before saying, "You have the romantic soul of a slug, Merrik! And slugs are easily trod upon!"

She then stomped on his foot and got away, stealing Merrik's blaster and holding him at blasterpoint.

Merrik held up in hands in mock surrender for a moment before laughing while lowering his hands.

"Either way I still win Duchess and Master Jedi. The second I'm away, I'll hit the remote and blow the Coronet to bits. That gives Death Watch and the Separatists a key victory over Mandalore, Shield and the Jedi."

"I will not allow that. I'm holding you at blasterpoint!" Satine threatened

Merrik laughed hysterically in response to Satine's threat, "What will you do? If you shoot me with that blaster, you prove yourself a hypocrite to every pacifist ideal you hold dear. And you, Kenobi, you are no stranger to violence. You'd be hailed as a hero by everyone on this ship... Almost everyone. Satine wouldn't praise you Kenobi and you'd be breaking her hear...again."

Obi Wan frowned realizing that Merrik was in control despite a lightsaber and a blaster being aimed at his direction. Obi Wan was still conflicted in his feelings about Satine thus was unable to tap into the Force to remove the detonator from Merrik's hand. He gritted his teeth frustrated that he was stuck and unable to help anyone including Satine by stopping Merrik. A cruel grin formed on Merrik's face as he relished in his control over the situation.

"Come on, then. Who will strike me first and brand themselves a cold-blooded killer?" Merrik said while chuckling in triumph

Merrik groaned as a lightsaber pierced his chest. He dropped the detonator and it landed in Anakin's outstretched left hand. Anakin took advantage of Merrik's boasting to sneak behind him and kill Merrik with his lightsaber.

"Oh Anakin." Obi Wan said in disapproval while Satine looked at Anakin with disgust

"What? He was going to blow up the airship." Anakin replied dismissively while Satine tossed away the blaster pistol she held in disgust

"I don't mean to butt in but Anakin does have a point." Hunter added trailing behind

Obi Wan glared at Hunter and he shrugged sporting a sheepish smile.

"Obi Wan I have to tell you a secret." Satine said trembling with mixed emotions

She pulled Obi Wan aside and told him that he impregnated her all those years ago they were a couple. That she had been raising her son but lying to the Mandalorian people that Korkie was her nephew because her older brother died in an ariel attack from pirates many years ago. Thus falsely claiming her own brother was Korkie's father. However Korkie's true name was David. David had special abilities but nothing like a Jedi Satine explained. David had a unique genetic profile that scientists among her people labelled an X gene profile. David could implant images in people's minds and distort their surroundings.

"I'm sorry Satine. I was irresponsible and foolish to have impregnated you and I'm sorry that David has been raised without a father figure in his life. However I have sworn a duty to protect the United Republic as a Jedi. I cannot relinquish that to build a family alongside you. I will always care for you and you know that I will protect you no matter what. But I have responsibilities to attend to Duchess." Obi Wan replied

Satine's face is filled with tears at how cold Obi Wan's response was in rejecting his own son. Determined not to cry in front of Obi Wan she replied stiffly, "You're not the only one with responsibilities Master Jedi. I'm a Duchess and I need to prepare a public address to the Mandalorian people about recent events. To reassure them Mandalore is safe. Have a nice day Master Jedi."

Obi Wan saddened that he and Satine referred to each other by their titles and not their first names went off to explain to Anakin how Ward was still alive with two Clones.

Chapter Text

24 Hours before The Mandalore Plot during and after the events in an earlier chapter A New Grant Ward

"You think this is a joke! Are you even listening to yourself?" Christian shouted

He stood up to Ward and pointed his fingers at him despite being handcuffed and continued shouting, "You twist every horrible act you do and blame it on somebody else! Mom and Dad were terrible and they made us do terrible things but you took it too far. You tried to murder Mom when you were 17 years old! Before you were in Shield or Hydra your first thought was to murder someone! How twisted and psychotic can you get?"

"Because of you! All you, mom and dad did was drive me insane. You think a kid can survive that type of treatment and not lose himself in madness!" Ward fired back

"Thomas and Diane didn't end up like that. They grew up with us and actually were good kids not perfect but nothing like us. It didn't matter that both of us were terrible older brothers to them. Even though Diane was taking from this world far too soon it's good that Thomas still has a chance to be nothing like us.

Yet you choose to ignore that Grant. You do it so you can justify to yourself that you're still the good guy despite all the innocent people you've killed and all the close friends you betrayed. It all started with Thomas and Diane. You learned betrayal when you took advantage of their trust in you. You were the one that nearly killed Thomas by drowning him in that Well." Christian said

"You know good and dank ferrik that it was you who forced me to drown Thomas in the Well. I admit that I've done terrible things but I'm going to make up for them and you're going to help me. You're going to help me become a new Grant Ward and you'll be happy to comply." Ward said while holding up a small circular device

Christian stared in alarm at the device but he quickly fell into a trance as a series of multicolored circular lights on the device dulled his mind. He stood up in a perfectly straight posture with a blank stare at his younger brother.

"I'm ready to comply." Christian said mindlessly

"Good. Because Ventress is coming and you need to play your part so that I can survive her next attack. You must be firm in your conviction that you are Grant Ward and that I am Christian Ward Jr. You are not pretending to be Grant Ward...no...it's who you are. It's how other people see you. Everything you read or seen related to Grant Ward is what has happened to you. The Separatists brainwashed you but I've freed you. You can finally be yourself Grant Ward. I'm Christian and I'm here to help mom and dad. To protect them you'll have to make a huge sacrifice. You'll have to try to fight me first."

Christian as Ward attempted to fight Ward as Christian. During the fight Ward placed a static mask on Christian's face and activated it. Ward was now staring at himself and he punched his brother in the face so that he sported a bruise. Christian threw a punch at Ward but missed and Ward activated his own static mask so he looked like Christian. Then Ward allowed his brother to punch him in the face before tossing him onto the ground and removing his handcuffs. He ordered Christian to lie still while he removed Christian's handcuffs and placed them on himself. AD3 notified him the defective Clone of Christian was placed just outside his parents cabin. The trip wire bomb was in place so now all Ward could do at this point is wait for Ventress to arrive.

Ventress found Ward bloodied and beaten near a tree. She held her lightsaber to his face and studied him. This was Ward she concluded after she used the Force to sense his mind. Ventress admired Ward's resourcefulness and skill but he was still human. A human that had no connection to the Force and no hope of defeating her in combat. Ventress tapped into the dark side of the Force to ensure there was no trap she accidentally set off.

Ventress knew Ward was a trickster and that allowed him to live for so long despite operating alone without any special abilities or powers. She knew Ward staged a battle between Obi Wan and General Grievous to kidnap his brother unbeknownst to the United Republic or the Separatists. Ventress smiled in a mocking fashion as she straddled Ward. She admitted that despite his facial injuries he was quite handsome. If only Ward was more unique in his genetic profile he could have been my servant and my lover Ventress thought to herself.

"What are you going to do to him?" Christian (secretly Ward) asked fearfully

Christian emerged from the bushes raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. He eyed her lightsaber and began to shake hoping he wouldn't fall victim to its destructive power.

"Kill him of course. You need to go to your parents house and contact me as soon as you get there. Your brother has a habit of using trickery and deception to succeed in achieving his goal. He was hoping to use you to get to them because he only pretended to believe you only took bribes from Hydra loyalists and not those loyal to Count Dooku. Take the speeder bike attached to my airship nearby to get to your parents." Ventress replied

Christian immediately started running to do as Ventress said not daring to question her instructions.

"Grant Ward. You've been helpful to both the Separatists and to Hydra. However both of these organizations are not on good terms right now. Neither Hydra nor my master trust that you won't force us to fight one another to Coulson's benefit. You're a liability and liabilities are eliminated in the Separatist movement."

"Wait wait I can help you. You don't need to kill me." Ward said weakly holding out his hand as a gesture of peace

Ventress smiled and then stabbed Ward in the chest with her lightsaber. She leaned back and sighed calmly as she twisted her blade into Ward's chest. Ward struggled to speak as he coughed up blood. Ventress gently whispered rest in Ward's ear as his breathing became faint and in a few seconds Ward stopped breathing. He lay dead sprawled on the grass nearby a tree and Ventress grinned. Killing difficult foes even those without abilities was always fun for her.

An explosion went off nearby and Ventress tapped into the dark side of the Force to see where it came from. The cabin that belonged to Ward's parents exploded and Ventress saw three burnt up bodies in the wreckage. Ward did have a trap but it was in vain because now Ward, his brother Christian and his parents were all dead. Ventress walked away from Ward's corpse and entered her airship to return to her Master Count Dooku. Her mission was complete.

Ward breathed a sigh of relief when Ventress departed. His parents and the defective Clone of Christian the Kaminoans gave to him was dead too. The Clone was devoid of any intelligence with weak cognitive motor skills. Ward wasn't too concerned about the subsequent United Republic Military Tribunal investigation uncovering the truth. Knowing Supreme Chancellor Palpatine Ward assumed it would be a quick and basic investigation satisfying most of the Senate and ignoring the complaints of the dedicated intrepid Senators like Padme Amidala, Mon Mothma and Bail Organa.

Ward knew he needed to move quickly and changed his appearance using the static mask to look like a Senator from New York/Lothal named Doris Renking. He learned from his surveillance of the United Republic Senate that both Renking and his brother cheated on their wives with women inside cabins in forests all over North America. This would reinforce Renking's duplicitous reputation if he was questioned on his whereabouts within the last few days and he gave conflicting answers to interrogators.

Ward reached Kaminoa/Fiji in a few hours and met one of the Kaminoan scientists. He gave his payment which was legislation signed by Christian and ratified by the United Republic Senate under the signature of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine for an order of another 50,000 Clones. This batch of Clones would be adults ready for combat in 6 months. The scientist annoyed with the details of this new law complained about the 50,000 number and the low amount of funds that would be sent to Kaminoa for this new batch of Clones. Ward explained his brother could only get the law passed by the Senate if the payment for creating these new Clones was significantly lower. This was due to the interference from Senators Padme Amidala, Mon Mothma and Bail Organa of the altruistic brigade a caucus or group of Senators focused on moral means to hasten the end of the Clone Wars but also help the poor and injured from Clone Wars battles.

Another complaint by the scientist was that Christian promised the Senate would approve an order of 500,000 Clones not 50,000. Again Ward had to reiterate Padme and her allies forced the order of clones to be a lower number. The Kaminoan scientists started complaining about Christian's incompetence and Ward enthusiastically agreed to join in on insulting Christian's intelligence. Ultimately the Kaminoan scientist accepted the terms from the United Republic Senate and gave Ward what he asked for. A clone of his very own based on his DNA. There was also another clone based on Skye's DNA that he stole using a swab to take a sample of her saliva when she was knocked unconscious during the Battle of Ryloth/Algeria.

****

Hunter was enraged that Anakin and Obi Wan wanted to work with Grant Ward after hearing that disturbing story about Ward wanting to use Clones to help Skye's father unlock the power of the Obelisk in the ancient caverns of Mandalore. He was even more annoyed that his demonic and crazy ex-wife Barbara "Bobbi" Morse aka Mockingbird rescued Simmons from Hydra after Simmons was exposed as a Shield spy within Hydra. It was a lot for Hunter to take in after nearly dying on a Mandalorian airship filled with spider droids and an explosive.

"I knew Jedi were mental but this is more insane than any disparaging jokes I made about Jedi after a few too many drinks. We are honestly going to allow Skye to go with Ward to meet her psychotic former Jedi now turned monster father? After Ward told us that insane story about cloning his brother, himself and Skye?" Hunter asked

Obi Wan frowned as Anakin nodded that Hunter had a point. Ward's obsession with attempting to prove he could be a helpful ally to Shield despite his previous betrayal made him dangerous.

"Coulson and I agree we have no choice. We have to use Skye's father and Ward as bait to bring both Hydra and the Separatists into the open. If all goes well we can capture Ward, his clones, Skye's father, Hydra leader Daniel Whitehall and Supreme Commander of the Separatist Droid Army General Grievous." Obi Wan explained

Anakin sighed saying, "Ward disgusts me but he allows us the best chance to catch Hydra and the Separatists by surprise on Mandalore/Texas and destroy the cavern that can house the Obelisk's power. Besides Coulson and most of the team will be in Mandalore/Texas soon. Because Duchess Satine is neutral in the Clone Wars this is our only chance to stop this race to use the Obelisk's power once and for all."

Hunter groaned but begrudgingly accepted this plan.

****

Mack encouraged Fitz to talk to the recently rescued Jemma Simmons. He believed that whatever conflict existed between Fitz and Simmons it could be resolved with a conversation. Fitz agreed and left he and Mack's workstation to find Simmons. That allowed Mack to talk to Simmons's rescuer. Elite Shield Agent number 19 Barbara "Bobbi" Morse with the codenamed Mockingbird. But to Mack Bobbi was Bobbi an old friend who had always been there for him ever since he joined Shield close to 14 years ago.
He approached Bobbi's workstation as she uploaded important data stolen from a Hydra base onto a data pad.

"There goes your modeling career. Looks like you'll be following in your mom's footsteps and will be a Shield Agent forever." Mack joked referencing the bruises on Bobbi's forehead

"Speak for yourself pretty boy." Bobbi joked while smirking referencing Mack's attractiveness

"You talked to Hunter since you got back from your mission?" Mack asked

"I called but he didn't pick up. Probably complaining to the two Jedi that I'm a demonic hell beast and that it's a good thing Jedi aren't allowed to be married. He'll finish his long winded speech with the idea that it's a good thing I got a divorce." Bobbi said after a long sigh

"Hunter cares about you Bobbi. He just gets frustrated with you sometimes. He doesn't express that in the most mature way. Fitz is frustrated with Simmons but he and Simmons are talking right now." Mack reassured

"Fitz and Simmons are just friends and they haven't gotten married. It's easier for them." Bobbi complained

"The same way Anakin Skywalker and Senator Amidala are friends? She's giving that Jedi the silent treatment and that's what Hunter is doing to you. But you gotta fight through it. You've been through too much together to throw it all away."

"So we bring him on board with the Supreme Chancellor's special mission?" Bobbi whispered

Mack looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping on their conversation.

"No way. You try to patch things up with Hunter after the mission is complete. Doing it now will reveal that you've been lying to him. If that happens Hunter won't just give you the silent treatment... he'll disappear from your life for good." Mack warned

"What am I supposed to do Mack? I still love Hunter. I want us to try and be a couple again. Yes I don't want to talk to him now. Ok because sometimes he makes so angry but he's made me laugh, he's made me feel special. I'm supposed to just throw all of that away?" Bobbi asked with tears starting to form in her eyes

"You don't think this is hard for me. Hunter is my best friend. He was there for me when I lost Hope. Still if he's here when Supreme Chancellor gives us the order to take over Shield it's going to end badly for us if Hunter is around to witness it before we can explain everything to him. Without an explanation we're going to look like traitors like Grant Ward."

"We are not the same as that monster Grant Ward! We are trying to save the United Republic!" Bobbi whispered with passion

"I agree with you Bobbi. You're preaching to the choir. It's not going to look like that to Coulson and his team though. You heard about how angry Skywalker gets when he's been lied to. It'll be just as bad when he realizes what the Chancellor wants us to do."

"Skywalker is good friends with the Supreme Chancellor. In fact he's the only Jedi publicly praised by the Supreme Chancellor most of time." Bobbi argued

"That doesn't matter. Think about how it felt when some of our closest friends were Hydra spies the whole time." Mack replied

"I already told you we are nothing like Hydra-" Bobbi began

"You remember how it felt. The pain and the sadness. That's how Coulson's team is going to feel once this Obelisk mission is over and Mandalore/Texas is safe. They are going to hate us and I don't want Hunter caught in an intense situation like that because he'll side with Coulson."

"Are you crazy? Hunter isnt a team player and he's not one to take orders. He's a mercenary." Bobbi dismissed

"Not anymore. Hunter has changed which is why you wait until the dust settles before trying to restart a romance with Hunter. He loves you deep down but he needs time and space before he could be with you again Bobbi."

Bobbi sighed and bowed her head. Then her demeanor changed to that of a military officer.

"Alright. Let's get down to business and meet Hunter and the Jedi at Mandalore/Texas. We have a mission to complete."

Chapter Text

"Checking exits and numbers of men. I'm impressed. How's your marksmanship with a blaster?" Ward asked

Skye angrily replied, "I don't know. Hand me yours and will do a test with you as the target Ward."

Ward was leading a handcuffed Skye through a Hydra compound that was built by the Mandalorian terrorist organization known as Death Watch. It had pairs of Hydra soldiers at specific checkpoints with advanced blaster rifles held in their arms ready for use. Skye could care less that Ward had a clone of himself and herself. It didn't matter to her that they were created to assist with the battle against Hydra and the Separatists who amassed their forces to repel Shield. She only cared about stopping anyone from obtaining the Obelisk or what her father called the Diviner to activate it's hidden power. At the end of the day Ward was dangerous and his twisted obsession of justifying his murderous actions
didn't change Skye's opinion of Ward nor did they distract her from the mission objective.

"Skye this is the only way we all get what we want and protect the Mandalorian people that Duchess Satine suicidally thinks she can accomplish without violence."

"Don't insult my intelligence and claim you care about the Mandalorians. You only care about yourself. You want to go back in time to when we were dating and we were partners. There's no time machine Ward. In real life you have to accept the consequences of your actions and move on." Skye argued

"I don't want you as a partner Skye. I want to end the Clone Wars by doing the things Coulson and the Jedi can't do. That way you don't have to do those things. That's why I'm keeping my promise. Meet your father Skye...Dr. Calvin Johnson formerly a member of the Jedi Order." Ward said before opening the door

Skye was shocked to see her father in a simple two piece suit with a bouquet of flowers with a sheepish smile. They both stared at each other silent and unsure of what to say.

"I'm sure you two have a lot of catching up to do. I'll leave you two alone." Ward said before leaving

To Skye's surprise her father started crying unable to move closer to her. He collapsed in a chair and continued to cry. Skye was unsure if her father Calvin was upset, happy or sad. Out of sheer curiosity Skye moved towards him. She had spent her whole life trying to find her parents. She thought about them and speculated upon their identity alongside her childhood friend Anakin as a child in the Jedi Temple. Part of her wished she could've embraced the idea that her family was the Jedi like the other younglings at the Jedi Temple but she couldn't shake this feeling through the Force itself that her parents could be found. Now that day had arrived and it overwhelmed Skye to such a degree that she was speechless.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you, that I couldn't protect you. That I couldn't teach you about the stars and how they explain where you came from. I'm sorry I wasn't there to comfort you, to support you, to listen to you or to sing you to sleep. I know I'm a terrible disappointment, but I'm here now. And everything that's about to happen is supposed to happen according to the Force and to the power that makes your mother special. This is all happening for a reason and our family will be together again Daisy in Afterlife once you go through your transformation in the ancient caverns of Mandalore." Cal explained

"Daisy?" Skye asked finally breaking her silence

"Your name. When Shield took you from us they gave you to the Jedi and erased your name from official records. Skye was some pseudonym they made up and faked to sound like a childhood nickname. Your birth name is Daisy. I named you after the song and it's your mother's favorite flower." Cal explained

"What happened to my mother? Why isn't she here?"

Cal started weeping again and Skye despite her instincts saying otherwise went to comfort him. She placed an arm around his shoulder and rubbed his back saying it's ok I'm here to him. Cal settled down and it disturbed Skye how much he acted (albeit very emotional) like a human and not the monster Raina was afraid of or that Dooku or Whitehall saw as a powerful ally to further their plans. Skye knew that what happened to her mother must have been terrible if it caused Cal this much distress but she needed to learn the truth once and for all.

****

Mack transformed into a monster before Mockingbird's eyes and her electrified batons did nothing to slow him down. She cried out his name desperately trying to remind him they were best friends. Yet Mack's eyes were blank with a blue haze over them as if some supernatural force was controlling him. Mack was the last one inside the Mandalorian cavern that was attached to the Hydra base that Skye was currently in with her father and Ward. Mockingbird didn't know who had it worse...her or Skye.

Anakin slashed at Mack with his lightsaber and Mockingbird yelled at Anakin to stop. The scar that formed on Mack's chest healed and that momentary healing from the wound allowed Anakin the time to Force push Mack deeper into the cavern. Mack only uttered a single intelligible phrase which was all who aren't worthy must stay away. Everything else Mack was saying was in an alien language.

"We need to find a way to free him from whatever is controlling him." Mockingbird told Anakin

"There's nothing we can do until we can unlock the power inside the cavern with the Diviner. Whatever alien tech is controlling Mack has a permanent bond to his DNA as long as the Temple is active." Anakin explained

Mockingbird was not happy with this matter of fact explanation and started to run further into the cavern to save Mack but Hunter held her back.

"Love. Please don't get in there. Anakin has a point." Hunter said

"Are you kidding me? Mack is our friend and he wouldn't leave us behind if we were in trouble!" Mockingbird yelled

"That's exactly why I'm going above the cavern to the Hydra base and bring Skye to the Temple below with the Obelisk. Once she activates the power inside FitzSimmons and R2 will activate the bombs planted around the cavern base. We'll collapse the cavern in on itself so that it's power doesn't fall into evil hands." Coulson ordered

"Coulson what you're going to do is suicidal! Skye is up there with her crazy Jedi powered monster father and an entire squadron of Hydra soldiers with advanced weaponry and an army of crazy Mandalorians with advanced armor and weapons. We don't even have Anakin or Obi Wan's Clone Battalions to help you as backup." Hunter argued

"We don't need my 501st battalion or Obi Wan's 212th battalion. We have Ahsoka and May." Anakin retorted

"Did you forget that they're preoccupied with the Hydra brainwashed Agent 33 and the Mandalorians?" Hunter challenged

"You need to trust the members of this team. Your cynicism isn't helping anybody Hunter." Anakin replied

"He's right. We're running out of options and May and Ahsoka can only buy us so much time. We need to move quickly or else Mack's death means nothing." Coulson added

****

"We aren't here to hurt you. We're trying to save Mandalore!" Bo Katan called out

"Sorry but using terrorism to save people isn't something I'm a fan of." May retorted

"You know what I'm not a fan of...outsiders interfering in Mandalorian affairs. Particularly outsiders fighting in some barbaric war with Clones who play as if they're humans when they are brainwashed tin soldiers." Bo Katan replied

She fired her twin blasters and May scurried from her cover spot behind a series of metal crates. The crates tumbled to the ground and Bo Katan moved forward to see if May still remained. May tackled Bo Katan from behind and her helmet fell off. Katan flipped May off her but before she could reach her blaster May threw a small metal baton at it. The two women were forced into hand to hand combat and they glared at each other while sizing each other up.

"You don't have to be Phil Coulson's lapdog in some mindless bureaucratic war. Shield's been dismantled from the inside and what remains of it are just pawns who listen to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Trust me when I say Shield isn't what it used to be and there's no future in it. Join a righteous cause and help us take Mandalore from Duchess Satine so we can make it strong again and a place capable of keeping its people safe." Bo Katan offered

"Have you looked in a mirror lately. Hydra is using you to activate an ancient weapon so that they don't need to rely on the Separatists anymore. If Hydra gets what they want they'll turn Mandalore into their own personal kingdom. You'll be Daniel Whitehall's puppet instead of Pre Vizsla's puppet." May argued

Bo Katan laughed, "Pre Vizsla and I are partners. I'm not his or any man's puppet... bureaucrat."

The two women exchanged blows while Ahsoka was forced to fight two dozen of Bo Katan's elite squad of warriors called Nite Owls temporarily lead by a brainwashed Agent 33. She was wearing May's face using a static mask but thanks to the Force Ahsoka was able to see through Agent 33's attempts at deception. Ahsoka received a message from Coulson that stated going back for Skye to activate cavern's power so it can be destroyed need you to stall longer. Ahsoka sighed and then gripped her twin lightsabers harder.

"Gotta hold the line for Coulson and the others. For my master and the United Republic." Ahsoka said before attacking by leaping above the Nite Owls as they fired their blasters

****

"So...you left the Jedi Order because you felt the Jedi weren't doing enough to help people. You fell in love with the woman who became my mom. Hydra took me from you when I was a baby because of my genetic profile. I was the daughter of a former Jedi Padawan and an enhanced woman who could heal. I was the perfect experimental subject until Shield saved me from Hydra. My mother wasn't so lucky. Daniel Whitehall is actually Daniel Reinhardt the World War II Hydra cell leader that was in Red Skull's inner circle. He stole my mother's healing abilities to de age himself so he looked younger through experiments that killed her and changed his name to hide his Hydra past." Skye summarized

Cal nodded but then added, "You almost got it right Daisy. Except Shield took you from me because Hydra and Shield are one and the same. You're a fugitive from the government. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine declared Shield was a terrorists on international television." Cal counter argued

"Technically yes you're right. Hydra and Shield were the same but Daniel Whitehall doesn't represent what Shield stands for. He just used Shield resources to hide and avoid justice. The Supreme Chancellor is wrong about Shield and about Phil Coulson. He's a good man and he's been a father figure to me." Skye replied

"I'm your father! Not him! I got reports from Raina for that whole year you've been with Shield. I know that you used to work for Count Dooku which he lied to me about. Perfect reason for me to stop working for Dooku. I know you've grown in your training and your connection to the people in Shield and the Jedi who work there. Particularly the Padawan Ahsoka Tano but it's time you join me and your mother in the Afterlife. That's why I sent Raina and others to monitor you. To pick the right moment for the us to be a family Daisy." Cal said

"Skye." Skye said

"Excuse me?" Cal asked confused

"My name is Skye."

"Your name is Daisy Johnson. You were born to Cal and Jiaying Johnson in China/Mykapo on July 2nd, 1988. We chose your name because Daisies are your mother's favorite flower. They're native to where I'm from in Wisconsin. Shield took you from us on August 15th, 1989. We killed any Shield Agents who stood in our way refusing to hand you over to us. That's why I experimented with myself to make myself a monster. I did it to make myself strong enough to take on anyone who kept me from you including the Jedi."

"And now you've proven to be the perfect source for a brand new way to create thousands of individuals just like you. With Raina's DNA as a control and your daughter's DNA as the main variable. Hydra will finally be able to perfect the means to create an army of super powered beings. But before we do any of that. We will be taking Skye to Raina so that she will activate the hidden power inside of Temple using the Obelisk sorry I mean the Diviner." Daniel Whitehall announced

He entered the room alongside a dozen heavily armored guards with their blasters trained on Cal. Before he ordered them to fire the lights went out. Skye could hear her father transform into a monster as he mauled and multilated the Hydra soldiers in the dark. Ward grabbed her and using a flashlight he told her he helped Coulson cut the power so he could sneak into the base but she needed to stay behind him so he could draw any blaster fire towards him. To Skye's shock Ward handed her a weapon and turned his back to her. Without hesitation Skye fired her blaster at Ward's back and he collapsed to the ground.

"Never turn your back to an opponent. You taught me that." Skye said matter of factly as she stole Ward's flashlight

Ward began to bleed out but the Clone of Skye appeared from around the corner. She pulled him to his feet while Ward's clone used his shoulder as a surface for Ward to lean on.

"So how do we prove to Shield that we can help them end the Clone Wars if Skye shot you without hesitation? They don't trust us even though we helped Coulson sneak onto the base." Clone Ward asked

"We show them who the real monsters are and get Skye and others to point and shoot at that. Until then we need to retreat and regroup." Ward replied groaning in pain

Chapter Text

Coulson saw Daniel Whitehall poised to aim the metal disk (the same metal disk his top Agent Sunil Bakshi used in the auction house in Miami against Coulson) at Cal as transformed into a monstrous beast for a second time in the past ten minutes. Coulson could see the confidence in Whitehall's eyes. He gathered Whitehall wanted to brainwash Cal into becoming a Hydra follower and use him to attack Count Dooku and Ventress to cripple the Separatist movement. Then he as the highest ranking leader of the Hydra remnant would assume control of the Separatists and fold it into Hydra. Coulson knew that would increase the possibility of the United Republic losing the Clone Wars to a near certainty even if the Avengers reassembled to assist the United Republic Clone Army and the Jedi.

Coulson knew what he needed to do and aimed his blaster at Whitehall firing it at the Hydra leader. Whitehall began to say you will com- to Cal but he collapsed to the ground before finishing his statement. He stared at Coulson speechless as the color drained from his face and his breathing slowed. A minute later he was dead and both Coulson and Cal had stunned looks on their face. Coulson was relieved that R2 and Ward helped him get past security in the Hydra compound so that he could kill Whitehall and cripple what remained of Hydra's organization. However Cal's stunned expression turned into abject rage at Coulson. Cal was denied his opportunity to kill Whitehall slowly in revenge for the Hydra leader torturing his wife. Coulson interfered and in Cal's mind he needed to be punished.

"Why did you do that?" Cal roared in anger

"You welcome?" Coulson said confused about Cal's anger

****

"Retreat!" Bo Katan yelled

May despite her bruises and cuts on her face and body decided to smile. She had gotten the better of Bo Katan the leader of the Nite Owls the elite team of squad of Mandalorian warriors within Pre Vizsla's traditionalists Mandalorian movement. Though Ahsoka was the true reason for the Mandalorians retreat from assisting the Hydra remnant with their scheme to activate the hidden power within the ancient caverns of Mandalore. Ahsoka managed to defeat a dozen Mandalorian warriors and caused the remaining warriors to struggle to maintain their territory.

"Good work." May said to Ahsoka as Ahsoka breathed heavily

"Thanks. I'm so glad I got your back without making any mistakes. I just hope my master is ok in the caverns. I'm worried about him." Ahsoka replied

"He'll be fine. I can see where you got your skills from. Anakin maybe stubborn and impatient but he's smart and he's tough. He and the others will stop Hydra from activating the power in the caverns and block off the entrance so that no one else can access it."

"How can you be so sure May?" Ahsoka asked

"Because this is the strongest team I've ever been apart of. We can handle anything."

****

"Dad stop!" Skye yelled pointing a blaster at Cal

"Daisy?" Cal uttered quietly

Skye was in tears as she saw Coulson on the ground next to the dead Daniel Whitehall bruised, battered and bleeding from a gash on his forehead. He was groaning in pain struggling to breathe. Skye helped Coulson to his feet while still pointing the blaster at her father.

"This man prevented me from avenging your mother's death at the hands of Hydra. The person who hurt her was killed by Coulson. Coulson needed to be punished for taking away my revenge." Cal explained

"You are not an avenger. You're a monster. Coulson is a good man who was trying to stop Hydra and you almost killed him. He's family! Give me a reason to not shoot you!" Skye shouted with the blaster aimed at her father's forehead

"I'm your family." Cal said feebly as he transformed back into a human

"You may be my father. But you're not family because I'm not a monster. I'm a Shield Agent. I'm going to stop all this madness by activating the power in the temple and using that power to collapse the temple in on itself."

"Wait Skye that's too dangerous. You can't-" Coulson began to say while wheezing in pain

Before he could finish his statement Skye shot Coulson and her father with the blaster but in stun mode so they'd be knocked unconscious. Then she contacted May and Ahsoka to retrieve Coulson and her father. She realized Raina used the chaos to sneak into the cavern with the Diviner. She had to stop things before it was too late.

So Skye raced from the Hydra compound to the ancient caverns using a shortcut she secretly downloaded from R2 using her laptop before the mission began. She was horrified to see Mack at the entrance of the chamber where Raina was deep within the caverns. Mack's eyes were blue and he looked like he was brainwashed into being a bodyguard for the cavern for some unknown reason.

"You are worthy to enter the chamber. You may pass Inhuman." Mack said mindlessly a blank stare in his eyes

Skye was forced to enter the chamber after her constant pleading for Mack to snap out of it was ignored by him. Skye realizing that there was little time left to activate the chamber within the caverns. She promised herself she would go back and save her friend Mack once she dealt with Raina. She entered the chamber aiming her blaster at Raina who was smiling holding the Diviner in her right hand.

"Your whole life, our whole lives led to this moment. The Force has bound us together since we were children Skye. We share the same destiny."

"I don't care about destiny or the Force. You're going to activate the Diviner and then I'm going to command R2 to trigger the explosives planted in this cavern. That way whatever power is activated has no chance to fall into the Separatists or Hydra's hands. Then Mandalore/Texas and the rest of the planet will be safe. If you don't do that I won't hesitate to shoot you in the head." Skye threatened

Raina frowned and argued, "You and Whitehall got it all wrong. Your father was the only one who understood the truth about the Diviner. It doesn't destroy lives Skye...the Diviner creates life. That's why I waited for you to come before I activated it. The Force foretold of this outcome."

"I don't care. Once you activate that thing I will destroy it using R2." Skye replied

"Don't you get it Skye," Raina said with an eager smile, "We finally get to find out why we are special. Why we are different than the other Jedi! We get to enter into a new future."

The Diviner started glowing and it levitated on its own to the center of the chamber. It opened to reveal a light blue cluster of crystals. The crystals expelled mist that knocked Raina and Skye to the ground. Both women saw that the mist caused their body to turn to stone.

"What's happening?" Skye cried out in alarm as she dropped her blaster

"Something beautiful." Raina said with a smile

Before Skye could say anything else both her and Raina turned to stone. Then the stone substance that covered their bodies crumbled and Skye covered her ears in pain as a strange noise overwhelmed her senses.

Chapter Text

Skye woke up and found herself in a comfortable and warm cabin. She stared in alarm at such a vast change to her surroundings. Skye remembered the cavern and the mist that ejected itself from the blue crystals in the Diviner that turned her to stone. In her panicked state the cabin started to shake violently and the weird noise returned. Skye to her horror realized she was the one who caused the ground to shake. She could hear Coulson say Skye calm down and the shaking stopped.

"Coulson!" Skye called out in relief

She ran towards him and hugged him while crying.

"What's going on? Why can't I control my new powers?"

"I'm not sure Skye but we will figure this out. This cabin is where Dr. Banner stayed before joining the Avengers Initiative three years ago. It helped him to contain his powers whenever he transformed into the Hulk as he learned to control him." Coulson replied

Skye wiped the tears out of her eyes and looked up at Coulson with fear.

"Am I going to be stuck here forever?"

"No Skye. Simmons made these wrist gauntlets for one to help control your abilities. Combined with the reinforced durasteel this is covered by the wood that makes up this cabin you'll be safe. Simmons and the rest of the team are working around the clock to find a solution." Coulson reassured

"Thank you. I'll be waiting for you guys until we figure this out."

***

Anakin fears about Skye's transformation were subdued when Coulson told him about the cabin built with Shield technology. However the battle near the Ancient Caverns of Mandalore made him reconsider his decision to avoid Padme. He and the team almost died in the battle. Anakin didn't want to enter another combat situation without reconciliation with his secret wife Padme. So he left the Shield base and entered his airship the Twilight to visit Padme at her quarters in the United Republic Senate Capitol on London Coruscant.

"Padme I'm sorry about what I did to Clovis. I lost control. I lost my temper. I was wrong." Anakin said with tears in his eyes

Padme frowned and folded her arms.

"You're lucky Clovis isn't dead and was able to be treated by the medical droids."

"I understand it's just when I saw you about to kiss him I felt betrayed. This rage within me just spring up before I could control it " Anakin explained

"I regret that Anakin. I regret that I made you feel that way but it wasn't intentional. It wasn't what you thought and you must know I don't have any feelings for Clovis." Padme argued

"Are you sure?" Anakin asked

Padme sat down in a chair and Anakin sat down in a chair next to her.

"How dare you? I've told you multiple times Clovis and I are friends. He's the one with romantic feelings for me not the other way around but you refuse to accept this. I was with Clovis trying to help you and the rest of Coulson's team stop a bloody war from happening in Mandalore/Texas. Did you forget that Anakin?" Padme asked indignant at Anakin's possible accusations

"I know. I know you were trying to help your friend Duchess Satine and to protect the Mandalorian people from Hydra and the Separatists."

"This marriage isn't working. We don't have what other married people. I mean we are married yet we don't have a home together. You sneak into these quarters so we can spend time together or I sneak into your airship to spend time with you. We hide our true feelings from other people and I think it creates tension between us. That's not a healthy way to have a relationship. Maybe we should end our marriage." Padme suggested

Anakin eyes widened in shock.

"We understand each other on a deep level. We love one another. That's why we married in the first place. Don't leave me Padme because I don't want to leave you." Anakin pleaded

"Anakin I know we love each other but that can't be enough. The real foundation of our marriage is lies and deception. I lie to the Senate, you lie to the Jedi and Shield. Ultimately we end up lying to ourselves. Thinking we are making each other better when we are enabling the other persons worse impulses. I just need some space right now. Some time to figure things out...alone. I'm sorry Anakin."

****

"Hunter are you really leaving Shield? Coulson and the others feel like you're a valuable member of the team. Don't leave because of me and our past." Bobbi pleaded

Hunter frowned as he picked up his bag and turned to leave his living quarters.

"Why the galaxy did you recommend me to Coulson when I haven't worked for a military organization for years? I don't do well on a team or when a superior officer gives me orders." Hunter said

Bobbi laughed and folded her arms before saying, "You could have fooled me. Everyone from Coulson to Ahsoka says you've been a great addition to the team. Don't throw that away because our marriage failed and we got divorced. I'm willing to look past the fact that while I was undercover in Hydra you said I was a demon to everyone on the team."

"The reason I said you were a demon is because you are the spy. You're not Bobbi the woman I fell in love with. You're Mockingbird an elite Shield Agent who'd do everything short of murdering children to complete the mission. That includes lying to me and manipulating me every chance you got when we were married. So what's your angle this time love?" Hunter demanded

"Dank ferrik Hunter! There are no angles! I still love you. I still want to be with you but I don't want to live happily ever after with you while the planet burns to the ground because of the Clone Wars. Can't you understand none of this is easy for me?" Bobbi asked

Hunter eyes widened in surprised. His ex wife was rarely this emotionally vulnerable.

"Do you really mean that?" Hunter asked

"I'm beginning the plan now. Our superiors say we have to speed things up." Mack said emerging from the bathroom to Hunter's shock

"Both of you are traitors! I knew you were trying to manipulate me Bobbi or should I say Mockingbird. Before you shoot me I just wanna know who do you work for? Is it Hydra? The Separatists?"

"I work for Shield... the Real Shield." Mack said before shooting Hunter with a stun blaster

Hunter fell to the ground unconscious and Bobbi bowed her head in shame before adopting her no nonsense military demeanor. There was work to do and that meant no time to dwell on regrets.

****

"Simmons I'm sorry I thought you abandoned me because...because...because...of my-my..."Fitz struggled to say

"Condition?" Simmons offered

"No. That's not what. That's not what I'm trying to say!" Fitz yelled

Simmons sighed weary of Fitz inability to control his emotions when he struggled to communicate. She had just finished explaining the details of her undercover mission in Hydra. Her story was quite long but she was relieved that Fitz was able to follow along. Simmons worried a story where she was almost killed by Hydra would cause Fitz to have a mental breakdown. Thankfully he seemed stable. Yet Simmons realized her confidence in Fitz's psychological stability was premature. His anger made Simmons nervous.

"You need to calm down Fitz." Simmons warned

"Am I your friend or am I patient that you've deemed a lost cause Jemma?" Fitz accused

"That's extremely unfair of you to accuse me of not being a good friend. I've spent months trying to help you but you keep pushing me away."

"Because you don't have confidence in me! But Mack does. He...he...he...stays by-by-by my side." Fitz sputtered

"I didn't abandon you. I took the undercover mission within Hydra to protect you." Simmons said

"If I ask Coulson would he say the same thing honestly, or would he...would he...would he..." Fitz struggled to finish

"It's the truth Leopold!" Simmons shouted and then she stormed off

"I loved you as more than a friend Jemma! Or did you forget that's what I told you when Ward trapped us in the escape pod." Fitz called out to Simmons as she exited the lab ignoring him with tears in her eyes

****

Coulson returned to base and walked towards his office exhausted and worn out. Raina and Cal managed to escape due to the random appearance of an enhanced person or Inhuman that could teleport. The mysterious teleporter was a middle aged man in a black trenchcoat whose eyeballs were missing from his eyes. Anakin was clueless about these Inhumans but Obi Wan mentioned that his former mentor Qui Gonn Jinn had a vision and met one of these Inhumans in a hidden city. That wasn't much for Coulson to go on but he figured talking with May might help accelerate his thinking and allow a plan to formulate in his mind.

May shhh'd Coulson when he entered his office. She was paranoid scanning the entire room with her eyes as if looking for hidden traps. Coulson realized that Mack was the traitor and that the model car he gave to Coulson as a gift knocked out the security to the base. May forced Coulson to escape through a trap door saying, "I'll contact Skye and warn her but you need to get away. Without you there's no Shield Coulson."

Chapter Text

"Mack how could you? I thought you were my friend. I thought you believed in me. Were you just using me the whole time?" Fitz asked

"No Turbo. You're my friend but I needed to infiltrate Shield and spy on Coulson because the Chancellor was worried that he was compromised." Mack replied

"Why would the Chancellor assume that? Coulson saved Ryloth/Algeria last year and defeated John Garrett a dangerous double Agent for Hydra." Simmons argued

"Yeah but John Garrett was behaving erratically based on intel we gathered from Hydra. The source of his unstable behavior was the GH325 drug Raina injected him with. It's the same drug Coulson and Skye received. We know enhanced persons like Skye don't experience negative side effects but that's not the case for Coulson."

"I'm a qualified medical physician who's done monthly exams on Coulson in addition to health screenings after missions. I screened Coulson after the battle in the Ancient Caverns of Mandalore. He was in peak physical and mental health for a man his age. His negative symptoms ended because the hidden power within the Caverns was triggered. His symptoms may have been a defense mechanism. Similar to the energy in the caverns infecting you with a directive to protect the chamber within the caverns at all costs." Simmons explained

"Either way the Chancellor is concerned about the unpredictable nature of alien tech from other dimensions. He specifically authorized our organization to contain and analyze these things as if they are threats to be neutralized." Mack replied

"So is Skye a threat to be neutralized? She has alien DNA and enhanced abilities." Fitz accused

"No Fitz. We don't want to hurt Skye we want to help her so she doesn't accidentally hurt other people." Mack replied

"What Mack is trying to say is that Skye is struggling to control her newfound powers and Coulson isn't equipped to deal with that but we are. Help us break into Fury's toolbox so that we can find Skye and ensure that she gets the help that she needs." Bobbi offered

"No." Fitz said firmly

"I disagree with you Fitz. I think we should help them. They are on the side of the United Republic. They work directly for the Chancellor." Simmons said

"As spies who manipulated and betrayed us! Now they want to lock up our friend Skye in a cage so they can study her like a lab rat. This is after their goons took over our base." Fitz complained

"Wow you said all that without stuttering." Mack said with a joyful smile

"You can cut the act Mack. I know you're not really my friend and neither are you." Fitz said to Simmons before grabbing Fury's toolbox

Mack reached for his stun blaster and aimed it at Fitz.

"Put the toolbox down Fitz. You can leave this base freely but not with the toolbox." A Real Shield Agent named Calderon ordered

"Fine. Good luck trying to figure it out without my help." Fitz said bitterly walking out of the lab

"Fitz!" Simmons called out running towards him to hug him

"Find Coulson, Hunter and Anakin." Simmons whispered slipping the tool box into Fitz's pocket and taking a fake tool box from Fitz

"I don't forgive you Jemma. As far as I'm concerned you are a traitor just like Bobbi and Mack." Fitz said coldly before leaving pretending to still be angry at her

"So....I guess I'm plan B for opening this thing?" Simmons said after an awkward silence

****

Skye stared at the mysterious man with no eyes who could teleport. He introduced himself as Gordon and sat down on the only couch in Skye's cabin.

"I don't mind that your curious I'm positive you have millions of questions for me and yes I use to have eyes. They were blue. I lost them when I transformed. When the mist from the crystals came into contact with my body...my DNA changed. I was no longer human but Inhuman. See I come from a community where I was informed at a young age of my Inhuman potential." Gordon explained

"Just like the Jedi." Skye blurted out

"Except unlike them we aren't deemed heroes by the general public. We Inhumans are forced to hide because the public fears us. Unlike the Jedi our abilities are unique and unpredictable. Our transformations make us monsters in their eyes. Answer me this Skye what was the first thing Shield did to you when your powers manifested?"

Skye was silent because they both knew the answer. Shield was afraid of her and so she was stuck in this cabin alone until they knew what to do with her.

****

"Agent Melina May aka the Calvary one of the most decorated field Agents in Shield history. Master Kenobi tells me that you had secret communications with the late Director Fury in the past and that your someone that Coulson relies on to run Shield during his recruiting trips?" Commander Gonzales said

"I know who you are. So cut the crap. You were a level 8 Shield Commander in charge of a secret aquatic Shield base of operations inside an aircraft carrier called the Illiad. That's where you are taking me and the others and that's where Hunter was brought to when Mack kidnapped him. I'm not stupid Gonzalez." May replied glaring at him

"Impressive. I would be a fool to accuse you of being stupid but you have been reckless Agent May. Coulson has been compromised due to Fury resurrecting from death against his will using alien DNA. Alien DNA which originates from another dimension that we have very little knowledge of. The Clone Wars have been a virtual stalement across every region on the planet. Any liabilities to the success of the United Republic on the warfront means a Separatist victory. That's why the Chancellor chose me to resurrect Shield...the real Shield to ensure Coulson's erractic behavior doesn't jeopardize a Republic victory in the war." Gonzalez explained

He walked toward May using a cane and May noticed the skin on his left leg was burned off. Gonzalez handed May a blaster and said I'm leaving this room. It's up to you if you'll use that blaster to escape or if you'll join me in helping to end the Clone Wars once and for all even if it means arresting Coulson.

Chapter Text

Hunter woke up and began pacing back and forth in a conference room that was locked from the outside. He was furious. His best friend Mack and ex wife Bobbi betrayed him. What made it more painful for Hunter was that he had grown accustomed to being a part of a team after his friend Isabelle Hartley was killed during a mission. Now Hunter was alone in a base controlled by the Real Shield or whatever organization Bobbi and Mack really worked for. The door opened and Hunter looked up nervous wondering who it could be. It was Bobbi.

"I'm sorry." She said her voice filled with regret

"Why didn't you tell me the truth Bobbi?" Hunter asked

"I was trying to keep you out of all this." Bobbi replied

Hunter scoffed dissmively and Bobbi admitted that she messed things up.

"I told Coulson to hire you for the Jedi Temple mission because Hartley needed backup. She needed someone very skilled that she could trust. I didn't think you'd stay and I didn't think you'd think of Shield as family. You've always been on your own doing things solo. Then my superiors told me to lock down Coulson's base and Mack came out of nowhere and shot you."

"Well that wasn't the first time I was stun blaster while having a difficult conversation with you because you were undercover." Hunter complained while folding his arms

"You forgot about that mission we went on in New Mexico/Tatooine. We had to bluff our past Jabba the Hutt's assassins by me shooting you with a stun blaster to earn Jabba's trust." Bobbi said grinning

"I've spent years thinking that mission was a bad dream." Hunter said feeling the embarrassment he felt at the time

Bobbi shrugged, "We got the job done even if it was unpleasant for you. We made a great team Hunter. You know that."

"Funny how we worked so well together considering how we met. Our first meeting was Shield sending you to me to steal a data pad in my possession."

"And that led us working together to stop a terrorist that was working with Jabba the Hutt in New Mexico/Tatooine. The United Republic was able to make a deal with him to use his airspace lanes for key operations. Besides we had fun together on those missions. It led to us falling in love and getting married." Bobbi argued

"Lying to each other in order to complete spy missions is a terrible foundation to build a marriage. I should have known we would end up getting divorced." Hunter replied

"How I felt about you back then...that was real Hunter. I still love you even though you drive me crazy sometimes. That part of our marriage wasn't a lie." Bobbi pleaded

"Maybe that's true but with you the mission always comes first." Hunter argued

Bobbi bowed her head in shame and she struggled to hold back the tears forming in her eyes.

"Hunter how can we move forward so that we can still...we can still be together. I don't want to lose you and I know your angry. You have every right to be angry with me for lying to you but give me a way we can move forward together...somehow." Bobbi requested

"Walk away. Give up on the mission for once Bobbi."

"I can't. People are counting on me." Bobbi said softly

"I was counting on you Bobbi but you let me down. It's always the same with you. Why can't we just leave all this behind and start over? We can both be better people and rebuild our relationship." Hunter demanded

There was a long silence as Bobbi thought about Hunter's offer.

"I'm sorry but I need to finish. This is my one chance to end the Clone Wars and save the planet." Bobbi said

"Well then...I'm leaving. I'm not joining your Real Shield. I'm going to find Coulson because I know your group failed to capture him. I'm not going to let you or anyone else stop me." Hunter blaster glaring at Bobbi

"I won't stop you but everyone else on this base will." Bobbi said

At that moment the door opened and Hunter was forced to fight tactical unit Real Shield Agents. Hunter managed to defeat 3 of them before running off.

"Hunter there's no where for you to run. Dank ferrik Hunter!" Bobbi called out

Hunter continued running past all the exits until he got outside and what he saw shocked him. The Real Shield base was an aircraft carrier and it was currently on the ocean. Then out of the corner of his eye Hunter saw Anakin's airship the Twilight. Hunter smiled realizing that life was a lot easier when you have friends to rely on. However Anakin had a worried look on his face when he entered his airship.

"We have a serious mission that the Chancellor and his Real Shield operation are ignoring. If we fail to complete it the United Republic will lose the Clone Wars. I know where Coulson is. We need to regroup so we can plan on how to complete the real mission." Anakin told Hunter

Chapter Text

One Year Ago During the Hydra Takeover of Shield

"Now I want to know who the chief engineer of this aircraft carrier is. I will shoot every engineer in this room until I get the right answer. Being a hero is pointless. Shield has fallen. Hydra is in control. Nobody else has to die. We don't even want the aircraft carrier. All we want is the artifact that's been hidden on this aircraft."

"Only the Commander of the Illiad can unlock the containment cell for the artifact. Nobody else in this room can help you get what you want. Please we have children. Just let us go." A young female engineer begged the Hydra captain

He aimed his blaster and shot her in the head. Then he laughed as she fell to the ground dead with her eyes wide open. Mack looked away in guilt and shame because he was the chief engineer. Mack was charged by Commander Gonzalez to not reveal the location of the artifact no matter what. This was a secret order given to him by Commander Gonzalez unbeknownst to the other engineers. Yet Mack couldn't bear to watch people under his leadership heartlessly slaughtered by this Hydra Captain.

Mack began to stand up and open his mouth to confess the truth when his best friend Ben rose to his feet first. Mack yelled out no Ben don't do it. Please stop.

"Shut up!" The Hydra Captain yelled striking Mack in the face

He ordered his men to punch Mack in the stomach and his back. Mack kneeled on the ground in pain wheezing heavily as the Hydra captain grinned seeing Mack in pain.

"Now...Ben...you had something you wanted to tell me." The Hydra Captain said reading Ben's uniform name tag

"I'm the chief engineer." Ben said

"No he's not! He's just saying that to protect me because he's my best friend. I'm the real chief engineer. I'm the one you want not him. Punish me. Don't punish anyone else in this room. Please!" Mack begged with tears in his eyes

The Hydra Captain stared at him in bemusement. It was as if selfless actions seemed ridiculous to him. He then started laughing again. After a minute of laughter he shook his head at Mack and then shot Ben in the head with his blaster. Ben fell to the ground laying at Mack's feet his eyes wide open but a blank stare on his face. Ben was dead. Mack couldn't help but weep at the death of his friend.

"Stop crying! Now Mackenzie. You tell me exactly where this artifact is and how to unlock it from the containment cell. If you lie to me I'll kill three more in this room. Do you understand Mackenzie?"

Mack nodded and began to speak but a weird beeping noise interrupted him. A flash grenade went off and someone broke into the room firing twin blasters at the Hydra soldiers. When the Hydra Captain was about to shoot the mysterious rescuer from behind a knife was thrown by another mysterious rescuer at his neck. Choking on his own blood he fell to the ground shaking in pain for a minute until he died.

"Everyone follow my partner Isabelle. She'll get you all to evacuation boats on the other side of the aircraft carrier." Bobbi called out

The remaining engineers evacuated the aircraft carrier as Mack stared in shock at the two engineers that laid died at his feet. He had no idea how Hydra infiltrated the aircraft and he felt like a fool for not being able to protect Ben and the young female engineer.

"Mack you need to snap out of it. I still have a mission to complete. Just follow Hartley onto the evacuation boats." Bobbi ordered

"No. These two engineers died because of Hydra. Hydra may be defeated but I refuse to run off of an aircraft carrier that I'm an officer on as a coward. Especially when there's a mission you need help with Bobbi." Mack replied

"Hydra is everywhere Mack. They've taken over every part of Shield not just this aircraft carrier. They're relentless. The Captain of this unit pressed an emergency response beacon before I killed him. Reinforcements are coming. You're an engineer not a combat operative like me. Please just go." Bobbi urged

"No! Two people died here because of me. Because I didn't risk my life to save them. I'm not going to die a coward and I'm not going to allow any more close friends of mine to die starting with you." Mack said

"That's what I like to hear officer Mackenzie. Determination to protect the innocent from the violent terrorism of Hydra. I refuse to allow Hydra to help the Separatists take over this planet and I refuse to allow them to steal the artifact on my ship." Commander Gonzalez proclaimed while leaning on Hartley's shoulder

Mack eyes widened in shock when he saw that Commander Gonzalez's left leg contained no skin and a broken bone was exposed. He grimaced with each step he took despite the fact he was leaning on Hartley for support. Mack went to work treating Gonzalez's leg with the limited medical training he received in Shield Academy many years ago. He made a makeshift cane for Gonzalez to walk on.

"What's the mission?" Mack stated

"Director Fury wants me to blow up this ship in order to destroy the artifact." Bobbi replied

"What?" Mack said incredulous

"The artifact is too powerful. It has alien capabilities that are derived from energy signatures from another dimension. If Hydra gets their hands on it they'll help the Separatists win the Clone Wars." Gonzalez argued

"We can use this aircraft carrier to help people. Help save other Shield units terrorized by Hydra. Director Fury once told all of Shield that one man driven by a desire to be a Shield for others can inspire others to come together to accomplish more than he could ever imagine alone. Now he's telling us to blow up the aircraft carrier despite it having exactly what we need to fight back against Hydra and protect people. Why?" Mack criticized

Bobbi looked down at the two engineers who lay dead on the ground. She realized that blindly following Director Fury's orders would be disrespectful to those killed by Hydra.

"Officer Mackenzie. We can't allow that artifact to fall into Hydra's hands or more people will die. Civilians and Shield Agents alike." Commander Gonzalez argued

"We can save lives by fighting back and make sure those that died didn't die in vain." Mack argued

"He's right. We blindly followed Director Fury's orders and it lead to Hydra taking over. Fury didn't even see it coming. We need to make decisions collaboratively. No more secrets. No more treating innocent lives like collateral damage. So Isabelle what's your vote. What do you want to do?"

"I say we put on our big boy and big girl pants and take the fight to Hydra. Then we'll ensure the artifact stays in our control and we can save lives."

Agent Calderon stumbled into the room bleeding from his side. He was covered in makeshift bandages that he applied to his wounds from the battle with Hydra.

"I want to take out every last one of them Hydra scumbags. I vote with Agent Hartley."

****

"The day Shield fell was a dark time but we pulled together because we didn't blindly follow Director Fury. We defeated the Hydra reinforcements that day and protected the aircraft carrier. Then we used it's encrypted communications system to contact Chancellor Palpatine directly. He gave special authorization to allow us to operate as Real Shield. Ahsoka you're no stranger to disobeying orders to do the right thing and your master's former master Obi Wan is a liasion for our organization. You would fit right in with Real Shield. Join us Ahsoka." Bobbi pleaded

"My master is a fugitive along with some of my friends and my other friends are stuck in this base being forced by your group to find Director Fury's toolbox. We should be helping the war effort by looking for Raina and Cal who have been taken by a mysterious teleporter. This could lead to a new dangerous group that Dooku could recruit to join the Separatists." Ahsoka argued

"Obi Wan is working on that. What we need from you is assistance on finding Anakin and the others. We need to convince them to turn themselves in peacefully so that we can work together to stop the real threats." Bobbi requested

"What about Skye? Is she a potential contributor to Real Shield or is she an object to be contained like that artifact you protected from Hydra?" Ahsoka asked suspicious

Bobbi remained silent and Ahsoka eyes widened in shock at her refusal to answer.

"I don't care if Master Kenobi is helping you. I'm not going to betray my master. Anakin has always supported me. It's time I support him." Ahsoka said defiantly

"I too was blindly devoted to Fury. He trained me and the other 50 elite Agents. I was number 19. The second number 19. The first one exited the program due to pregnancy. My codename is Mockingbird which I took from her. I didn't care that I was 19 and Natasha Romanov was Agent 1 codename the Black Widow. I was just grateful Fury chose me out of the tens of thousands of combat operatives in Shield. I know what's it like in your shoes Ahsoka. More than you realize." Bobbi said before walking away

Ahsoka bit her lip conflicted by what Bobbi just said contemplating her words.

Chapter Text

May overheard Bobbi's conversation with Ahsoka and contacted Skye a phone hidden in Coulson's office with its own encrypted signal.

"Skye I don't have a lot of time before the signal is jammed so do exactly as I say with no protest. You must leave that cabin Coulson placed you in immediately. There is a group attempting to kidnap you so that they can study your powers against your will. Run now!" May warned

"Who? What group?" Skye asked startled by May's warning

"Shield." May said before the signal cut out

Skye was perplexed by what May said. Shield was Skye's family why would they be after her? Then the answer dawned on Skye with the ferocity of a speeding airship. Skye's powers must have startled Shield and they wanted to bring her in for examination. Yet May's fear in her voice caused Skye to pause on the idea of surrendering. May wouldn't tell Skye to run unless it was for a good reason. So Skye decided to contact Coulson under the secret encrypted frequency that only he, Ahsoka and herself knew about. Then Skye exited the cabin immediately without packing her belongings and took off into the woods where a pair of Shield Agents pursued her.

Skye was surprised to see Bobbi as one of the Agents chasing her. Skye was grateful to Bobbi for protecting Simmons. She would have died when Raina exposed her as a spy within Hydra. Skye doubted May during that time and she realized she couldn't make the same mistake again. May told her to run so Skye decided she was going to run. She took off sprinting towards the secret airship that Coulson stashed at a specific set of coordinates hidden in the bushes.

"Skye wait! Please don't run! We only want to bring you in to help you! We are working under the Chancellor's direct orders!" Bobbi called out

Bobbi's pleas were made in vain as Skye continued to run away.

"I knew playing Mr. Nice Guy wasn't going to work Bobbi. We need to be more aggressive and if she continues to resist us than she's a threat to the United Republic and must be dealt with." Agent Calderon said

"Calderon we can't do that. Skye is a Shield Agent who helped the United Republic military save Ryloth/Algeria from the Separatist and Hydra. She's saved countless Twi'lek lives that day and has helped more people since then." Bobbi argued

"She also has resisted direct orders from the Chancellor to surrender herself and has been infected with an alien chemical from another dimension that has altered her DNA. She's violating the 084 protocol that she learned during her Shield training. She needs to be taken down if she continues to resist. Doesn't matter if she's a friend of yours Bobbi." Calderon argued

He took off at a faster pace ignoring Bobbi's continued protests that Skye isn't a threat and is just in a panicked state. He reached Skye as he realized what Skye was running towards...a cloaked airship. Calderon pulled out his blaster and aimed it at Skye. Skye turned around when she heard the blaster make a whirring sound. Bobbi saw that Calderon's blaster wasn't set to stun.

"Calderon no! Skye look out!" Bobbi yelled

Skye instinctively raised her arms to protect herself from the blaster bolt from Calderon's blaster. Skye created a violent shockwave that destroyed a tree and a branch flung towards Calderon piercing him in the chest. Bobbi was knocked thirty feet backwards into a nearby boulder and lay on the ground unconscious bleeding from the head. Calderon was bleeding from the chest and Skye was horrified at what she did. There was no way she'd escape Shield after attacking two high level Agents especially if one one of them was dead.

"Gordon please help me. I'm scared." Skye whispered in desperation

An electric surge of energy appeared and Gordon appeared with a comforting smile.

"Don't worry Skye. I know someone who can help you. It's time for you to go home."

Skye nodded quietly willing to be anywhere but near the forest where she caused so much destruction. Gordon took Skye by the hand and then created another energy surge and the two Inhumans disappeared into the night sky. After a few minutes had passed Bobbi woke up clutching her head and Bobbi used a scanner to determine the cloaked airship was still there.

****

Hunter was in the Anakin's airship along with Coulson when they picked up Fitz from a fuel station. Fitz gave Coulson Fury's toolbox after Anakin used his Jedi Mind Trick ability on the Real Shield Agent that was tailing Fitz to make him think Fitz was attempting to go to the cabin where Coulson had stashed Skye. Skye sent Coulson an encrypted signal that she was leaving the cabin but R2's scan didn't pick up any trace of Skye 1000 yards away from the cabin. Coulson knew that the mysterious Inhuman teleporter took Skye and Fitz's analysis using R2's energy signature scans to confirm this theory.

"We need to find the last true remaining Hydra remnant cell. We find this cell then we'll have the resources to find Skye. This cell is run by a dangerous scientist named Wolfgang Von Strucker. His grandfather Werner Von Strucker was in Red Skull's inner circle and assisted Dr. Armin Zola in his experiments with the Tesseract in World War II. He's conducting a massive amount of experiments on potential enhanced humans-"

"Along with stray younglings that have been kidnapped using Trandoshan bounty hunters and Cad Bane." Anakin added interrupting Coulson while clenching his fists

"Yes. Children from the Jedi Temple as well. But Strucker has tasked his top assistant Dr. Lyst with kidnapping potential Inhumans for experimentation using Dr. Whitehall's research." Coulson explained

"So what are you saying is that we need to find Dr. Lyst even though he is in hiding? How?" Hunter asked

"You're not going to like this Hunter but we need Grant Ward's help. If we don't stop Strucker and Lyst then an Inhuman army could be created and given to Death Watch so that they can take over Mandalore. We need to prevent Mandalore from becoming an Inhuman Kingdom under Hydra's influence." Coulson answered

Chapter Text

June 1986

Qui Gonn closed his eyes and allowed the Force to take his airship wherever he wanted to go. He left his young Padawan Obi Wan Kenobi at the Jedi Temple on London Coruscant. This was something he needed to do alone. He smiled thinking about Obi Wan's childish protestations forgetting that Obi Wan recently turned 14 years old. As impressive as Obi Wan's growth as his student had been over the past year he was still young. Too young in fact to go on this perilous journey.

Qui Gonn felt unsettled over the past few months. Off balance in fact and it affected his ability to connect with the Force. He sought clarity that the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order Master Yoda couldn't provide. Shield Director Peggy Carter was unhappy with Qui Gonn's decision and petitioned not only Yoda but Qui Gonn's former master Dooku to convince Qui Gonn to remain on London Coruscant. Shield was focused on assembling a strike force of Jedi and powered Shield Agents to monitor the actions of a rogue Russian/Crait General.

Qui Gonn didn't have much interest in matters important to Shield. He felt the Jedi Order's growing closeness in working with Shield was pulling the Order's attention away from the Force. Yet Qui Gonn didn't want to use words to show his dedication to the will of the Force. He wanted to prove this through his actions. That's why his eyes were closed when the Force took his airship to a peninsula covered in a beautiful forest and above it stood a peaceful looking village on top of a mountain range.

Qui Gonn thanked the Force for protecting him in this journey. He was aware piloting an airship without looking could have ended in his death in a dangerous crash. Despite the risk Qui Gonn allowed the Force to continue to guide him and it told him to climb the mountain. He reached the summit of the mountain and encountered a woman wearing a beautifully embroidered gown. She was singing under her breath and Qui Gonn introduced himself.

"I know who you are. I was singing a song to someone I lost. Someone close to me that...drifted apart from the ways of my people and passed away as a result." The woman said sadly

Qui Gonn was struck by this woman's beauty. Not just her physical beauty but her voice and spirit communicated a natural beauty along with a sense of wisdom that surpassed her years. He didn't feel any lust towards this woman for such feelings were forbidden amongst the Jedi. Instead Qui Gonn felt a sense of sadness mixed with peace or in other words understanding...clarity. The woman introduced herself as Jiaying.

"I'm not a Jedi but I do believe in the Force. I can sense it's permeance around my people's homes in these mountains. Ordinary humans cannot find this place because the mountains block electronic instruments. The Force is the only way you could have reached this summit. I sense curiosity in your voice. You seek clarity on something." Jiaying said

"I do. The Jedi Order is drifting from its faith in the Force and relying on the military spy organization known as Shield and on politicians in the United Republic." Qui Gonn said

"I see. I've lived a long life and learned many lessons from the elders that guided my people since I was a child. Now I'm old even though I don't look it. This pattern is repetitive and circular. People start off wanting to do good for others and believe they're righteous for doing so then that righteousness descends into arrogance and hypocrisy. Soon what is moral and right is a matter of convenience rather than a matter of a humble pursuit of justice and fairness." Jiaying said

"It's nice to speak with someone who understands my conflicting feelings. Your wisdom brings me comfort. So many on the planet see Jedi like myself as mere soldiers alongside members of Shield. That we are tools for violence instead of keepers of the peace who wish to spread good will and cooperation amongst all peoples and organic beings." Qui Gonn said with relief in his voice

"Shield is just as dangerous as the organization they fought...Hydra. I know what you and your master did when you were young Qui Gonn. For I was truly young at that time. Both of you rescued me and the people of my village during World War II from Hydra's schemes. I can sense Dooku has lost his way too." Jiaying observed

"I came here to seek answers. To change things within the Jedi Order before it's too-"

Qui Gonn dropped to his knees and envisioned a Jedi who attacked vines within the forest shaped like Sith assassins. The Jedi struck down the leaf like Sith assassins and then to the Jedi's horror he saw that they were four Jedi Masters. Then Qui Gonn saw that the Jedi was the Chosen One. However the person's face was obscured but he could sense through the Force the distraught Jedi was the Chosen One. A young man that had great connection to the Force and incredible skills paired with cunning yet was held back by a great darkness within him rooted in anger and fear. Then Qui Gonn saw leaves shaped like spirits embued with the Force comfort the remorseful Jedi so that he was no longer trapped in his despair for misusing violence.

"Master Jinn wake up!" Jiaying called out

Qui Gonn opened his eyes and saw a worried Jiaying with a bowl filled with water. An assistant of hers fetched it for her. Qui Gonn noticed the young man had no eyes and yet he knew exactly where he was going before he teleported away.

"Gordon has faith in the teachings of the elders. Though when he lost his eyes his faith was momentarily shaken. Are you okay? Are you suffering an affliction in your pursuit of understanding and deepening your faith?" Jiaying asked

"No. I'm fine thank you. I understand now what the Force has been trying to show me." Qui Gonn explained

"What has the Force showed you Master Jinn?" Jiaying asked

"Pre-emptive violence instead of defensive violence isn't the way of the Jedi. No matter what rationale Shield or anyone else gives for pre-emptive violence, it ultimately will lead to the death and destruction of not just the Jedi but your village as well. Therefore I will conceal the location of this village and as a sign of proof of my loyalty...I will leave my airship with you. I'll journey back to the Jedi Temple by ferry on the water." Qui Gonn replied

"Thank you Master Jedi. From preventing me from using such pre-emptive violence to protect the location of my people. I now realize I have a journey of my own to go on. I too need to seek out clarity." Jiaying replied

Obi Wan eyes widened in shock after reading from Qui Gonn's journal. His former master met Skye's mother and even though Qui Gonn didn't say where the Inhumans were, Obi Wan had a rough idea of where to start looking. Yet he realized he needed to lie so that Anakin and Coulson had time to complete their secret mission and save Skye.

"Dad. You need to prevent Agent Gonzalez from interfering with the plan to prevent the war on Mandalore at all costs!" David warned Obi Wan telepathically

Obi Wan clutched his head in pain. David wasn't like Skye and the other Inhumans. Apparently mutants were far more powerful and David received a vision of the future. Yet Obi Wan wasn't sure what plan his son David meant, when he needed to prevent Gonzalez from enacting it and how that would lead to war on Mandalore.

Chapter Text

"Daisy! Are you ok?" Jiaying asked Skye

"You're my mom. My real mom. Cal...I mean Dad said you died...or he made it sound that way. He was so angry about what Hydra did to you..." Skye said struggling to control her emotions

Skye was overjoyed to finally meet her real parents in a peaceful village in the mountains called Afterlife. At the same time she was angry and sad it took decades for her to finally find them. Her parents were connected to the Clone Wars and all the violence and secrecy used by both sides to win the war. It was a lot for Skye to take in. Sadness over the time she didn't get with her parents which were missed opportunities. Yet joy that after many years of searching she finally found them. A true rollercoaster ride of emotions.

"I wanted to run to you the second you arrived at Afterlife. To hug you and let you know the truth and that everything was going to be okay." Jiaying said

"Why didn't you? You've been training me for hours as if I was a random new member of this village." Skye asked

"I wanted you to learn about our people and about our village Afterlife without the pressure of being my daughter. The pressure of having to like our people so you could be with me and your father. I wanted you to have the freedom to draw your own conclusions." Jiaying replied

"In the Jedi Temple we were forbidden from having any attachments to our parents. Most of the kids who came to the Temple were extremely young so they adjusted to that easily. I didn't. Eventually I was moved to St Agnes orphanage in Hell's Kitchen/Lothal in New York/Lothal. I saw some of the kids there pray that their parents would find them. Were you looking for me?" Skye asked with tears in her eyes apprehensive of the answer

"After your father pieced me back together when I was cut up by Daniel Whitehall we scoured the Earth searching for you. We spent years looking for you desperate to bring you back and reunite our family. Shield and the Jedi Order worked together to keep you from us. They sensed you had a great power inside you back when they were unaware of the Terrigan Mist and how it transforms Inhumans. Dooku was hoping to gain influence over you to build an army of special people like us to oppose Shield and the Jedi. That's why Shield hid you from us."

"What made you stop looking for me?" Skye asked crying

"One day I woke up from a long night of searching for you and I barely recognized myself. We killed people in our search for you when they refused to reveal your location. That weighed too heavily on my conscious and I realized what I was doing was wrong. Your father didn't have the same epiphany. He experimented on himself to increase his power because his connection to the Force was declining. He had been removed from the Jedi Order for almost a decade at that point. Cal became a monster and offered to work for Count Dooku when he got a tip from someone that you joined the Separatists. The things Cal did to find you and the innocent people he killed in the process was horrifying." Jiaying replied tears forming in her eyes as well

Skye took a deep breath to keep herself from crying.

"I thought my baby girl was gone. I thought I had to accept that there was no way to get you back. I'm so sorry. I will make it up to you Daisy I swear. Right now...no one else in the village can know that you are my daughter. It will cause an uproar amongst those in positions of power in Afterlife." Jiaying said hugging Skye

Unbeknownst to the two of them Raina and Kara Lynn Palamas aka Agent 33 were spying on them. Mother and daughter decided to go for a walk into the mountains and Skye decided in a sense of clarity and peace that she was no longer going to refer to herself as Skye. Skye was a name that had meaning when she was an orphan sepereated from her parents. Master Yoda at the Jedi Temple and Father Lantom at Saint Agnes Church both believed she was special. They called her Skye because she came from the sky despite her birth certificate saying Mary Sue Poots. However she knew where she came from. She knew now that her birth name was Daisy and that's what she would go by from now on.

"I'm in charge on how to deal with new entries. Raina knows that I'm Cal's wife and I've allowed Cal entrance into Afterlife. Her new girlfriend Kara the former Shield Agent brainwashed by Hydra Agents is slated to be deported by Gordon. What Raina doesn't know is that I'll be deporting Cal after we have a family dinner together. Gordon will be teleporting him away in the morning. That way Raina won't be able to accuse me of favoritism to create division amongst the people." Jiaying explained as they walked further up the mountain path

"What! Dad has poor impulse control and can turn into a rage monster. He's worse than the Hulk in terms of the trail of dead bodies he leaves behind when he's angry! If we reunite as a family and then dump him in some random city it could endanger the innocent people who live there because he'll be sad and that will turn into anger that will transform him into a monster." Daisy protested

"And if your father stays in Afterlife it could cause a Civil War amongst my people. The Clone Wars has caused great trepidation among the Inhumans of Afterlife. They believe that the war continuing will lead to the exposure of our community to the public. We are a neutral party much like the Mandalorians your father told me about but the escalation of the Clone Wars could lead to each fighting side forcing us to join the war effort. Some of the Inhumans here already want to join whatever side will offer us the best protection from outsiders attempting to control our village. These members of our community want to speed up the process by which we select people to go through the Terrigan Mist so we can participate in the Clone Wars in greater numbers."

"How long is the process normally?" Daisy asked

"Four years after selection though sometimes it can be longer. It's no different than someone in the human world choosing to go to college prior to entering a professional career. It takes great preparation to ensure the transition is successful. That's why anyone or anything that creates discord amongst my people needs to be removed. Or else my leadership is questioned and the Inhuman race is at war with itself." Jiaying explained

"What's the big deal about making exceptions to the rules? Especially when it comes to my father and your husband. We have a chance to be a family again and you want to throw it all away?" Daisy questioned

"Daisy...our strict rules are necessary especially the ones regarding selection. People have died horribly painful deaths when they tried to ignore the training and preparation that is required to go through the Mists. More importantly showing favoritism and putting personal needs above the needs of the village have also lead to horrible deaths." Jiaying replied

"But mom I already skipped the training process and my powers are working fine now."

"That's because I protected you from the swift consequences that usually result from such actions."

Daisy continued to be confused by what point Jiaying was trying to make. They both reached a small summit of the mountain by this point and looked out at the beautiful woods and forests below them.

"It's happened before...a few years ago in fact. There was a woman who didn't trust my judgment and stole a bunch of Terrigan crystals and fled. She was a Russian/Crait woman named Eva who went through the Mist on a smuggled airship heading for Bahrain. Choas occured in Bahrain because she lost control of her powers and a Shield Agent was sent in to resolve the crisis."

"Wait a minute. I've heard this story at Shield. It's why the Agent is nicknamed the Calvary. The Agent's name was Melinda May. She went in and killed Eva saving 50 Shield Agents lives. That's what happened right?" Daisy asked

"I wish it were that simple." Jiaying replied with sadness in her voice

Chapter Text

"Melinda May shot and killed a young Russian/Crait girl named Katya Barov who had the ability to gain strength and energy from human emotions. She absorbed too many emotions at once from a group of Bahraini smugglers and went insane. When Katya absorbs their emotions through touch she controlled their minds and they did as she says. Using her mother Eva who had enhanced speed and strength she kidnapped random people to absorb their emotions hoping to find someone with great emotional strength. She wanted to attract the attention of the Jedi. Warriors who have strong spiritual beliefs and rarely express emotions. She wanted to absorb a Jedi's reserved emotional state." Commander Gonzalez read to May from a data pad as she stared out the window conflicted

"You haven't met Anakin Skywalker if you believe Jedi don't express emotions." May retorted

Gonzalez chuckled.

"That's where I'm going in fact. Katya could sense your emotional fortitude. So she sucked all the energy in the smugglers that fueled their brain activity through her emotional parasitic powers. They died. She turned her sights on the Shield Agents that you commanded. She could sense the fear in your mind when you realized what would happen to them if you didn't do what needed to be done to save them. Your inner strength makes you the Calvary. It's what can make you a valued member of my team." Gonzalez added

"I shot a little girl who needed help because she couldn't control her powers. That's not something to celebrate. That's not worthy of a nickname. Yes I saved my team and prevented their families from suffering tragedy but I failed to save Katya. Katya is dead with no future because of me." May said glaring at Gonzalez

"Then why did Director Fury choose you to be the female Shield Agent that represented the Avengers? He only pivoted to Romanov because you resigned from active duty in Shield."

"I'm not interested in your psychological mind games Gonzalez. I've worked for Shield for 25 years. I'm not an idiot." May said frowning

"I know. Shield cannot be at war with itself. It cannot bend to the will of one man even a man that has sacrificed so much to protect others. We get through these trying times by coming together and uniting under one goal...to be a Shield for those to weak to protect themselves. It's why the Chancellor tasked us with the mission to revive Shield the right way." Gonzalez argued

"Please. You just sound like a bureaucrat who wants the power." May accused Gonzalez

"No. Fury was that guy and though I've never met Coulson I've studied his record at Shield on this data pad. Coulson is an honorable man who selflessly gave his life in the Battle of New York/Lothal dying at the hands of that alien demigod Loki. Thankfully Anakin Skywalker killed him.

The real problem is what Fury did after the Avengers saved the planet from Loki. He resurrected Coulson against his will using an alien chemical from another dimension despite Coulson detailing the dangerous side effects of this chemical. Fury placed you in charge of Coulson in case he needed to be put down due to having a mental breakdown. What happened in Bahrain with Eva and Katya is why Fury gave you that job."

"Are you some kind of xenophobe? If that's the case why is Ahsoka listening outside the door?" May asked suspicious

"Because Coulson has adopted Fury's bad habit of keeping secrets and treating the lives of his Agents as expendable. He isn't the man that you befriended when he first joined Shield and was assigned to be your partner. He's different. He's been keeping secrets and taking advantage of your trust Melinda."

Ahsoka sighed heavily adding, "He's right. I even kept things from my master on Coulson's behalf. I thought it would help ease Anakin's burdens but it only made things worse, now Skye is missing, Bobbi and Agent Calderon are in the infirmary and Coulson, Anakin, Fitz and Hunter are fugitives. We have to trust Gonzalez and his team."

May shocked by Ahsoka's words asked, "What secrets has Coulson been keeping from me?"

Chapter Text

Three days before the beginning of this chapter

"It's Tony...Ward. I may be a clone of you but I am nothing like you. My name is Anthony Masters but I go by Tony. Good luck escaping this base. You and Clone Skye...sorry Jeanne Foscue will serve me as great distractions. I only went along with your mission to steal something of great value that will aid me in my new journey." Ward's clone Tony Masters boasted

Tony left Ward locked inside an office with the dead body of a soldier in Admiral Talbot's unit. Then he triggered the alarm. Ward hid behind a desk looking through the dead soldier's various ID badges to enter different classified areas of the base. He needed to find the correct badge to enter a very specific part of the base. Ward knew that in spite of his Clone's betrayal he still needed to find his target. The door opened and Ward looked up nervous that he would be outnumbered by a security patrol. He debated whether or not to draw his blaster but ultimately decided against it.

He was relieved when it was Clone Skye or Jeanne in disguise as a soldier using a static mask. Jeanne smiled as she saw Ward hold up the proper security clearance card to reach their target. They wouldn't have to fight their way out of the base. They could sneak away with the target. They managed to make it past a furious Admiral Talbot shouting orders to apprehend the intruders and to avoid damaging the experimental Taskmaster armor with blasterfire.

Ward and Jeanne reached the target and he was sitting inside his cell reading a book. The prisoner cell block blocked off security alerts to prevent prisoners from taking advantage of the chaotic movement of different troops in response to said alerts. So Hydra Agent Sunil Bakshi was reading comfortably in his cell and then he smiled when he saw Jeanne.

"Agent 33. Loyal to Hydra even in the worst of times. Your dedication isn't stopped by United Republic military forces." Bakshi said proudly

Jeanne had changed her static mask to reveal Agent May's face which caused Bakshi to fall for her and Ward's ruse. Bakshi then started to panic when he saw Ward who aligned with Shield and betrayed him back in the auction house in Miami a few weeks ago.

"Whose orders are you following? Why are you with him?" Bakshi asked pointing at Ward

"My own and I love Ward. That's why I'm with him."

"Listen to me very carefully Agent 33. You've lost your way. Take a deep breath and calm your mind and your compliance will be rewa-" Bakshi started saying before getting punched in the face unconscious

Jeanne smirked while Ward placed the unconscious Bakshi in a nearby wheelchair.
They reached Ward's apartment and interrogated Bakshi about the location of Dr. Lyst by forcing him to comply. Jeanne held up the round silver disc that Bakshi used to control Agent 33. Ward used a Taser to electrocute Bakshi to accelerate the condition. After several hours of torture Bakshi was now under their control. She went over to Ward and kissed him in celebration.

Ward was taken back to the past when he and Skye were dating. How Jemma suspecting their relationship teased them calling the couple Skyeward. Ahsoka overhearing this teasing joined Jemma in saying the couple name Skyeward while laughing at Ward's terrible attempts at denying he was dating Skye. Yet Ward realized that those days were over. What mattered was ending the Clone Wars and completing the mission that his original mentor Shield Agent Victoria Hand gave him. So he allowed himself to feel affection towards Jeanne even though deep down he knew he didn't love her. She wasn't Skye even if she was a clone of her.

Present Day

Ward's droid AD3 picked up an airship that was spying on himself and Jeanne. He told Jeanne to go down to a restaurant undergoing a remodel and hide in a back alley behind the restaurant. He would go inside a warehouse which serves as a resupply drop and contained equipment that decrypted classified Intel. He would use the equipment to determine who was following them. Ward found that the airship was gone and that no heat energy or signatures were in the area. Ward was relieved and he assumed it was a random supply airship that just happened to fly the same route as him and Jeanne.

He saw a bunch of daisies growing nearby and decided to grab them for Jeanne. He felt bad for her. Tony his Clone abandoned them both and he could tell she was taking his departure very hard. He wondered if Tony was jealous of Jeanne's attraction to him or was he angry at not having any say on what he could do with his life. Ward's thoughts were interrupted by his phone ringing.

"Hey baby." Ward greeted

"Hey sweetheart. Why don't you drop by? I'd love to catch up." Coulson answered sarcastically using Jeanne's phone

Coulson was holding Jeanne at blasterpoint which Ward realized meant Coulson was the one stalking them. Ward knew it was a trap but he also knew that if Coulson wanted to kill him...Ward would already by dead. So Ward decided to go to the restaurant and meet his pursuers.

Jeanne stood up and Anakin forced her to sit down while glaring at Ward. Anakin stared at Jeanne with great disgust because she was a clone of his childhood friend Skye. Not only was she not Skye but she was a willing accomplice of Ward - a traitor and war criminal who was wanted by the United Republic for treason. Anakin anger rose as Ward had the audacity to be offended by Anakin's aggressiveness towards his Clone of Skye. Anakin didn't see why Ward felt offense by Anakin when he stole Skye's DNA without permission and made a shady deal with the Kaminoans to create a Skye clone. Thankfully Anakin could tell this clone apart from the original Skye because the Clone had no connection to the Force. The fact that Ward was gaslighting a Clone of Skye to be romantically involved with him made Anakin want to vomit.

"Did Anakin and Coulson hurt you Jeanne?" Ward asked concerned

"No. I'm fine. I'm worried about you. You shouldn't have come." Jeanne replied

"The fact that Anakin Skywalker hasn't killed me yet means Coulson needs me. Coulson definitely ordered Anakin not to attack me after he nearly killed Senator Clovis for no reason." Ward explained

Anakin smirked, "Well Ward I've grown since that encounter. Killing you will be for a good reason. I'm at a place where I kill violent war criminals for a reason instead of attacking douchebag Senators for no reason. Oh wait seems you're still lagging behind me Ward. You killed your douchebag brother Christian for no reason...wasn't he a Senator?"

"I did what I did to cripple the Separatist movement and Hydra from the inside to give the United Republic a decisive victory in the Clone Wars. My brother was a liability to Shield's victory and he abused me since I was young. He deserved to die. I'm still dedicated to the cause my mentor Victoria Hand trained me to uphold. I'd doubt Obi Wan had tears of prideful joy when he heard about what you did to Clovis." Ward retorted

"Watch it Ward or "Jeanne" will have different kinds of tears after I'm through with you. Now don't do anything rash because this is going to sting. One aggressive move and I'll kill you." Anakin threatened

Anakin reached out with the Force and probed Ward's mind for knowledge about hidden weapons or tricks Ward could use to escape. Ward dropped to his knees screaming in pain while Jeanne covered her ears and closed her eyes in fear. Ward grunted in anguish but didn't resist the probe and as a result Anakin's probe ended less than a minute later.

"That wasn't so bad. See told you I was making progress in my self control. You're cleared to see Coulson now." Anakin said with a smirk

Ward gently walked towards the table at the end of the room where Coulson was sitting calmly. He sat down to meet with Coulson aware that it had been a year since they've spoken face to face.

Chapter Text

"I'm flattered Coulson. Bringing a Jedi just for a sit-down with little old me. You really shouldn't have." Ward said

"There's no need for false modesty. We both know you're an elite Shield Agent...one of the best in fact. But frankly this isn't about you but what you can do for me. I need help finding the last remaining Hydra Cell. It's run by Wolfgang Von Strucker and Dr. Lyst. They've been using the other Hydra Cells including Daniel Whitehall's cell as distractions to relocate to a hidden location to run their operations. I know you can help us find them." Coulson requested

"Can't help you. I'm not in Hydra anymore. Besides I wasn't a high ranking member of Hydra and neither was Garrett. I only knew Strucker and Lyst by reputation as two of the most influential people in the organization." Ward said cooly leaning back in his seat with his arm stretched out

"Again with the false modesty," Coulson said with a coy smile folding his arms, "you're resourceful and good at finding information. I bet you know a guy who knows a guy who met Strucker and Lyst."

"I've told you that I was a deep cover operative for Victoria Hand pretending to be loyal to Hydra yet you regard me with the same disgust as Count Dooku and nobody on your team trusts me. So why should I accept your change of heart all of a sudden? Why should I trust you?" Ward demanded

"Because I'm willing to make you a deal. You help us take down Strucker and Lyst then I'll let you walk away. No more being a fugitive or looking over your shoulder. The deal even extends to your former secret Supervising Officer Victoria Hand. She can be released from my custody as well. You, Jeanne and Hand can start over again. Leave the Clone Wars behind you so you can make a fresh start." Coulson offered

"Why do I have the feeling that there's a catch to this deal you're offering me? " Ward asked apprehensively

"No catch. You just need to erase your memory and so will Jeanne. The three of you will undergo the T.A.H.I.T.I. protocol and then adopt new identities. You could have betrayed Jeanne and ran away to save yourself. You didn't. I know why you want to end the Clone Wars and help the United Republic win.

You feel guilty for Hand being imprisoned for her crimes. You wanted to help her escape but you couldn't. You think helping us defeat Hydra and the Separatists will earn her amnesty. I think that means there's good in you deep down. I was wrong. I thought Victoria Hand, Garrett and your family destroyed all the good inside you but it's still there. The question is do you want that little bit of good in you to fade away completely?" Coulson asked

Ward leaned forward asking, "Are you going to follow through on your offer?"

"I'm the one taking a big risk here. Like you said I'm desperate. I give you my word as the Director of Shield that I will honor this deal and allow you the opportunity to be the good man that you want to be." Coulson replied

"I might know a guy who knows a guy." Ward said with a smirk

****

Daisy used her powers which she started calling quake powers to break into Raina's house and throw her against the wall. Raina used her plant based powers to manipulate vines lining the walls to attack Daisy. The vines had thorns that scratched Daisy deeply but Daisy changed the frequency of the vibrations she projected from near her hands. The vines were lulled to sleep like a baby being sung to by a tender mother. Raina panicked and before Agent 33 aka Kara could hit Daisy with a staff she splintered it with her quake powers. Then Daisy blasted Kara with those same powers leaving Raina defenseless.

"You may have tricked the Inhumans in this community with your little I'm just a gentle gardener trying to acclimate to a new environment act but I know who you are. You're a narcissistic terrorist that's responsible for the deaths of thousands of people to fulfill your own selfish goals. Ryloth/Algeria was almost conquered by the Separatists and Hydra almost destroyed Shield because of you! You're the reason my best friends almost died and Shield Agents died because of you Raina. Tell me exactly what you're planning or I will kill you slowly." Daisy threatened

"Daisy! You need to stop! This isn't right!" Cal bellowed

Daisy turned around and saw her parents with concerned looks on their faces alongside Gordon.

"She's dangerous guys. She's done horrible things and she's obsessed with gaining power." Daisy argued

"Well duh...that's obvious Daisy. But you shouldn't get your hands dirty sweetheart. You've avoided doing the kinds of things I've done and I wanna keep it that way. That's why as your father I'm going to kill Raina slowly so you won't have to sweetheart."

Gordon's mouth opened in alarm but he remained silent. He didn't want to rebel against Jiaying the leader of this community
even if it was Cal speaking on her behalf.

"No! We don't deal with things in Afterlife this way. I and the other heads of house did a thorough interview with Raina. We have determined she poses no threat to us. Everyone in this room except you Daisy has done terrible things and has hurt innocent people. Afterlife is a place where people get a chance to start over. That includes Raina."

"But Jiaying what about Agent 33? She's done terrible things and she isn't Inhuman." Daisy protested

"Her name is Kara! She's my girlfriend and she's no longer a Shield Agent. All the things she did was because Hydra brainwashed her. She survived and helped after the chamber inside the Mandalorian caverns was activated. Without her I wouldn't have been able to handle my transformation. I would have given up on living if Kara didn't show up after I emerged from the caccoon that formed around me after the Mist was released." Raina said emotionally distraught

"Raina you don't need to fear anyone in this village. We will protect you. Together us Inhumans are strong. For the time being we should allow Kara to stay with Raina until we figure out some kind of compromise or exception to our rules. I beg you for your permission to enact this measure Jiaying." Gordon pleaded

He had grown close to Raina treating her like a younger sister. This bond between Raina and Gordon reminded Daisy of Anakin's love for Ahsoka. How protective he was of Ahsoka even though this attitude was frowned upon by the Jedi Council.

"Fine. For the next few days Kara can stay while I and the other heads on the Council will discuss the matter further. Gordon you will create a protection detail for Raina. I'll speak to Daisy and Cal alone. Let's go Daisy."

Daisy didn't protest her mother's order. She followed her silently alongside her dad who beamed with pride at Daisy for how skillfully she used her power and how ruthless she was. This made Daisy uncomfortable for obvious reasons.

"Go see our chief healer Lincoln. He'll tend to your injuries and then we'll have dinner...as a family." Jiaying said whispering to her husband and daughter

"Yes! This is the best day ever! Oh my goodness I've dreamed of this for decades and the moment has arrived!" Cal said cheerfully

He hugged Jiaying and Daisy tightly and they struggled to breathe due to Cal's enhanced strength. Cal hastily let go when Daisy started wheezing and sheepishly apologized for getting too excited. Daisy smiled despite her chest burning from the hug because she was going to live out her own dream. Having a happy and quiet dinner with her parents. The joy she felt from this thought made her violent interrogation of Raina feel like a distant memory.

****

Fitz and Hunter were preparing Anakin's airship to accommodate more guests while storing and checking the extra supplies and weapons to prepare for the infiltration of the Hydra base. Hunter purchased the supplies and weapons from a bounty hunter ex-girlfriend of his named Aurra Sing. A bounty hunter that had a nasty reputation and previously had a long standing dating relationship with pirate Hondo Ohnaka. The pair remained friends despite breaking up and Aurra dating Hunter on the rebound. Fitz wasn't pleased that Hunter dated a woman who was associated with the same group of pirates who kidnapped Anakin and Obi Wan a year ago. Hunter said his relationship with Aurra was many years ago before he even met Bobbi. Fitz still shook his head anyway.

"I still can't believe Coulson made a deal with Ward. Any chance we can lie to him and say we'll honor it when we really won't?" Fitz asked bitterly

"Too risky. He's escaped our grasp before and a free Grant Ward is more dangerous than a working for us to earn his freedom Grant Ward."

"You weren't there when he betrayed us and then attacked us last year." Fitz argued

"Don't get me wrong mate. I fully acknowledge Ward is a deranged psychopath but he's our psychopath. He's a psychopath driven by a desire to prove his worth to us as if it'll make up for everything evil thing he's done. We both know it won't but he believes it will." Hunter replied

"There's nothing Ward can do that will...that will...make...up...for how he damaged my mind giving me PTSD." Fitz managed to say

"I agree but if we can sneak into that Hydra base we'll be able to find Skye. That's what matters. Protecting our family and finding our family." Hunter proclaimed

"What about Bobbi? Do you still consider her family?" Fitz asked

"Galaxy no! She's a demon. I mean you think Anakin and Padme are going to work together anytime soon? Neither will Bobbi and I." Hunter replied

****

Daisy liked Lincoln Campbell the chief healer. He was handsome and he told bad jokes but she found them funny for some reason. She blushed whenever he complimented her on the mastery of her powers or her smile. Daisy wasn't a true believer in love at first sight but maybe there was something to it after her meeting with Lincoln. She was impressed with Lincoln's unique medical knowledge. Daisy could hear Simmons an accomplished medical doctor in her own right scoffing at Lincoln's methods. Daisy wasn't complaining as her bruises from Raina's vines were gone and she felt stronger after receiving treatment from him.

Daisy said goodbye to Lincoln and joined her parents for dinner. It was a wonderful time as her parents shared stories of what Daisy was like as a baby. They also talked about their volunteer medical work at a small city in the heart of China/Mykapo. They helped the poor who couldn't afford medical care in the larger hospital in the nearest city. Daisy was truly in a state of perfect bliss for the first time in her life. Daisy knew her father was a monster who worked with war criminal, traitor to the Jedi and Sith Lord Count Dooku. During his time working with Dooku he killed innocent people and ruined thousands of people's lives.

Yet Daisy saw the man her father used to be at dinner. The one who left the Jedi Order and an apprenticeship under Dooku to help the poor and sick as a doctor. This version of Daisy's father was a kind hearted and joyful man with a goofy personality. This motivated Daisy to accompany her father to Milwaukee, Winsonsin where he grew up. Her mom lied to her father Cal telling him that she needed him to stay there for a few weeks until things quieted down. Cal willingly agreed to this arrangement after witnessing the tension between Gordon and Jiaying over Raina and Kara. Daisy remained silent as her mother lied but insisted to her that she was going to bring her father to Milwaukee alongside Gordon and then come back to Afterlife.

Daisy got scared to tell her father the truth once the pair was dropped off in Milwaukee by Gordon and he teleported away. She saw Cal's eyes light up with joy at all the shops and restaurants. He remarked how most of them were the same from when he left the Jedi Order to return home to Milwaukee before journeying to Mykapo/China to help the poor and sick who couldn't afford medical care. They walked to an old medical clinic he started in downtown Milwaukee. Daisy still couldn't bring herself to admit the truth as her father continued to reminisce.

****

Coulson, Fitz, Hunter Ward and Jeanne were forced to sit together and watch Anakin and former Hydra Agent Sunil Bakshi approach the edge of Dr. Lyst's base. Coulson's team didn't trust Ward and his lover Jeanne. Ward and Jeanne didn't trust Coulson's team either. They sat in awkward tense silence as they watched Bakshi attempt to ask Lyst to open the base for a tour that would be broadcast to Pre Visla the leader of Death Watch.

"Why would we trust Vizsla after his failure to provide Dr. Whitehall Inhuman specimens for research? In addition to the fact Death Watch failed to protect Whitehall from Shield? I always believed in you Bakshi. You share a true devotion to Whitehall's vision which Strucker and I deeply appreciate. However due to Shield and the Jedi Order's growing strength we cannot allow Death Watch to assist with security for our operations. We have combat specialists recruited from various militaries across Europe and as a token of goodwill to us Count Dooku has supplied us with thousands of battle droids and protection from his assassin Asajj Ventress."

Bakshi was startled by these security measures from Dr. Lyst because they deviated from previous discussions amongst the top level members of the Hydra Remnant regarding Strucker's security protocols. Bakshi quickly recovered from his shock and made his face neutral. Ward his master commanded him to successfully complete the mission to Coulson's satisfaction. Therefore he maintained calm and kept his posture neutral to prevent Lyst from becoming suspicious.

"My bodyguard isn't a mere mercenary or pirate. He's a Jedi that I successfully managed to comply with you and Commander Strucker's vision. All to assist the security forces that are protecting the location of your base. That way the experimentation on enhanced individuals or those with the genetic potential to become enhanced can continue free interference from our enemies. Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker is a personal friend of the Chancellor of the United Republic. Think of what you could accomplish with him under your control." Bakshi offered

Anakin stood in the corner of the room quiet and struggled to control his anger. Anakin suspected Ward would use Bakshi to betray everyone and here was the proof. Anakin managed to keep his emotions blank as Dr Lyst eyed Anakin with excitement. Anakin assumed Lyst never saw a Jedi up close before.

"Prove you are a Jedi and then I'll shall accept you into my employ." Lyst ordered

Anakin was forced to pretend to comply when Bakshi echoed Lyst's orders. Anakin used the Force to levitate one of Lyst's bodyguards. He returned the bodyguard gently to the ground and then unsheathed his blue lightsaber for all to see.

"Most impressive. Well Bakshi it seems we have a deal. Thank you most generously for gifting me a Jedi who will comply. Once we have no use for him and we gathered all the intel he has on Chancellor Palpatine, Strucker
and I will hand him over to the Seperatists as a token of good will. They don't like Jedi very much considering their leader Count Dooku had a falling out with the Jedi Order."

R2D2 was providing a video feed of all this to Anakin's airship disguised as an ordinary computer software repair droid. Hunter enraged at what he assumed was Ward's betrayal of Anakin and his allies drew his blaster. He aimed it at Ward but Ward grabbed Fitz blaster aiming it at Hunter while Jeanne grabbed Fitz by the neck holding a knife to his throat. Coulson aimed his own blaster at Jeanne who Coulson remembered was a Clone of Skye and not Agent 33. Yet Jeanne continued to wear Agent 33's face using a static mask.

"Ward put your blaster down now!" Coulson warned aiming his own blaster at Ward's face

"You and Hunter need to listen to me! Giving up Anakin was our only play. If Bakshi didn't give up Anakin we'd have no way of getting to Strucker and finding his base."

"I swear if you don't take that knife away from my friends neck I will kill you slowly love." Hunter threatened Jeanne

"Really? You'd hurt little old me Romeo." Jeanne teased removing her static mask

Hunter disgusted at seeing Skye's clone with Skye's face holding a knife to Fitz's throat turned towards Ward.

"Ward this is your last warning put down your blaster now!" Coulson shouted

"Or what? You gonna watch Fitz get his throat slit." Ward retorted

"Skyeward the greatest psycho couple of all time." Hunter insulted Ward and Jeanne

"Better couple than Hunterbird. How many times does Bobbi have to betray you before you run back to her? Coulson picked a subpar Agent to replace me and yet thinks he can defeat the Separatists and Hydra without my help." Ward retorted

"Could you guys hurry this along?" Fitz gasped as Jeanne started choking him

"You make fun of me and Bobbi kissing and making up mate. How about you and Hydra kissing and making up? It's obvious you want to join them so bad but you're so ashamed of how embarrassing that is you delude yourself into thinking you can get redemption from Shield. You're insane!" Hunter criticized

"You guys need to wake up and think about the strategy here! All Strucker cares about is getting powered people for his experiments and the only way he has managed to gain Dooku's trust unlike Whitehall is Jedi. Promising to turn over Jedi to Dooku for interrogation about the inner workings of the United Republic and the Jedi Order. Why else would Cad Bane have the wherewithal to break into the Jedi Temple a few weeks ago to gain the Obelisk in the first place! Dooku left the Jedi Order 15 years ago. That means there's 15 years worth of knowledge and intelligence that he finds incredibly valuable. Anakin symbolizes that value! Anakin can find a way to escape trust me!" Ward argued

"You of all people are going to talk about trust! I ought to shoot you just for saying that." Coulson said offended

Ward, Coulson and Hunter continued to aim their blasters at one another while Fitz struggled to maintain his breathing as Jeanne pressed the knife harder to his throat.

"Sir! R2D2! Anakin smuggled an electrical spark grenade inside R2! R2 is going through his protocols to activate the grenade to facilitate Anakin's escape. We have to stop him." Fitz barely got out

"Fine. In three seconds we all drop our weapons so Fitz can stop R2." Ward said

Everyone dropped their weapons and Fitz inputted the command play along. R2 signaled this to Anakin and the conversation between Bakshi and Lyst continued uninterrupted. The pair agreed to go to Milwaukee, Wisconsin after Lyst's monitoring system picked up energy signatures referring to enhanced beings. One of the signatures registered on the Richter scale. That meant Lyst's Hydra faction was going to where Skye was.

Before Anakin's airship departed for Milwaukee Coulson said this to Ward, "If you pull a stunt like that where I question your loyalty again. I will eject you and your girlfriend from the airlock 20,000 feet above the ground without a parachute. Do I make myself clear Ward?"

"Crystal clear boss." Ward replied solemnly

****

Daisy was shocked by Ward and Coulson fighting Hydra soldiers together in her father's clinic. She was also shocked Hydra managed to track her down. The unusual pair of Ward and Coulson managed to defeat the group of Hydra soldiers. Ward handed Coulson his blaster and Coulson nodded in gratitude to Ward. Daisy continued to stare at them until she realized she needed to get to Coulson.

"Coulson!" Daisy called out

"Skye! Don't worry I'm here!" Coulson replied

Just as Daisy was going to move towards her mentor and friend Gordon appeared alongside her father.

"Not now Gordon! I need to talk to Coulson! He's my friend!" Daisy protested

Gordon without a word teleported away with Daisy and Cal. Coulson shouted in frustration. He was so close to getting to Skye but he just missed her. Ward shot the last Hydra soldier that was attempting to take advantage of a distracted Coulson. Ward shot the soldier in the back and then placed two more shots from his blaster in the dying soldiers chest.

"Hydra just kidnapped a powered person that I overheard Skye call Lincoln alongside Anakin. Hydra is sending in more reinforcements and Separatist droids are joining the reinforcement squads."

Jeanne hobbled over to Ward and Coulson with Hunter who was grimacing in pain.

"How bad is Hunter hurt?" Coulson asked Jeanne

"I'm fine. It's just a scar that'll heal on its own." Hunter replied dismissively

"No it's not. You need immediate medical attention." Jeanne argued

"Hydra is going to storm the building with hundreds of droids. Hunter is severely wounded and our only backup is Fitz. Your call boss." Ward said to Coulson

"Hey Bobbi. Hey Mack we know you're tailing us. We'll turn ourselves in to Real Shield. Take me to your leader. Commander Gonzalez. It's time to end this fued within Shield. Hydra is the real threat. They just kidnapped Anakin Skywalker." Coulson said over his comm link

Chapter Text

Daisy managed to convince her mom to allow Gordon to teleport her to Shield so she can help them rescue Lincoln. Jiaying was reluctant to allow her daughter who she reunited with just days before to go on a dangerous mission. Cal was absolutely against Daisy going on the mission feeling just as much resentment towards Shield's hypocrisy that he felt towards the equally hypocritical Jedi Council. Daisy said the only reason she's going back is because she trusted Coulson who is a good man. A man who helped keep her safe and showed her a way to help the weak. Daisy felt her work with Coulson was as vital to the poor and weak just as much as her father's medical clinic.

Cal reluctantly agreed alongside Jiaying for Daisy to go on the mission. Jiaying acknowledged Lincoln was the most skilled Inhuman at practicing medicine and was valuable to the community. More importantly Jiaying considered Lincoln a friend and someone she wanted to save. Daisy did find it odd that her mother ignored Anakin being a captive despite Daisy telling Jiaying that Anakin was her best friend when she was a youngling in the Jedi Temple. Daisy didn't dwell on it further. She needed to go back to her found family even though she loved her birth family she was looking forward to seeing her Shield family again.

FitzSimmons peppered Daisy with tons of questions about the Inhumans and their way of life. They asked her about her parents and her powers. Daisy told them everything except the location of the village Afterlife and about Jiaying's private concerns about outsiders and non Inhumans living in the village. May hugged Daisy alongside Ahsoka and May let her continue her conversation with FitzSimmons while Ahsoka followed along. Daisy saw Ahsoka laughing because the conversation was mostly Simmons asking tons of questions. It reminded Daisy of when Ahsoka first met Simmons and she peppered Ahsoka with tons of questions about Togrutan (Ahsoka's species) physiology. Daisy sensed Ward through the Force and frowned.

She forgot that Ward was involved with this rescue mission due to his past as a Hydra Agent. That Ward had the information and knowledge the team needed to break into the Hydra base. Daisy was grateful that her connection to the Force grew since her powers activated. In fact certain Force abilities worked well with her quake powers.

"I want to tell you guys more but not with Ward here. We'll talk later." Daisy whispered

"Did someone say my name?" Ward asked as he entered the briefing room

"He's like Candyman." Daisy remarked bitterly to Ahsoka and FitzSimmons

"We need to review the operation before we start it. Thankfully the Bus has the computing power to process all the Hydra intel you inputted into the system Ward. I can't believe I'm saying this but...bring all of us up to speed on the intel you got from Bakshi." Coulson ordered reluctantly

Ward attempted to explain all the complex code words and data notations that were used by Hydra Agents to confuse outside observers. Yet he realized everyone including Coulson was angry with him. Ahsoka gave an icy cold glare at Ward her emotions were subdued aside from this. Ward reasoned Ahsoka much like Coulson was resigned to the fact they couldn't rescue Anakin without his help. Meanwhile May shook with fury that she could barely contain, Fitz stared at Ward with disgust mixed with fear and despair while Daisy and Simmons frowned at Ward with their arms folded.

"Can we talk about the elephant on the plane?" Ward said exasperated by the emotional attitudes on the team

No one responded to Ward's question so he continued to speak.

"I understand that this is strange. Last year ended on our sour note between us. That mistakes were made."

"By you." Fitz mumbled

"People were hurt." Ward continued

"By you." Fitz mumbled again

"Chaos and discord was created as a result." Ward added desperate for a reprieve from the judgment of the team

"By you." Fitz mumbled yet again

"You guys need to understand. Victoria Hand trained me to be a deep cover operative for Hydra but secretly I was loyal to Shield." Ward explained pleading in his voice

Everyone groaned or shook their heads.

"I also want to add that my family abused me throughout my childhood and left me emotionally vulnerable." Ward argued

"We all have our traumas Ward. I killed a child and it ruined my marriage. My mother pushed me to be the best at everything I did since I was 7 and it tarnished my childhood. I was given a secret mission by Director Fury to spy on Coulson and it was a betrayal of Coulson's trust. He's my best friend by the way. Funny how despite all of that you don't see me acting like a psychopath." May challenged

"You need to grow up Ward. My master is in danger and the only reason it's the seven of us on this mission is because the Chancellor is a close friend of Anakin. Commander Gonzalez wanted to bomb the base without attempting a rescue for Anakin, Lincoln and the other prisoners. When are you going to realize not everything is about you?" Ahsoka challenged

"Good speech Ahsoka. I can see Anakin taught you well. You're telling me that I'm supposed to just let go of Coulson making deals with my abuser to hand me over to him, Skye shooting me in the back and this entire team holding my mentor prisoner?" Ward asked Ahsoka

"That's why I'm giving you the T.A.H.I.T.I. protocol Ward. It's why your girlfriend Jeanne and your mentor Victoria Hand will get it too. Hand's wife Isabelle Hartley was killed during a mission because she wanted to earn Hand's freedom just like you. Helping us take down Hydra. And Jeanne...Jeanne deserves a chance to decide who she wants to be. Instead of knowing that she's a clone of Skye." Coulson argued

"Putting aside how disgusting it is that Ward somehow stole Skye's DNA without her consent to pay for a Clone of her...why the galaxy is Ward getting a chance to walk away sir? He's killed dozens of Shield Agents including our friend Agent Antoine Triplett. Ward deserves to be in a cage or buried under the ground. He doesn't deserve a second chance." Simmons said to Coulson

"Enough! Give him the deal Coulson. Ward needs to be out of our lives forever. I'm tired of obsessing over hurting him for how he's hurt us. For now we violated me while using me like a toy. If this is the way to kill the psycho Grant Ward that betrayed us but give the Grant Ward that couldn't heal from an abusive childhood a chance...so be it. As long as he helps us destroy Hydra. It's why Victoria Hand turned him into a psycho in the first place right? To destroy Hydra."

"Are you insane? Even without his memories Ward is still a threat! We cannot just let him go without being punished!" Simmons shouted

Coulson began to speak to interject but Ward interrupted.

"She's right. Simmons is right. I'm mentally broken. And because of that I did terrible things. But that's not what I regret the most. It's not even the lying or the Shield Agents I put down and I'm sorry Simmons not even dropping you and Fitz into the ocean." Ward said

Simmons rolled her eyes in disgust while Ahsoka and Daisy shook their heads. May folded her arms in anger while Fitz and Coulson continued to glare at Ward.

"What I regret the most is breaking up this. Coulson's team. No. That's underselling it. I broke up and destroyed this family because of my actions. My actions alone are why this family was destroyed. It's why Anakin the eighth member of our old family is being held by Hydra in the first place. That's something I'll regret forever." Ward apologized solemnly bowing

"In other words you're still making it about you." Ahsoka said while rolling her eyes

"Maybe I should have shot you in the head instead of the back." Daisy remarked

Simmons laughed and nodded her head while May smiled.

"It's not about me! Jeanne isn't coming with me and neither is Hand. Coulson when you T.A.H.I.T.I. protocol me. You place me in a situation where I can do the most good. Someone that needs a watchful eye on them where I can protect them as a bodyguard. As a safeguard give the Chancellor 24/7 access to my location. Jeanne needs proper mental health care before she is released from your custody. My clone rejected her and it's impacting her psychologically. I thought I was doing the right thing but Ahsoka's right...I am selfish."

The rest of the group silently dismissed Ward but Coulson raised his eyebrow in curiosity.

"Fine. I'll do as you requested. I give you my word as Director that you will get that second chance and Jeanne will get proper medical care with Shield. As long as you hold up your end of the bargain and help us destroy Hydra and rescue the prisoners. Now guys...I know this is frustrating and weird but we need to do this. If not...Anakin will be killed. Now Ward continue the briefing on Bakshi's Intel."

Chapter Text

Obi Wan wasn't surprised the mission to rescue Anakin went horribly wrong. For one thing Gonzalez refused to send his top Agent code named Mockingbird also known as Bobbi Morse. Bobbi refused to go against Gonzalez despite Obi Wan's strong protests for sending in reinforcements to rescue Coulson's team. Gonzalez didn't trust Coulson's team nor in Coulson's willingness to trust Ward a traitor to Shield and a former Hydra Agent. The Jedi Order had no extra Jedi available for this mission either. The entire Order was engaged in various military operations across the globe against the Separatists and they required the Order's full attention.

Obi Wan's Clone army regiment the 212th battalion was still recovering from injuries in a previous battle with General Grievous so they couldn't be sent in. Obi Wan told Ahsoka to have the 501st attack battalion that answered to Anakin to be on standby outside of the Hydra base. He was nervous because Captain Rex was reported missing weeks ago and Lieutenant Appo was leading the battalion but not as effectively as Rex. Yet even this precaution wasn't enough as the Twins Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver easily defeated Coulson's team in battle. Daisy's quake abilities weren't enough to combat Quicksilver or Scarlet Witch. Before Hydra could imprison Coulson's team Jiaying arrived alongside an army of her Inhumans and rescued Coulson's team taking them back to their hidden village.

Gonzalez and a team of Shield Agents prepared an airship to negotiate the release of Coulson's team from Inhuman custody. Obi Wan sought to disrupt this plan as it was what his son David telepathically warned him about. His efforts failed due to being overruled by the other leaders on the Real Shield council. Chancellor Palpatine did give Obi Wan authority to construct a secondary plan in the event Gonzalez failed to negotiate the release of Coulson team's from Jiaying's custody. Obi Wan decided to reinforce his Clone battalion at Gonzalez's aircraft carrier. The Force was telling him that Jiaying wanted the artifact that was locked deep within the carrier under a specialized container.

"We don't need to fight. We both have been attacked by Hydra. Victimized by them in fact." Gonzalez explained revealing his mangled left leg

Jiaying's expression was stone faced as she sat behind the desk in her office. Gonzalez leaned forward and continued to speak.

"I didn't work with Coulson personally but I know him by reputation. He never joined Hydra nor did he compromise his values in order to defeat them like other Shield Agents. He's a man of honor and your daughter was fortunate to work under his mentorship and tutelage. I know you'd rather be speaking to him or Jedi Master Obi Wan Kenobi. However I'm here to make you direct promises that will benefit us both. That's what you want isn't it? The truth. Not necessarily a feel good story to put you at ease but the facts on what a relationship between Shield and the Inhumans will be like moving forward." Gonzalez explained

Bobbi nodded her head in approval at Gonzalez's negotiating tactic but Obi was still uneasy when thinking about his son's warning to stop Gonzalez.

"Interesting," Jiaying said, "I lost people to that witch and that speedster. I barely managed to rescue my daughter and the Shield Agents she was willing to die for. The Hydra leader Dr. Lyst escaped because of the interference of the Sith Assassin Asajj Ventress. These are your hated enemies that you've been fighting in the Clone Wars for 2 years and they are still a threat to you. Yet you claim you can make promises to me and my people that you can keep."

"The Avengers were contacted by Phil Coulson through an intermediary. I have the proof of this communication in my badge. It contains an encrypted signal that shows Tony Stark assembling the Avengers inside his Tower. Together they'll pursue Dr. Lyst and his superior Baron Von Strucker. Jedi Master Obi Wan Kenobi will be joining them soon and if you release him...his former student Anakin Skywalker will also aid the Avengers.

Coulson concealed not only his connection to the Avengers but also his secret construction of a Helicarrier to assist them. I was worried the alien technology that kept Coulson alive was making him erractic and unpredictable. Instead he was taking risks to ensure everyone including your daughter was safe. I was wrong to doubt him and treat him as a threat. I am willing to admit the same when it comes to you and your people. In fact if you allow the Chancellor and the Jedi Council to take a detailed analysis of your people and the technology that grants you abilities Shield and the United Republic Senate will leave your people alone." Gonzalez explained

Jiaying frowned, "I figured there'd be a catch. So we have to submit to your leader when we Inhumans have submitted to no one for thousands of years. Why? Because you and your precious Chancellor are afraid of us."

Gonzalez frowned in response to Jiaying's argument, "Can you blame us? The abilities your people possess if misused could put the entire planet at risk."

"So you are afraid of us. Just like Hydra was and now you seek to control us." Jiaying accused Gonzalez

"Hydra gave me scars too Jiaying. We are on the same side and we want the same thing."
Gonzalez argued showing Jiaying his maimed leg once again

Jiaying gave a mirthful smile staring at Gonzalez's leg and said, "I highly doubt that but perhaps there is a way to put your mind at ease. To show you more about how Inhumans are created."

Jiaying rose from her chair and opened a drawer that contained a handkerchief. Inside it were blue Terrigan Crystals mixed with a dark metal of unknown origin. It was at that moments that the audio feed of their conversation was cut out due to unknown electrical interference.

"I first started experimenting with Terrigan Crystals because using a Diviner in Ancient Caverns in Mandalore or the regional lands surrounding it would be too difficult. If the Diviners were destroyed or stolen by a group such as the Mandalorians the Inhuman race could go extinct. We'd have no way to transform into our true forms.

That's why we made our own Terrigan Crystals. As a former Hydra leader named Daniel Whitehall once said discovery requires experimentation. Eventually we melted a Diviner down and grew new crystals from it. Unfortunately we could never separate the Diviner metal out. The crystals are now laced with it. Look." Jiaying said

Gonzalez stared at the Terrigan Crystals in stony silence and Jiaying smiled. She knew she had this Shield Commander uneasy which gave her great satisfaction.

"Now the Diviner metal is harmless to us Inhumans but as you know...humans well..." Jiaying said before smashing the Terrigan Crystals on her desk, "Let's just hope you're an Inhuman like us."

Gonzalez started coughing violently and struggled to grab his blaster to defend himself. After a few tense seconds when his coughing stopped he managed to grab it but he was under intense pain.

"No stop! You're being reckless!" Gonzalez gasped in pain as his body began to turn to stone

"How dare you compare your scars to my scars! You have a damaged leg? So what! Whitehall separated me from my infant daughter, tortured me to death and then he cut me to pieces and stuffed me in jars! I'm only here because of my healing ability and it doesn't stop me from feeling intense pain! You are nothing like me and I won't let anyone separate me from my daughter or harm my people ever again!" Jiaying screamed at Gonzalez as she walked towards him

Gonzalez's body was already stone with only his face free from transformation.

"You're going to start a war and get everyone killed you crazy psycho!" Gonzalez gasped before his body turned to stone

Jiaying smirked satisfied that the first part of her plan worked. Now she needed to begin the second part of her plan. This part was going to be challenging. Her ability to heal was strong but enduring pain wasn't easy for Jiaying. Not after what Daniel Whitehall did to her all those years ago. She grabbed Gonzalez's blaster and took a deep breath. Then she fired the blaster into her arm. She cried out in pain as she quickly fired the blaster again. She then stumbled out of her office bleeding crying out in pain.

"Mom!" Daisy called out in fear

She raced across the courtyard towards her mother as she gasped, "This means war. Shield attacked me. We have to fight them to protect our people Daisy."

"Lincoln please help my mom! She needs medical attention!" Daisy yelled

"Skye you need to calm down. We can figure out what happened. The video cut out before your mom got shot so we don't know if Gonzalez pulled the trigger. We need to examine your mother's office to figure this out." May explained calmly

"My name is not Skye! It's Daisy and you and everyone in Shield needs to leave!" Daisy warned

"Daisy we are your friends. We don't want to hurt you!" Ahsoka called out

One of the Shield Quinjets fired on Jiaying's office reducing it to smoldering flames. Lincoln fired an electrical blasts that damaged the airship causing it to crash.

"Get out now! Or else!" Daisy threatened May and Ahsoka

Chapter Text

"Daisy. Daisy please listen to reason. There's someone or something causing all of this chaos. Let's work together to find out who is responsible." May reasoned

"I told you to get out of my home May! This is your final warning!" Daisy shouted

"Fine. I guess you need to get reason knocked into you." May said frowning

She attacked Daisy and was surprised at how quickly Daisy matched her kicks and punches. May smirked because she taught Daisy everything she knew. So she managed to grab Daisy's left wrist when she tried to fake a punch with her right hand and strike May's chest with her left hand. Daisy was sprawled on the ground after May flipped her onto the ground. Daisy resorted to using her quake powers knocking May backward into a Shield airship.

"You just made a big mistake Daisy." Ahsoka warned brandishing her lightsaber

"No. You did." Daisy retorted

Daisy tapped into her power and the Force causing Ahsoka to lose her balance. Then Daisy quaked Ahsoka into May as she rose to her feet. They both lay sprawled on the ground.

"Daisy! You need to stop! Ahsoka isn't your enemy! Neither am I please Daisy. Listen to reason!" Anakin called out as he stumbled to his feet

FitzSimmons attempted to grab him as he was still healing from his injuries due to Dr. Lyst's torture and experiments.

"You need to go now! You need to convince Coulson to stand down or else we'll destroy that aircraft carrier you're hiding on."

Anakin saddened by Daisy's rage despite being her friend motioned for FitzSimmons to help him to the airship. They all decided to leave alongside the rest of Shield. Daisy ran to the infirmary to check on her mother's condition fearing the worst.

****

Obi Wan took over command of the aircraft carrier with Chancellor Palpatine's blessing despite being a Jedi and not a Shield Agent. He realized that Raina was heading for Mandalore with three dozen Inhumans using Death Watch as support troops. Then he got a vision from his son David that Jiaying was planning to attack the Helicarrier in order to destroy the artifact Agent Gonzalez had been safeguarding. So he created a secondary team tasked with defending the aircraft carrier from Jiaying's forces.

The Mandalorian team sent to stop Raina consisted of May, Bobbi, Hunter and Ahsoka.

The team sent to battle against Jiaying and her Inhuman loyalists consisted of May, Coulson, Anakin, FitzSimmons and Mack.

Bobbi was dealing with a mixture of emotions. She lost close friends in Agent Calderon and Agent Gonzalez during the chaos that happened on the Inhuman village Afterlife. This was after hearing the news that Isabelle Hartley died on a mission with May, Ahsoka and Hunter while she was undercover at Hydra several weeks ago. Now Hunter wanted to accompany her on a mission to Mandalore right after recovering from injuries fighting a Hydra army. It was a lot for Bobbi to take in and she struggled to adopt the strict no nonsense persona of her code name Mockingbird.

"Bobbi. It's ok. I'm here. We're going to successfully complete this mission and Hunter is going to be ok." May reassured while flying the Quinjet

"No it's not. Hunter almost died and I wasn't there to back him up. I put the mission over him when I didn't have to. I was stubborn and dismissive of Hunter's feelings. Now he's willing to forgive me and back us up on this mission. I don't deserve a great man like him. Not after the poor choices I've made." Bobbi said solemnly

"Do you feel like the way the United Republic has fought Hydra and the Separatists in the Clone Wars is a poor choice? You feel like you've done other things for the Republic that you regret? I have." May argued

"With Hydra, the Separatists and Death Watch threatening innocent lives...sometimes you have to make the hard calls. The consequences are difficult to stomach. Not only what I did to Hunter but also what almost happened to the Clone Battalions of Anakin and Obi Wan. I almost ordered them into the Hydra base to rescue Coulson's team but Jiaying and her people showed up." Bobbi replied

"Now because of Jiaying we have to fight her faction of Inhumans and another faction loyal to Raina on Mandalore." May complained

"Wait a minute why are we flying near..." Bobbi began and she pulled out her blaster

Before Bobbi could fire her blaster May pulled her's out and shot Bobbi. The blaster was set to stun so Bobbi wasn't dead but unconscious. May transformed into Jeanne and contacted Tony aka Taskmaster, "TM I got the package and I'll be heading towards the farmhouse soon."

"Good. I thought I had to find some way to activate the caravan of droids Ward placed at the edge of the field near the farmhouse. Turns out Cut's step children will be the ones to activate the droids."

"Perfect. By the time we start the next stage of our plan I'll bring Bobbi to you. She'll admit her crimes soon enough." Jeanne said smiling sinisterly

****

"Aw great. Commando Droids. Quick. Suu get the children upstairs. Rex I know your injured but I'm gonna need your help." Cut Leqawne requested

Rex nodded and despite his dislocated shoulder asked, "What weapons do you have that we can use?"

Cut showed Rex his weapons closet filled with blasters of various types.

"We catch the droids in a crossover by taking the corners of the room." Rex suggested

"No Captain Rex. With all due respect this is my farmhouse and you're not in charge here." Cut argued

"But I want to fight!" Rex protested

"But you're still injured. Listen Captain. I need you to be the last line of defense for my family. Do you understand?" Cut Leqawne requested

Rex had a pained expression on his face and then nodded, "I'll take care of them."

"Thank you." Cut Leqawne said relieved by Rex's decision

Cut used his blaster rifle to take out five of the twenty Commando Droids as they broke through the back door of the farmhouse. He breathed heavily as he retreated to take cover. It had been well over a year and a half since he had to fight droids much less an advanced model like Commando Droids.so he was a little out of breath. Cut looked through the boarded up windows of his farmhouse to determine where the Commando Droids were coming from. One of the droids broke through the window Cut was leaning on and started choking him. He shrugged off the attempted strangling and unsheathed his blaster pistol shooting The droid in the head. The droid fell over and promptly powered down.

Cut heard creaking below him. He shook of the temptation to give into fear as the moon loomed above the farmhouse. He slowly walked towards the cellar door ready to face the army of droids that were underneath. He opened the cellar door and the droids moved forward to attack. They had blasters of their own and Cut struggled to avoid getting hit by the blaster bolts as he used furniture as cover. The blaster fire hit loose wood paneling in the ceiling and the paneling collapsed on top of him. Cut screamed in pain struggling to get the heavy wood paneling off of him.

"Rex! They're coming for you!" Cut cried out as he saw the remaining droids climb up the stairs

Cut thought about the potential for the Commando Droids to butcher his family and it angered him. He was determined to not let any of these monstrous droids near his family. With extra effort Cut managed to shrug off the wood paneling and used a chair to beat one of the Commando Droids into a permanent shutdown. Then he through two pieces of wood fragments with precise aim at two other Commando Droids shutting them down as well.

Rex using his non dominant hand managed to fire his blaster pistol at three Commando Droids in quick succession and they dropped to the ground in shutdown mode. Rex struggled with two more droids in a blaster fight and the droid fired underneath Rex were the support for the ceiling was weak. Rex fell to the first floor where Cut was struggling with a Commando Droid in hand to hand combat. He managed to stab that droid in its head with a knife on the ground that was knocked away from his hand earlier. Rex struggled to fight against the last remaining droid due to his arm being in a sling. Cut managed to find Rex's blaster pistol and shoot the droid in the head just as it started strangling Rex.

"Congratulations on passing your test my fellow Clones but we need your help with punishing the Shield Agent that's responsible for your current troubles...Bobbi Morse." Tony aka Taskmaster said with a blaster pistol aimed at Cut's wife's head

Chapter Text

"Cut Leqawne we are in solidarity with you. There's no reason to risk your family's life just to prove a point to us. We suffered just like you. We were tools of war just like you. It's time all of us Clones got justice." Jeanne said

"There's no justice in torturing someone you disagree with. A United Republic should have room for different opinions or branches of thought about the Cloning, the Clone Wars and other issues. Captain Rex saved my life and my family's life. If he vouches for this Shield Agent Bobbi Morse then I trust his judgment." Cut argued

Jeanne frowned and replied, "You claim to be enlightened to the plight of Clones but you talk just like a slave. A tool of war. Bobbi Morse knew the original Ward was going to use the original Skye to create me. She had access to the files that Ward stole from the Hydra base where she was working undercover. She lied to her superior Agent Daniel Whitehall so that he would be too distracted with chasing Ward to suspect her loyalty.

The whole time she knew Ward would use me and Tony for his selfish plans to take down Hydra and Separatist to earn redemption from Shield... redeem himself in the eyes of the original Skye. Mockingbird isn't a hero. She uses Clones to further her own selfish schemes and justifies it by using the Clone Wars. All so she can fuel her addiction to completing the mission. She doesn't care about her ex-husband Hunter the way you care about your wife Suu. She is a user. Don't you get that Cut?" Jeanne questioned

"I get it. You have a right to be angry with Agent Morse but torturing her isn't going to bring you the closure you seek. You and Tony need to drop all of this and move on with your lives. Find a future for yourselves that isn't about what Shield did to you all in the past. This won't end well for you." Cut warned

"Is that a threat Cut?" Jeanne asked as she used an electric staff on a tied up Rex

Rex cried out in pain as the electricity surged through his injured body. Rex learned when Tony and Jeanne tied him up that Ward was responsible for the injury he suffered weeks ago. Ward was the one who shot him and wounded him. Miraculously a stray dog followed by Cut's step children found him. He recovered thanks to Cut's wife. Her medical skills were impressive yet medical kits in a remote farmhouse meant a slow recovery for Rex. Tony and Jeanne were worse than Sergeant Slick (the Clone who betrayed his brothers for Separatist money over a year ago) in Rex's mind. They were insane. Rex could hear Agent Morse struggling not to scream and felt helpless unable to save her.

Bobbi nails were hooked up to a contraption that fed her a chemical solution that induced intensified pain in all her nerve endings. It was a Separatist torture technique given to Hydra operatives. Bobbi knew Tony impersonated Ward in order to raid all of Ward's weapons stashes in various cities and territories that he stole from Hydra. She wanted to know why she was a target of Tony's wrath if his original...Ward-was the reason for his misery according to Tony.

"I'd figure you'd be tough. Coulson doesn't just send any Agent of his to infiltrate Hydra. Ward always told me Coulson had an eye for talent. It makes sense considering Director Fury called him his one good eye. Though I find that nickname ironic. Coulson is Shield's one good eye but he didn't see you or Ward coming. He wasn't able to figure out that you were traitors either for the mother figure that filled a hole in Ward's emotional core damaged from childhood abuse (Agent Victoria Hand) or the reasonable authority figure bravely risking his life against a supernatural force of nature in Count Dooku because you've always sought the approval of such people like Chancellor Palpatine Bobbi. It's why you cared about that more than Hunter. That's why he divorced you.

You know all of this pain your suffering can end Bobbi. I can bring Jeanne in her and you can admit that you wanted to use her and me as a weapon against the Separatists and Hydra not just Ward. You may disagree with me Bobbi but you and Ward are exactly the same. You give off this false lie about who you are to people but your true self is buried deep down. It's why Coulson never saw Ward as a traitor and it's why he never saw you as a traitor. That's why Jeanne and I managed to fool you, to you Clones like us are nothing but canon fodder. That's why you're being punished."

Bobbi giggled in spite of the intense pain that she was in.

"You're just like that Clone Sergeant Slick who attacked Rex and Commander Cody last year. Just like Slick you're a hypocrite Tony. You claim justice for the Clones being forced to fight in the Clone Wars but you just used Ward and Jeanne to get the Taskmaster armor. I put my own marriage to Hunter and the independence of Clones as a lesser priority than the Clone Wars because innocent lives are at risk.

You only use the frustrations of Clones like Jeanne and Cut Leqawne for your own selfish ends. I know you heard the rumors about the Red Room being run by a rogue Russian/Crait General and his right hand man Taskmaster when you committed thefts of Hydra intel on behalf of your old boss Ward.

You wanted to be unique and you thought the only way to differentiate yourself from Ward was to achieve power. This torturing me isn't about Jeanne it's about you gaslighting Jeanne into thinking you care about her. You're just like Grant Ward always making excuses and looking for someone else to blame because just like Ward...you're selfish."

Taskmaster leaned forward and claimed, "I'm nothing like Grant Ward. I've surpassed him. I'm no longer his weapon because I'm free. I'm not Tony Masters. I'm Taskmaster."

"I know. That's what I was counting on." Bobbi said with a smirk

She freed herself from the syringes and stuck one of them in Taskmaster's neck which he quickly removed. Then she attacked Taskmaster ferociously with Hydra combat tactics to catch him off guard. Bobbi was aware the Taskmaster armor allowed Tony the ability to mimic the combat moves of any opponent he studied and she assumed every video of her in a sanctioned Shield mission was viewed by him. So Bobbi used the Hydra combat techniques she learned when she was undercover to attempt to defeat Taskmaster.

Taskmaster to his credit managed to dodge most of Bobbi's attacks but the few blows she struck him with hurt. It was clear Taskmaster made the foolish mistake of underestimating Bobbi the Shield Agent with the codename Mockingbird. Agent May was known as the Calvary and Taskmaster realized too late that Mockingbird was just as dangerous as her.

Taskmaster started attacking more aggressively as Bobbi began to tire due to the torture she ended earlier. Unfortunately for him Bobbi countered his attacks and used them as opportunities to strike Taskmaster in the face. His armor only covered his chest, upper arms and upper legs and only augmented his strength and speed slightly. This meant his face was exposed to attacks.

Jeanne came out of another room with her blaster pistol raised. This facilitated an opportunity for Cut to escape his chains and help Rex escape his torture. However Bobbi was caught in a brutal battle with Jeanne which gave Taskmaster the opening to strike Bobbi in the back of the head. Bobbi cried out in pain as she struggled to grab the blaster she knocked out of Jeanne's hand earlier. Taskmaster picked up the blaster and was enraged because Bobbi's actions allowed Cut and the Rex to escape. It would be a brief moment before they rescued Cut's family and told Shield the location of this abandoned warehouse. Taskmaster stomped on Bobbi's knee to vent his frustrations and Jeanne laughed when Bobbi cried out in pain.

"Now...thanks to you wasting our time we're going to have to speed this up Mockingbird. You have anything you want to say about what you did to Jeanne, and to every Clone that's been forced to participate in you and your superiors Clone War?"

Bobbi grinned despite being in intense pain, "I'm glad Ward used the two of you as his slaves and that I didn't intervene to stop him."

Taskmaster stomped on Bobbi's leg again and the bone cracked in two. Bobbi started crying and Jeanne smiled as she took the blaster from Taskmaster. Bobbi glared at Jeanne with all the contempt she could muster suppressing all the pain she was feeling.

"This doesn't feel right Tony. She doesn't regret her role in the slavery of Clones. She's proud of what she's done." Jeanne said pouting

"That's ok sweetheart. I know the perfect way to punish her without killing her." Taskmaster said with a grin

Chapter Text

Bobbi was tied up in a chair and her mouth gagged with a rag so she couldn't warn Hunter. There was an automated blaster turret connected to the door aimed at the entrance. Taskmaster said this contraption was rigged to fire at whoever opened the door. Just like Taskmaster predicted Rex contacted Hunter about Bobbi's predicament as soon as he reached Cut Lawquane's farmhouse. Bobbi knew that Taskmaster would his armor on whatever reinforcements Hunter would call upon to save her and he would kill those reinforcements alongside Jeanne while Hunter would enter the room Taskmaster locked Bobbi in and be shot by the blaster turret in the face. This was the way Taskmaster would ruin Bobbi's life by killing her ex husband the man she still loved deeply.

Bobbi desperate to save Hunter struggled to break free from her bonds. Crying as the amount of time to save Hunter continued to shrink she fought to move her chair towards the door. There was no other way for her to save Hunter other than blocking the door so that it couldn't be opened by him. Bobbi's fear increased as she heard Hunter giving orders to Shield tactical team Agents to search each room in the warehouse. She heard Taskmaster and Jeanne killing these Agents one by one.

"Bobbi! Bobbi don't worry I'm going to get you out of here! Where are you?" Hunter called out

Bobbi could hear Hunter clearly now that he was on the top floor of the warehouse where she was tied up. Hunter was going to each room searching for Bobbi while she continued to drag her chair closer to the door leading into her room. Yet chains held the chair in place after she dragged it a foot toward the door. Bobbi looked up in fear at the blaster turret as she could hear Hunter breathing heavily on the other side of the door. In vain she kept trying to pull her chair closer to the door but the chains held. She tried screaming don't open the door to Hunter but the gag in her mouth made her words unintelligible to Hunter. Hunter hearing Bobbi scream opened the door slowly and just as blaster turret fired Bobbi leaned in front of it so the blaster bolt hit her in the shoulder instead of Hunter's face.

The shock of the blast left Bobbi momentarily unconscious and as a result there was a smoking hole on her left shoulder. Taskmaster shot May who smiled but he in his eagerness to kill a dangerous Shield Agent who had a condename (the Calvary) missed May's smile.

"Baby. Baby why?" May asked Taskmaster as the blast from his blaster left a smoking hole

May transformed into Jeanne to Taskmaster's shock and he became heartbroken over what he...no over what Shield tricked him into doing. He saw the real Agent May smile at Taskmaster as she made her towards the top floor where Bobbi and Hunter were.

"I'm sorry baby. I didn't know it was you." Taskmaster said

Jeanne started crying as she began to lose consciousness and Taskmaster in vain tried to pick her up and find a way to get her medical attention. It was too late. Jeanne was dead and Taskmaster swore he would destroy Shield in revenge for what happened.

"Bobbi! Stay with me! Please stay with me! We're going to get you medical attention. Ok. Just stay with me." Hunter said

He freed her from the chair she was trapped in and she regained consciousness. She was disoriented and her breathing was shallow.

Agent May entered the room and was shocked to see Bobbi bruised, battered, covered in blood with a broken leg barely conscious.

"Help me May. She's barely hanging on. Tell Ahsoka to come upstairs and help us." Hunter ordered

May nodded and Ahsoka and a still injured Rex helped Bobbi into a medical air ship that was on its way to Shield Headquarters on the aircraft carrier. Hopefully the group thought to themselves (as Bobbi lay in a bacta tank) the Inhumans attempting to take over the Shield aircraft carrier wers defeated by Obi Wan's team. If not then Bobbi wouldn't make it and that thought terrified Hunter more than Ahsoka, Rex or May.

Chapter Text

Flashback to the Chapter Take Me To Your Leader 3 days ago

Daisy used her powers which she started calling quake powers to break into Raina's house and throw her against the wall. Raina used her plant based powers to manipulate vines lining the walls to attack Daisy. The vines had thorns that scratched Daisy deeply but Daisy changed the frequency of the vibrations she projected from near her hands. The vines were lulled to sleep like a baby being sung to by a tender mother. Raina panicked and before Agent 33 aka Kara could hit Daisy with a staff she splintered it with her quake powers. Then Daisy blasted Kara with those same powers leaving Raina defenseless.

"You may have tricked the Inhumans in this community with your little I'm just a gentle gardener trying to acclimate to a new environment act but I know who you are. You're a narcissistic terrorist that's responsible for the deaths of thousands of people to fulfill your own selfish goals. Ryloth/Algeria was almost conquered by the Separatists and Hydra almost destroyed Shield because of you! You're the reason my best friends almost died and Shield Agents died because of you Raina. Tell me exactly what you're planning or I will kill you slowly." Daisy threatened

"Daisy! You need to stop! This isn't right!" Cal bellowed

Daisy turned around and saw her parents with concerned looks on their faces alongside Gordon.

"She's dangerous guys. She's done horrible things and she's obsessed with gaining power." Daisy argued

"Well duh...that's obvious Daisy. But you shouldn't get your hands dirty sweetheart. You've avoided doing the kinds of things I've done and I wanna keep it that way. That's why as your father I'm going to kill Raina slowly so you won't have to sweetheart."

Present Day

Daisy was able to convince Lincoln that her mother lied to all the Inhumans. She discovered the truth when her best friend Simmons sent Daisy an audio recording from R2D2 in the infirmary while Anakin was in recovery after they were rescued by Jiaying and her Inhuman loyalists. In the audio Daisy to her shock discovered that her mother faked her attempted assassination by Agent Gonzalez with Gordon's help. That Gordon pretended to favor Raina over Jiaying to cripple Raina's attempts at fermenting a rebellion against Jiaying by spying on Raina.

Lincoln despite his anger at being tricked by Jiaying managed to convince the other Inhumans to stop fighting Shield Agents and the two Jedi Masters Luminara Unduli and Quinlan Vos reinforcing them. Lincoln's set of Inhumans began fighting their brethren who were still loyal to Jiaying even after the lie was exposed. Daisy chased after her mom desperate to stop her from using the aircraft carrier's fleet of airships to fire missiles filled with Terrigan Mist crystals at various populations worldwide to build an Inhuman army that would rival the Separatist Droid Army and the United Republic Clone Army in size.

Daisy realized that if a third military with enhanced abilities entered the Clone Wars it would escalate the violence all over the world ten fold. It would force the United Republic to increase the number of Clones being produced and to seek experimental ways to enhance them powers. The death toll from this escalated Clone Wars would be in the hundreds of millions instead of just hundreds of thousands. She desperately wanted to avoid that much bloodshed from happening.

"Mom stop!" Daisy called out to Jiaying

Jiaying ordered her two powerful subordinates to load the Terrigan Crystal powered missiles onto a Quinjet. Daisy used her quake powers to kill the subordinates and then attempted to use the Force to destroy the missiles. Her injuries and lack of training impacted her ability to use the Force and the missiles fell into the ocean. The Mist would now be absorbed into the sea life but Jiaying would have no way of building ah Inhuman army very quickly. Jiaying face darkened into an expression of pure rage. Daisy shocked at seeing her mother act this way was silent.

"Why would you do that Daisy? You just doomed our entire race. Destroying Shield and using their weapons to create new Inhumans was the only way to protect our people." Jiaying chastised

"That's not true! There are other ways to protect Inhumans." Daisy argued

"I'm no fool. You want to use Shield's ways. Shield failed to protect us and allowed Hydra to experiment on me and butcher our people. Then they kept you away from me because they were afraid of your power. They erased your memories to prevent you from finding us. With more training you can combine your Force abilities and your Quake abilities to destroy anyone who threatened our family. Dooku, the Separatists, Hydra, the Jedi Order, Raina, Death Watch, and the Avengers will all be destroyed if we combine my knowledge of Inhuman abilities and your potential as an Inhuman and a Force User."

Daisy's emotions where mixed ranging from shock to sadness to anger at what her mother was convincing her to do. Daisy couldn't recognize her mother as the gentle woman who helped her understand her power and wanted to help the weak and sick heal from pain. Now her mother was talking about killing hundreds of millions of people out of anger and hatred.

"You don't care about protecting Inhumans. This is about hatred and your anger. You've allowed it to consume you so you can't tell right from wrong anymore." Daisy criticized

Jiaying was close to Daisy and she reached out and touched her cheek.

"My sweet daughter. Such a nice person. So much potential but so naive. Yet so much power that you have. I could use that power."

Then to Daisy's surprise Jiaying grabbed Daisy's face and started to absorb her energy.

"This is why I haven't aged a day despite being the same age as Count Dooku. I absorbed the energy of elders in Afterlife who wanted to die peacefully and a new group of people rose up to replace them. I was chosen to lead the Inhumans Daisy. That's why my power makes me nearly immortal. If I have to kill you to ensure the future of the Inhuman race then so be it. What a waste of potential. We've could have done powerful things together daughter."

"Mom please. Don't do this. People will die." Daisy gasped in pain

Daisy's face became pale and her limbs grew weak. She struggled to stand up.

"It's time for you to rest. You did the best you could but it's clear you are not strong enough to lead the Inhumans." Jiaying said with a gentle tone

Daisy wheezing in pain as her life energy continued to be drained grabbed her mother and used her quake powers to stop her from draining her energy. However the shockwave of Daisy's powers was causing Jiaying's body to break down. Jiaying absorbtion of Daisy's energy healed her broken bones but the energy transfer was disrupted by shockwaves from Daisy. This cycle continued on an endless loop for several minutes before Cal found his wife and daughter trying to kill each other.

"Cal you need to stop her. Daisy has chosen Shield over her own family!" Jiaying called out

Cal was in tears. He spent decades trying to bring his family together. He used chemical experiments to become a monster, he tapped into the dark side of the Force, he aligned himself with Hydra and the Separatists all to weaken Shield so he could bring his daughter Daisy to his wife Jiaying. Now his family was literally tearing itself apart. Cal just wanted the two women he loved most to stop hurting each other.

"Dad! Please! She's going to kill millions of innocent people! You were a doctor! You took an oath!" Daisy croaked due to intense pain

"Both of you need to stop." Cal said with a depressed look on his face on the verge of tears

"No!" Daisy and Jiaying yelled at Cal

Cal took a deep breath and grabbed Jiaying his wife by the throat. The woman he loved deeply who he promised to always cherish was now seconds away from being murdered by him.

"Cal...what are you doing? Why are you betraying me?" Jiaying croaked due to suffocation

"I made a promise to our daughter." Cal replied

"Dad...what are you doing?" Daisy asked

"I'm doing dark things that need to be done so you won't have to." Cal replied while crying

He broke Jiaying's neck so she was paralyzed and then hugged her so tightly using his enhanced strength that her body was crushed. Blood poured out of her eyes and she was motionless. Cal fell to his knees weeping cradling Jiaying's body. Cal wailed and cried in deep sadness holding his dead wife.

"Do it Skywalker! Just end me!" Cal screamed

Daisy was shocked to see Anakin drop down from a cloaked airship and slice off her father's head. Both of her parents who Daisy spent years of her childhood talking about to Anakin in the Jedi Temple were dead. Daisy remembered Anakin's kind words to her that one day he would help her find her parents once he freed his mom from slavery. He told Daisy stories about what both of their families would have for dinner together when they were younglings. Daisy knew these conversations were childish hopeful fantasies but there was something in the Force that told Daisy to not give up on finding her parents.

Now Anakin as an adult stood over Daisy's dead parents. His face was grim filled with sadness and pain. Daisy started crying but with a blank expression on her face. Her parents had a happy and calm dinner with her just days ago. Now they're gone. Daisy failed to save them from being consumed by their anger and hatred. Anakin walked over to Daisy and gave her a hug.

"Why? Why aren't you on Mandalore trying to stop Raina?" Daisy asked with a far away look on her face

"You're in shock. I understand. It's ok. I'm here for you. There was nothing you could do. It's alright. Coulson and Obi Wan defeated Gordon. We're safe now. The war against the Inhumans is over. Coulson will collect your parents bodies. He'll give them a proper burial." Anakin said comforting Daisy

"But Raina..." Daisy pressed

"Coulson sent someone to stop Raina. Don't worry about her. We'll be here to help you Daisy and so will the Force." Anakin said with a soothing voice

Anakin and Daisy walked towards the control room where the surviving Shield Agents, the Inhumans who rebelled against Jiaying and Obi Wan, Luminara Unduli and Quinlan Vos were recovering from their injuries from the earlier battle against Jiaying's forces.

Chapter Text

All forces stand down announced a Death Watch soldier over a loud speaker. Pre Vizsla the leader of Death Watch was furious. He wanted to complete his full scale invasion of Mandalore with Death Watch. Count Dooku told him no because someone killed Raina and used a group of reprogrammed Magna Droids to assassinate her Inhuman soldiers. Vizsla believed Raina played her role perfectly. She was the catalyst for the last remnant of Hydra controlled by Baron Von Strucker to side with Dooku because Shield gave the Avengers the coordinates to Strucker's secret base. Hydra needed the Separatists to protect them from the Avengers.

This ensured Dooku regained control of the operation to destroy Shield from the late Daniel Whitehall's Hydra faction who never fully trusted or respected Dooku. Raina managed to use Whitehall to gain Inhuman powers in the Ancient Caverns of Mandalore secretly making a deal with a Death Watch sympathizer in Duchess Satine's government named Prime Minister Almec. Almec explained to Vizsla that Raina had a plan to help Death Watch gain control of Mandalore for Death Watch as long as her Inhuman faction would be adopted into Death Watch by creed. She wanted to make an Inhuman Kingdom on Mandalore loyal to Vizsla and Death Watch.

Vizsla accepted these terms believing anyone who was dedicated to Death Watch's noble purpose to save Mandalore was a true Mandalorian. Unlike those pathetic and foolish New Mandalorians who were loyal to Duchess Satine. Vizsla finally was going to reclaim his birthright as the eldest member of House Vizsla and the owner of the Darksaber to be Mandalore's true leader. All thanks to Raina's ingenuity. However her death at the hands of a mysterious assassin made Dooku extra cautious. This made Vizsla demand Dooku's assassin Asajj Ventress that Dooku speak to Viszla immediately.

Vizsla strode into his private office near the Ancient Caverns of Concordia/Galveston an island colony off the coast of Mandalore. He turned on his Holo Net communicator and Dooku's expression infuriated Vizsla. Dooku was smug in a patronizing sort of way. His elderly age gave Dooku the demeanor of a grandfather disapproving of his teenage grandson's immature behavior. Vizsla was a Governor and General not some naive child to be talked down to by Dooku.

"Unacceptable! You promised us Death Watch would reclaim Mandalore from these weak willed cowards loyal to Duchess Satine! I don't care if Raina and her Inhumans are dead. I will order my men to attack Mandalore and overwhelm Satine's defenses." Vizsla shouted

"If you do that then Shield and the Jedi Order will retaliate and you'll only control Mandalore for a day. Without the Inhumans or my forces you'll be unable to maintain control of Mandalore! Coulson erased Grant Ward's memory and placed him as a mercenary that is contracted to protect Duchess Satine in secret. He's the one that stole Separatist battle droids from General Grievous by using Clone Troopers as bait to distract Grievous. He's the one who rigged these droids to explode killing Raina's forces and then he assassinated Raina using a long range e web blaster."

"How do you know this?" Vizsla asked frustrated

"Taskmaster. Ward's Clone. He impersonated Ward and was informed of the plan directly by Coulson before Ward infiltrated Raina's defenses. Taskmaster was too late to stop Ward from killing Raina though. He wants Shield destroyed and we can use him to play a much larger game. Shield may have won the battle but they will not win the war. The United Republic will surrender to the Separatist and once that happens you'll have Mandalore in the palm of your hand Vizsla." Dooku explained with a sinister grin

The End

Chapter Text

1 month after A Much Larger Game

Simmons was grateful things were back to normal at Shield and within the Jedi Order. Progress was being made in the Clone Wars. The Jedi Order and the Clones were gaining more territory that the Separatists took over from the Republic with Hydra's assistance. After the Avengers destroyed Baron Von Strucker's Hydra base meaning Hydra was finally vanquished which weakend Separatist forces who relied on Hydra for extra weapons and equipment. Ventress's death also allowed specialized Clone units led by Clone ARC Troopers to defeat powerful Separatists Generals who commanded advanced battle droids.

Bobbi had a complete recovery from surgery after enduring torture from Ward's Clone Taskmaster. Simmons was grateful Ward was dead but she was frustrated that Taskmaster still hadn't been captured by the Jedi Order or Shield. Hunter though was leading the search for Taskmaster while Bobbi completed her physical therapy with May as her instructor. It would be a few more weeks before Bobbi would be cleared for combat but Simmons was happy Bobbi was back to normal. May's ex husband Andrew Garner a licensed therapist was helping Bobbi overcome her guilt over manipulating Clones to be canon fodder as distractions to help her take down factions of Hydra. It helped that both Captain Rex and Commander Cody forgave Bobbi for her selfish actions towards the Clones.

Anakin and Ahsoka were engaging in Jedi meditation exercises to help Daisy deal with the grief of losing her parents. Coulson organized a private burial for Daisy's parents and Mack led Daisy and the team in prayer. Simmons wasn't religious either in the context of going to church or meditating alongside Anakin and Ahsoka according to Jedi teachings. However out of respect for Daisy and to comfort her she engaged in the practice. Daisy was slowly recovering from her parents death and growing closer to Simmons, Anakin and Ahsoka as a result.

Daisy enjoyed her time with Simmons and watching Simmons treat Shield Agents and Clones for injuries reminded Daisy of who her parents were before Hydra ruined their lives. Cal and Jiaying used to be doctors that wanted to help the poor and the sick. That's how Daisy wanted to remember them not as the monsters that Anakin slaughtered to protect Daisy. Simmons was glad that together as a team Shield would overcome the challenges of the Clone Wars. Even Fitz was recovering from his PTSD induced by Ward's attack a year and a half ago.

"Simmons you and I should eat. Can you hear me? Don't tell me you're ignoring me. I've done something wrong haven't I? I thought we were friends again." Fitz said worried

Simmons was distracted and lost in her thoughts but she snapped her head up and smiled at Fitz.

"Fitz. You've done nothing wrong. I'm just wrapping up my research on this Monoloth that Jiaying and the Inhumans wanted to destroy. They were terrified of it and assumed we'd use it to attack them. I want to know why?"

"I think Director Fury wanted Agent Gonzalez to destroy it for a reason. It's power maybe to much for us to contain." Fitz said

"Well Fury is no longer Director and he's in hiding. Agent Gonzalez unfortunately is dead. So it's up to us to figure out what this Monolith does. Perhaps it's power can be used to end the Clone Wars." Simmons argued

"Fair enough but that's not why I wanted to talk to you. I think we should get something to eat." Fitz suggested

"Of course we need to eat but I need another 20 minutes. I'm almost done."

Fitz mumbled again and accidental unlocked the latch to the containment cell that contained the Monolith. He coughed slightly before continuing, "I think we should eat together at a really nice restaurant. Alone without Ahsoka and the others."

Simmons stopped writing out her research notes and looked at Fitz confused.

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

"Um...yeah. You and me. We should go on a date. Nothing crazy. Just eat together somewhere nice. That's all."

"Oh Fitz that's so sweet. I'd love that." Simmons said with a wide smile

"Great. This is. Really great." Fitz said with a sheepish grin

"It won't be great when Ahsoka finds out and starts teasing us. That's going to be annoying." Simmons said with a sigh

"We'll worry about that when it happens. I'll be upstairs making our reservation and we can leave the base together when you're done." Fitz said

Simmons nodded and Fitz left. Then Simmons annoyed at the door to the containment cell being opened went to close it. The Monolith turned into a liquid substance. Simmons stared running as the liquid substance leaked from the containment cell. The substance formed a wave that swallowed Simmons and she disappeared.

Simmons was somehow transported to a world covered in darkness. She heard a sinister voice and was terrified. It was the Mortis God known as the Son but Simmons didn't know this.

"Oh great a regular human. I wanted Skywalker." The Son complained

"Who are you? Why do you want Anakin?" Simmons called out in fear

"You know Anakin Skywalker. Maybe you're not useless after all. Oh...you're a friend of his. Perfect. You'll be the bait I can use to lure him to the Mortis realm." The Son said while laughing maniacally

Simmons started shaking uncontrollably with fear.