I'm Grant Ward

Chapter 145: Echo of the Past

The mood in the Hub was tense and somber, a sense of loss permeating the air. Coulson and Victoria Hand stood in a secluded corner, far from the chaos unfolding around them. The news of the damage to S.H.I.E.L.D. was disastrous, and the weight of responsibility was clearly present on their faces.

"Things are worse than we imagined," Coulson said, looking out the window as the team prepared for the next step. "Captain America destroyed three hijacked helicarriers at the Triskelion, but we have no information on their status."

Victoria nodded, her face tense.

"And Director Fury..." She hesitated, as if the words were hard to swallow. "As far as we know, he's been killed. Hydra has taken over S.H.I.E.L.D.'s East Africa headquarters and Threehouse. The organization as we know it is officially disbanded." Coulson closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the weight of reality sink in. S.H.I.E.L.D. was more than an organization; it was a family, a mission, and now it was all falling apart."

"We need to act fast," Coulson said, making up his mind. "If there's still a chance of recovering what's left, we have to start now."

While the team was getting organized, Hand and his agents escorted Garrett to the Fridge, a S.H.I.E.L.D. prison that had been designed to keep the most dangerous villains in check. Garrett, now captured, kept a sneer on his face, even in the midst of defeat.

"Do you really think this is the end?" he taunted, looking at Hand with an arrogant smile. "Hydra is everywhere. You can't escape what's coming."

Ward, who was standing next to Coulson, couldn't contain his anger.

"He basically orchestrated my torture and Skye's death. I volunteer to go with you," Ward said, his voice firm. "He'll pay for everything."

Hand looked at Ward, noticing the fury and determination in his eyes.

"I understand how you feel, but we need to be careful. Hydra is still a threat, and they have agents undercover," Hand said.

Meanwhile, Skye, Fitz, Simmons, and May stood in a corner, mourning the loss of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the devastation that had occurred. The weight of reality was setting in.

"It's hard to believe all of this is happening," Skye said, her eyes brimming with tears. "S.H.I.E.L.D. was our home."

Fitz shook his head, clearly affected. "We fought so hard for this. How can we let Hydra win?"

"We can't give up now," May said, her voice resolute. "We need to get together and repair the plane. Survival comes first."

Coulson stepped closer, his calm presence helping to calm the team.

"The team needs to focus on repairs. It's a matter of survival. If we still have a chance, we need to be ready to act."

On the plane, while the team worked, Hand and Ward were in a tense conversation. Hand glanced at Ward, noticing how hard he was struggling to maintain control.

"Have you thought about what you would do with Garrett?" Hand asked, her gaze assessing him.

Ward hesitated, his gaze fixed on the floor.

"He deserves to pay for what he did, but..." He looked at her, the pain clear in his eyes. "I don't know if I can become the man he expects me to be."

Hand sensed Ward's internal struggle.

"Sometimes the only option is to do what is necessary. He was responsible for the pain of so many people, including you."

Garrett, who was being held in a corner, listened to the conversation and smiled provocatively.

"Do you really think force is the answer?" he said, his voice contemptuous. "Hydra will always win. You're just delaying the inevitable."

As the tension grew, Garrett finally revealed his true trump card. With a swift movement, he activated a hidden device on his suit, triggering Hydra agents to infiltrate the plane. The alarm sounded, and agents began to appear, ready to attack.

"Ward! Look out!" Hand shouted, but it was too late.

Ward, sensing the ambush, reacted instantly. His training and the enhanced strength he had developed made him nearly unbeatable. He lunged forward, striking at the Hydra agents with a precision and force that astonished everyone.

The fight unfolded in the blink of an eye. Ward was in his element, moving with preternatural agility, neutralizing the Hydra agents with quick, brutal strikes. He moved like a fighting machine, his determination unstoppable.

Hand watched, awed by Ward's strength and speed, as he eliminated one agent after another. There was no doubt that he was a super soldier at his core.

Finally, with the last of the Hydra agents neutralized, Ward turned to Garrett, who was now surrounded and with no way out. The fury in his eyes was palpable.

"You will pay for everything you've done," Ward said, his voice low and menacing.

Garrett, even in his still tried to maintain her composure.

"Do you think this will solve anything? You can't kill me. I'm just a pawn in a bigger game."

But Ward didn't hesitate. In one swift, precise move, he attacked Garrett, ending the life of the man who had caused so much suffering. The scene was quick and brutal, but Ward's determination meant he didn't hesitate.

Hand was surprised by Ward's transformation. He had become an unstoppable force, and the coldness with which he acted left her both awed and worried.

"You saved me," she said, her voice tense but full of gratitude. "What's left now is to try to recover what's left of S.H.I.E.L.D."

Ward breathed heavily, adrenaline still coursing through his veins. He looked at Hand, feeling the weight of his actions.

"I don't know if we can recover what we lost," he said, the pain visible on his face. "But I can't let Hydra win."

Team Reunion Elsewhere

Coulson stepped into the space, the team gathering around him.

"What do we do now?" Skye asked, her voice hesitant. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is falling apart."

Coulson turned to the team, determination clear in his eyes.

"We will rebuild," he stated. "S.H.I.E.L.D. may be officially disbanded, but we are still agents. We must act, we must fight. And together, we will find a way to stop Hydra."

The team looked to Coulson, a new determination rising among them. They had faced adversity before, and though the situation was dire, hope still remained.

"We are in this together," Fitz said, his voice firm. "We will fix what was broken."

With new purpose, the team prepared for what was to come. The fight against Hydra was far from over, and S.H.I.E.L.D., though wounded, still fought. They came together, ready to face the challenges ahead.

The battle was just beginning.

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