The Tales of a New S.H.I.E.L.D. | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. [BOOK 1]

Chapter 4: That wears the Crown

Around a month later, Coulson was still hunting for new recruits across the globe, only in vain. His attempt to recruit Agent 33, a brave and highly regarded S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, was in vain, as HYDRA had beaten him to it. HYDRA's agenda developed from territorial usurpation to talent usurpation; they were aiming for the same candidates Coulson aimed to recruit.

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The firing range bustled with activity. Skye, focused and determined, fired her pistol at the targets, each adorned with a HYDRA emblem. Every target reminded her of Ward, and his betrayal. As she completed her round, she removed her ear protection. May, calm and composed, joined her, activating a button to draw the targets closer.

"I imagined they were all Ward," Skye confessed.

"Imagine they're all targets," May instructed. "Don't get cocky. This is step one. It's all about control..."

"Control. I know."

"Open your mind, your body."

"Don't forget your mind," Skye said, slightly teasing her S.O.

"In the field, you needed to maintain control."

This lecture was a regular occurrence between the duo, as Skye sometimes let emotions get the best of her control. "Whatever the situation. Hostages, bombs about to go off –"

It slightly bothered Skye that May wasn't still completely confident about her abilities, "So what you're saying is what I just did was puny and sad."

May took hold of Skye's wrist, revealing a fitness band that all agents were equipped with. It also monitored heartbeats per minute, which was what May activated, analyzing the readings. "61 beats per minute. Consistent the whole time. Not that puny."

As May let her hand go, Skye glanced down at her wrist, mildly surprised, while May strode away.

"Speaking of not puny..." May picked up an imposingly large gun, drawing Skye's attention. "Yeah, I wanted you to get used to this, it's a sniper rifle."

In the hallway, Hunter and Mack approached, halting a trolley as Hunter addressed Skye. "Pardon me, uh, just one quick question." He turned to Skye. "You went to S.H.I.E.L.D. academy, right?"

Before Skye could reply, May interjected, setting the record straight. "You didn't. If you did, you would have known better than to shoot us."

Hunter sighed dramatically. His stunt of shooting his fellow agents with an I.C.E.R. wasn't really appreciated nor forgiven completely. "Apology number 470, I'm very sorry Agent May."

"Don't be sorry. Just wait." May asserted, implying that she would get her 'revenge' soon.

Hunter and Mack seemed uneasy with her statement since May wasn't really someone whose bade side they didn't want to be on, and Mack directed his attention to Skye. "Uh, we just had a little wager. So, did you...?"

"Go to the academy? Yeah, no."

Hunter sighed and looked defeated with her answer, while Mack handed him a clipboard and patted him on the back.

"Yeah, all right, well have fun with the inventory. And remember Koenig liked them neat." Mack grinned and began to leave but turned back with a final thought.

"Oh, and, uh, none of those Euro sevens, with the lines through them. Drives him crazy." Mack departed, leaving Hunter to shoot Skye with an accusing look.

"Coulson said you were a field agent with a badge and everything."

"More like a work-study thing. Badge, I had for like a day before S.H.I.E.L.D." She mimed an explosion with her hands and took a sip of water.