Coronation Of Flame (A Marvel Fanfic)

Chapter 11: T.A.H.I.T.I

Hello again! Really, I have no clue what to put here, but it is Australia Day at the moment so Happy Australia Day! If that applies.

Enjoy!

LittlePond

Chapter 11: T.A.H.I.T.I

"How was HYDRA founded, Aurelia?" asked Wanda. Back in the dream room, my interrogator changed forms each time I blinked: my clone, the twins, Crystal, even to Sergeant James.

"HYDRA was founded by Schmidt on the belief that the loss of innocent life should be avoided at all costs."

"Wrong," my clone corrected, hands clasped behind her back, "HYDRA was founded by Schmidt on the belief that humanity couldn't be trusted with freedom."

"That..." "Makes sense?" Pietro offered. The sight of him yanked the air out of me, so I blinked, revealing Crystal, which was even worse, so I blinked again and was met with Sergeant James.

"Stupid, I was going to say stupid." James shook his head, blue-grey eyes sparkling, left metal arm shining. "You're close; the fact that you're here says so."

~~~

Since the dreams started, I had avoided sleep, but after the undercover op, I had no choice. A nurse stood entered the waiting room where the team remained since our arrival. "How is she?" Coulson asked.

"Not good. The shots perforated her stomach and penetrated the large and small intestines. We resected what we could but there's too much damage." My fists clenched, nails digging into my palms. "So what's next?"

The nurse nodded gravely, "We can keep her comfortable, but you'll need to make a decision whether or not to keep her on life support." In my mental distress, I caught May's eye, who seemed to be thinking the violent thoughts I was, though when she saw my fury, she mouthed Stand down.

"You're saying there's nothing to be done?" Coulson asked, though we all knew the answer, and the nurse's reply was unneeded- to call her family. "We're her family," Coulson murmured.

As the news settled in, May rushed off, and I tried to follow. But seeing my advances, she pushed me away.

So I stood there in the hallway, unsure.

Once the team was back in the Bus, Coulson gathered Fitz-Simmons and I to the lab. When the files labelled 'T.A.H.IT.I,' dropped on the desk, I knew my mission was about to end.

But I wasn't relieved in any sense, rather, part of me wanted to stay. It was an odd thought, that I had found friends in S.H.I.E.L.D of all places.

"That can't be! What you're describing is medically impossible," Simmons exclaimed, after Coulson clarified the facts of his death. "Except that I'm standing here. Proof that it's not impossible, and here's more proof, the file describing how they brought me back."

Fitz looked to the files, and back to Coulson, "Sir, it's against the law for us to read this."

"I don't care about your clearance level. I'm ordering you to read it."

"But I'm not a real agent, sir," I pointed out, clenching shaking fists hoping no one would notice. It was hard to imagine these hands ending 108 lives. "You're studying forensic science, specialising in molecular biology. We need every chance we can get."

"Yes sir."

I scoured my eyes over the report, brain whirring to decipher the jargon which the doctors had inflicted on Coulson. By the time my HYDRA phone vibrated, I was grateful for the release, so I excused myself from the lab, rushing to my cabin and locking the door.