Hail HYDRA | Skyeward

Episode 21: Ragtag

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15 Years Ago

John Garrett, who looks younger than he does now, arrived at a prison, the Juvenile Secure Unit, Plymouth, Massachusetts, he sits and waits.

A tall young man, Grant Ward, is being led through a hallway by a guard. The guard opens a door and Garrett is waiting inside for Grant.

"Grant Ward?" Grant looks up and locks eyes with Garrett. "My name's John Garrett," Grant doesn't say anything. "The Quartermaster at your military school's an old buddy of mine," Grant looks around and sees other people being visited by family or friends. "He told me about a pissed off young cadet with off the charts hand eye coordination who went AWOL, stole a car, drove over a thousand miles home only to try and burn the place down. I must say, I find a young man like that intriguing."

Garrett gestures to the table and this time Grant walks over and sits. "I'm curious. Did you know your brother was in the house when you set it on fire?" Garrett asked.

"No, sir, I did not." Grant replied, it sounds almost robotic causing Garrett to smirk.

"I was a pyro as a kid, too. Ended up making a pretty good living at it. My daughter, she's a pyro too, but she's not burning down houses mainly because I won't let her, can't have her getting arrested just for having a bit of fun. I'm here to make you a one-time offer, so listen up," Grant looks up, interested in what Garrett has to say, he also nods a bit. "Your family's lawyer's gonna to be here in about 20 minutes. Not only are your folks pressing charges against you for arson and attempted murder, but your older brother's petitioning the court to have you tried as an adult," the blank mask on Grant's face slipped and he looked down, swallowing nervously. "Now, you can spend the next few years locked up in a cage, blaming mommy and daddy and mean older brother for your problems, or, you can let me get you out of here and teach you how to be a man," Grant squints his eyes disbelieving at Garrett, Garrett leans in closer to Grant and lowers his voice. "I work for a secret organization that's always looking to recruit young men like you."

"And why should I trust you?" Grant asked.

"You shouldn't. Don't trust anybody, ever, especially me," Garrett smiles at Grant's whos sobered by the smile and honesty. "Let me be clear, going with me will be the hardest thing you've ever done. But, on the other hand, no one will ever screw with you again," Grant looks down thinking then back up to Garrett. "Say yes. It'll be hard but fun," Garrett looks down at his wristwatch. "10 seconds and I walk out that door," Grant just stares at him and Garrett leans in a bit closer. "Say yes."

"Yes." Grant said without a moments hesitation.

Suddenly an alarm starts to blare out. Grant jumps a bit when the doors are opened fast and loudly behind him and men rush into the room with guns. "Get down! Everybody down!" a man yelled.

Everyone in the room, except Garrett, gets down and exclaim in surprise. Grant looks at the men entering the room then back to Garrett, Garrett does a little "cheers" toast with his cup to Grant with a smile. "I told you it was gonna be fun."

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Present Day

Fitz and Skye are sitting on a bed at the motel watching the newscast. Skye is by the headboard working on her laptop and Fitz sits on the end of the bed looking annoyed. Simmons on the other bed working on something but watching the newscast all the same.

"Speculation continues as to whether this superhuman assassination was carried out by a man, monster or machine." While he speaks the picture of the drug lord is changed over to a blurry shot of Mike. Then the full screen fills with a picture of Mike. Fitz shuts off the TV.