[Kitchen]
We heard about the incident at the Academy and were called in to investigate, "There is nothing more unsettling. Being a part of something so horrible. Completely unaware. The cadet could've died" Simmons says
"We drew up those concepts years ago. We didn't know they'd be applied in that way" Fitz says
"Is this the device they found in the frozen pool? Correction, the instantly frozen indoor pool?" Skye asks
"Seems like it was planted in the filter days before. Like someone was waiting for those specific cadets" Ward says
"Well, as far as they can tell, the device uses a crystalline nucleation process she designed" Fitz says
"And a delivery mechanism he invented. That's why we're being asked to consult on the investigation" Simmons says
"So, we're going to the Academy?" Skye asks
"Science and Technology Division. Cadets are pretty shaken up over what happened. Agent Weaver asked if you two could speak to the student body about potentiality. Calm them down" I say
"Of course. The talk. We've all heard the talk" Simmons says
"I haven't" Skye says
"I guess you will" Ward says
"Well, I've heard a lot about the Academy. I'm excited to finally see it" Skye says
"Me too. Never been to Sci-Tech before" Ward says
"Me either" I say
"Never? Huh. The different SHIELD Academies don't interact?" Skye asks
"Not much. Academy of Communications does. But they're the biggest, and focused on data analysis" I say
"Boring" Fitz says as Simmons says, "By far the easiest to get into"
"That's where you'd be Skye" Fitz says
"Thanks" Skye says sarcastically
"Operations is the most aggressive program. More people wash out of Operations than the other Academies" Ward says
"So, which one is the hardest to get into?" We all look at each other, "I'm picking up on the rivalry between Sciences and Operations" May walks in, "You and Coulson past all that, or are you going to help Ward and King steal their mascot?" Skye asks May
"We're not going. After we drop you off, Coulson and I have other matters to attend to" May says and walks away
We stand up, "Coulson hasn't come out of his office in a while. Do you think he's all right?" Skye asks
"We saw him at a low. That's not easy for anybody. Coulson's tough as they come. He'll be good. Just give him time" I tell them
"While he takes that time, it's on us to figure out what's going on at the Academy" Ward says
[SHIELD Academy: Science & Technology Division]
We're standing outside the building, looking at it, "This was the SSR facility before SHIELD was even founded. SSR stands for—" Simmons explains before Skye cuts her off, "Strategic Scientific Reserve. Yeah, I know. Is this where you got all your PhDs?" Skye asks
"Oh, no, you need at least one to get through the door" Simmons says
"Science and Technology what you imagined, Agent Ward, King?" Fitz asks
"Yup. No uniforms. No rope course. No defined muscularity on anyone" Ward says
"Just as I pictured it" I say
"No marching in place. No IQs in double digits" Fitz says
Then Agent Weaver walks up, "There they are. So good to see you" She says shaking Simmons hand
"You look as lovely as ever" Simmons says
"I concur" Fitz says as she shakes his hand
"Thank you" She walks over to Ward and I, "Agent Ward, Agent King, a pleasure to have you" She says as she shakes our hands
"Agent Weaver" We both say
"There's a list of suspects?" Ward asks
"Based on the level of intelligence it would take to put a device together like the one we found, we narrowed it down to the top 10% of our cadets. I'm worried there's a bad seed" Weaver says
"Ops and Sciences have differences, but both have to be careful about what we call bad seeds. People want to sue the tools we give them—" Skye cuts him off, "Bad seed isn't a SHIELD term, Ward. Just a term"
"I know you've already questioned the victim, but I have a few questions I'd like to ask him myself" Ward says
"I'll arrange for you to talk to Seth Dormer when he's out of class. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to get Agents Fitz and Simmons settled into the lecture hall" Weaver says before they walk away
Students recognize them immediately, "Look at them. The popular kids. Who knew?" Skye tells us
"I did" Ward and I say
"Come on. While we have a minute, I think there's something you'll wanna see" I tell her
[Wall of Valor]
Ward and I lead her to the Wall of Valor inside the main building, "The Wall of Valor" Skye says as we walk closer
"So you've read about it?" Ward asks
"Every SHIELD facility has a memorial to the agents lost in the line of duty" We nod our heads as she walks closer, "SHIELD's history can be traced on walls like this. Huh. Bucky Barnes" She says
"Puts it in perspective, what we do" I say
"Must make you guys proud. All this history. Just wish I was a part of it" We look at her, "It's not self-pity, really. I'm just saying, everyone here has earned this. They deserve it. I hacked my way in. Feels like I cheated" She says
Ward and I stand next to her, "All you need to join is a dedication to the greater good" Ward says
"Coulson saw that in you the moment he met you" I tell her
After that, Ward and I meet with the survivor to ask him a few questions, "You can't think of any reason a top student would want to go after you?" Ward asks
"No. The top students are my friends. It's competitive here, but we usually don't resort to knocking each other off. This isn't Operations. No offense" Seth says
"None taken. All these names you would consider friendly?" I ask handing him the tablet
He looks at it, "Well...not Donnie Gill. I barely know the kid. He doesn't talk to anyone" He says
"And he was at the pool" Ward says
"Studying. But I don't think he's the guy. He just has trouble communicating with anyone below a 170 IQ" He says
Then we hear yelling and race down to see a kid frozen in ice, "Fitz, talk to me" Ward says
"Somethings doing this to him. Find it" Fitz says
We look around, "Ward, King, there it is. Fitz, what now?" Skye asks
"Smash the damn thing!" Fitz yells
I smash it with my foot before the ice disappears from his body. He lands against Fitz before Fitz helps him sit down, "It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's over" Fitz tells him before everyone starts clapping
YOU ARE READING
Finally Falling
Fanfiction"Finally falling in love with you was the best feeling in the world" In which Cassandra King is plucked from the field to join a top secret SHIELD team. But on their first mission, she comes across an intriguing girl that catches her eye immediately...
