Redback Widow V I Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. [16]

The Devil Complex

A single finger curled up, then curled back down. "Good. That's good, but don't push yourself," Mack said, watching me.

"If I'm not pushing myself, then what's the point of this test?" I muttered. "Crank it up. Let's see what I can do." I forced it into a fist, grunting slightly.

"Right now, you're at ten percent feedback to your nerves. If just this level's causing you this much pain, then maybe you should...okay. I think that's enough for today," he came over, setting a tablet down and starting to unattach the wires from my stump. "This arm is just a prototype. Fitz and I only had so much to work with from the salvaged clangers we brought back, but we'll figure something out. In the meantime, I'll get these diagnostics to Fitz, and then, uh, maybe we could add some additional--"

"I don't need any bells and whistles, Mack. I just need to be able to fight," I said.

"Your arm and leg aren't fully healed yet. What you need is time," he said softly.

"My arm and let might not work, but my eye does. At least let me sit in control, keep an eye out for anomalies. Let me do something," I begged.

"Maybe, but you have to allow yourself to heal. We'll handle the fighting for now. We've already got an Op up and running to find the people who did this to you. We'll protect you, моя любовь, even if it's from yourself. That's what family does."

-

"Wait. What's going on?" I asked as Jemma and Mack came in.

"More anomalies have begun occurring," she said.

"Until we get a better handle on the situation, we're moving you to another floor out of the line of fire," he added.

"And what's my say in all this?" I asked. "I'm not brain-dead, I can speak for myself!"

"We think you'll be safer on another floor," he said.

"Stop treating me like a child, Mack. I'm an agent, just like you two. If things are getting crazier around here, then you need me more than ever," I snapped. "I don't need you to protect me."

"Don't move,"

-

"I'm sorry. This is my fault if I'd just--if I could've just worked out how to s-shut the rift sooner, then--then my greatest fear wouldn't be..." Fitz trailed off.

"Who says it's your greatest fear?" Jemma snapped.

"Who cares whose fear it is? What matters is stopping it," I said.

"What does he want?" Mack, who had gotten a bullet to the thigh, grunted.

"I don't--I don't know," Fitz stuttered.

"But you do, Fitz. He is you, so just think," Jemma said. 

"No, I--no. I-I don't know," she moved her hand, letting Mack press the cloth against the wound as she stood in front of Fitz.

"You have to try. This is our only lead to gain some insight into--into what he might be after," she urged.

"He said that he wanted to do what I was unable to do. To finish what was started," he said.

"W-What does that mean? What--Is he trying to bring back Aida and make her another body?" Mack questioned.

"After Ghost Rider? I don't think there's any coming back from that," I said.

"That wasn't his only operation in the Framework. He was also in charge of Inhuman experimentation," Jemma said.

"That's why he sent that Terminator after Sha--Asya," Mack realized.

"Therefore he's also after..." I trailed off.

"Daisy," Fitz muttered.

"Where is she?" I asked.

"There was a surveillance shortage on one of the other levels. She went to check it out," he admitted.

"Okay, so we have to--we have to lock down the base, close the Doctor in," Jemma said.

"I'll find her,"

-

"Mack, you need to sit down. Take the weight off that leg," I was back in that stupid fucking bed I had been confined to for weeks now.

"Not a chance. Not when more of those things could be coming after you," he claimed.

"Nothing's going to happen to me," I assured him.

"You're damn right nothing's gonna happen to you. Not on my watch," Mack said.

"Mack. Sit down. If something comes, you can shoot it sitting down," I sighed. "Besides, I might not be able to die."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.

"Well, think about it. You saw me in the Lighthouse. I make it to that point in the future. Oh, I'm being ridiculous. Nothing is set in stone," I muttered.

"You're right. We're trying to change the future, but it's not looking good. I could still lose you," he said quietly as Jemma came back in.

"Mack. You need to stay off that leg," Jemma scolded.

"I tried telling him that," I said.

"Well, you just don't want to re-aggravate that...injury. Have Fitz or Daisy checked in yet?" she asked.

"No, he's still out there looking for her," Mack said.

"Stay with her," Jemma said, rushing off.

"That was odd."

-

There was a creak from down the hall, and Mack staggered to his feet. I sighed but didn't scold him since it wouldn't get me anywhere.

"Huh. It's some crazy-looking blonde chick," he muttered, and I tensed.

"D-Does she have her hair in a tight bun? A blue blouse and skirt?" I asked nervously, and he glanced out again.

"Yeah, why?" my adrenaline shot up, my heart pounding in my ears.

"She's coming back. She wants to take me back. She's going to take me back," I muttered, holding my head with my hand.

"Who? Who is it, Asya?" Mack asked.

"Her," the door swung open, the woman clicking in.

"Shirmanova. How lovely to see you again," Madame B. drawled, her voice dripping with venom. Mack got into a defensive position, putting himself between me and her.

"Leave her alone," he snapped.

"Aw, it seems you've found yourself a guard dog. Pity. You seem like a strong man," she sneered.

"Shadows, who is this? Shadows?" he asked.

"Ah. A pet name. Don't tell me you've fallen for him, Iva. That would be ridiculous. I taught you better than that. Love is for children. You know that," she scolded. She circled the bed, spotting my arm and recoiling. "I had come to bring you back to your home. But I see now you're defective. Very well. There are others like you," she withdrew a gun, and I heard three shots fire.

I glanced over, seeing three bullets in Madame B.'s gut as she crumpled to dust.

It was fake. She wasn't real.

"Shadows, who was that?" Mack asked, sitting down and tucking his gun away. I curled up further, trying to hide my face. He reached under, brushing my chin gently and coaxing me out. "Hey. I'm not mad at you. Just tell me who that was."

"Her name was Madame B. She controlled the Red Room. And she wanted to take me back."