Hail HYDRA | Skyeward

Episode 11: Aftershocks

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1983, Afterlife (maybe)

A young boy, Gordon, is standing alone in a red room, there is no furniture or anything in the room apart from Gordon. He makes a grunt of pain then disappears and reappears off to the side of the room with another grunt of pain. This happens multiple times sending the boy in different spots within the room. He's transporting himself but doesn't seem to have any control and it sounds as if it's frightening and possibly hurting him. He screams out as he disappears again, the scream continues when he drops onto the floor. With a shaky breath Gordon stands up, he has no eyes. He's breathing hard and there is blood coming from his nose and lips.

A door being unlocked and the boy disappears again. The doors open and Jiaying, along with another man, Yat-Sen, walk into the room. Gordon is continuing to disappear and reappear inside the room.

"Poor thing," Jiaying sighs deeply. "How long since he passed through the mist?"

"14 hours since Terrigenesis. He's very emotional, Jiaying." Yat-Sen replied.

"I can see," Jiaying turns and looks back at the man. "Leave us," Yat-Sen bows then grabs the doors and closes them behind her as Gordon continues to flash around the room. "Gordon?" The boy moves his head from side to side listening for her. "Gordon, it's me."

"Jiaying? Help. I can't – I can't see." Gordon starts to cry and get upset.

"Shh." Jiaying said softly.

"What's happened to me?" Gordon asked.

"It's all right. Take a breath, Gordon." Jiaying tried to calm him down.

"Help me, please." Gordon said, his voice breaking.

"That's why I'm here. Can you follow my voice?" Jiaying holds her hand out to him. "Take my hand," Gordon puts both his hands out in front of him, arms stretched as far as they will go, feeling around for her. "It's okay. Come on," Gordon slowly makes his way to her but before he can grab her hand he disappears again. He continues to flash around the room again. "It's okay."

Gordon lands on the floor with a hard thud. "I'm right here," she makes no moves toward him to make finding her easier for him, she stays right where she is. She once again holds out her hands as Gordon tries to get to her. "Come on."

Gordon's hands have nearly found hers. "Almost," he feels her fingertips and rushes into her waiting arms as she gives him a hug as he cries on her shoulder. "It's gonna be okay, beautiful. I'll show you the way," he continues to sob on her shoulder. "Go ahead, let it out. It's okay to cry, Gordon."

"I'm trying. But – but I can't." Gordon said.

***

Later, Gordon sitting calmly in the center of the room, there's a blanket draped over his shoulders and a bowl of water in his hands.

Jiaying and Yat-Sen is standing in some sort of observation room looking down at Gordon. "We prepared for this his whole life. Readying him for whatever may come."

"Every cell within him has changed, in his body and his mind. It's terrifying," another two other men are in the room with Jiaying and Yat-Sen. "But he's the ideal age, old enough to understand, young enough to adapt. He'll be fine."

"It's a blessing you age so slowly, Jiaying. Able to counsel so many generations through the change." Yat-Sen comments.

"I won't live forever, Yat-Sen." Jiaying said.

"Well, even with the years of preparation, without your warmth to guide them through their transformations, these poor souls..." Yat-Sen trailed off.

"They would be lost." Jiaying finished for him.