Hail HYDRA | Skyeward

Episode 15: Spacetime

***

The quiet hum of computer monitors filled the room. Daisy sat at the main terminal, eyes locked on the scrolling feed of emergency calls. Grant leaned against the wall behind her, cleaning his sidearm, eyes half-lidded but ears sharp.

It was supposed to be routine surveillance. Intercept police frequencies, monitor chatter, stay ahead of SHIELD and any potential anti-Inhuman threats.

But then the alert pinged.

911 Operator (recorded call):
"911, what's your emergency?"

Edwin Abbott (panicked, over the call):
"There's a man—he just appeared out of nowhere. He—he touched me! And—and I saw something. I saw my own death!"

Daisy froze. Her fingers hovered over the controls.

Grant looked up, voice casual but edged. "What was that?"

Daisy replayed the audio, eyes narrowing.

Edwin Abbott (continued, voice cracking):
"I—I don't know who else to call! Just... send someone! Please! Someone who can handle this!"

Daisy cut the feed, spinning in her chair to face Grant. "Inhuman encounter," she said softly.

Grant holstered his gun. "You're sure?"

"I know that panic. He's not just scared—he's seen something."

Grant crossed his arms, eyes locked on hers. "SHIELD'll respond."

"Exactly," Daisy said. "That's why we're going first."

Grant gave her a look. "You still think this is our job?"

Daisy stood, grabbing her jacket. Her gaze hardened. "If there's an Inhuman out there, he's under my protection. Whether HYDRA or SHIELD likes it or not." Without another word, she headed for the hangar.

Grant followed, no hesitation.

***

The stolen Quinjet from when Daisy finally left SHIELD, engines already humming. Grant slid into the pilot seat, flipping switches. "Do you think Malick's involved?"

"Maybe. But right now, I'm not risking someone's life to find out." Daisy tapped coordinates into the nav system, her mind already spinning.

A man appeared out of nowhere. He showed people visions of death. Something about it made her skin crawl.

Grant glanced at her as they lifted off, his voice low. "You're still thinking about the future."

Daisy didn't look at him. "I'm always thinking about the future."

***

The Quinjet set down several blocks away, cloaked in shadows. Daisy and Grant moved fast on foot, weaving through the narrow streets of the city until they reached the small, dimly lit alley.

Trash bins lined the walls. A broken streetlight flickered overhead.

And there he was.

A man in a worn coat, standing too still, his eyes darting around like a cornered animal. Charles Hinton.

Daisy slowed, holding her hand up to stop Grant.

"That's him," she whispered.

Grant studied the man, his soldier's instincts kicking in. "Looks more like a junkie than an asset."

Daisy shot him a sharp look. "He's an Inhuman. He's scared."

Grant didn't argue — he just scanned the rooftops, the street, the fire escapes, every possible threat vector.