Daughter of S.H.I.E.L.D. Transformer Book 3

Tradeing

I need to get to SHIELD now. Before Loki wakes.

The frost from this morning is still slowly melting away. I jump into the car and leave a message on my phone for Dad. I ask him to meet me at SHIELD in half an hour. He must still be asleep, it's OK.

The drive to SHIELD is long and quiet. I keep trying to think of a way to show that memory to Sitwell, it will be the only way he will believe me. Then something hits me, I think it might just work, I've never done it before, but it could just work.

I enter the base, waiting for Agent Sitwell to find me, but he doesn't. I decide to take the elevator up to see him. As I enter an ID scanner identifies me as 'Agent Jasmine Holt, Clearance Level 8.' Why has Jasper changed my surname? Holt was my surname when I was 8. Up until now my surname has been "Coulson". I let the matter pass and ride the elevator to the top floor. May gets on at the floor above me and exits before I get out. She gives me her usually death stare and continues. I step out of the lift and Jasper stands looking out the floor to roof windows.

'Have you completed your task Agent Holt?' He says as if he was expecting me to come.

I step further into the room and say 'I have, and I do wish you would stop calling me that.' I contort on the edge of my teeth.

He place a small box on his desk and says 'And?'

I darken the windows and dim the lights. I hold my palm out flat and a small dark blue ball appears glowing. All of a sudden it shoots upwards and hits the roof spreading fast, converting the room into the memory. the roof is a beautiful night sky. the landscape appears to be a ruin, maybe similar to the Mausoleum. Several columns lay broken or shattered on the ground. Then Loki staggers into the scene. He holds himself upright against one of the columns panting and exhausted.

The creature with the sceptre enters and Loki's eyes fill with terror. He rises in the air and the sceptre tip touches his chest. All I want to find out is who or what the creature. I step around and see its face. The face looks almost like a man, but the hue of its skin is all wrong. It's a dark sickly colour obscured by the surrounding light and strange shadows cast upon his face. And there's something else, his chin, it's the most unusual with several lines or perhaps scars running from his bottom lip to the underneath of his chin. I know he is NOT human.

A tear runs down my cheek and I slash my arm through the creature, disrupting the rest of the memory and it all disappears in whisps back into the little glowing navy blue ornament and it disappears.

'There, now you know the truth. A deal is a deal, do as you promised.' I say trying not to show my fear.

He takes a moment absorbing what just happened. He knew I could read minds but he didn't know I could do anything like that. 'Very well. Loki is innocent and free.'

'Thank you.' I say calmly I turn to leave.

'There's still a few more things I need from you before you can leave.' I turn on the spot and wait for him to continue. 'I'm going to need your SHIELD badge and ID, you need to stand down.'

'What?! Stand down, as in resign?' I say feeling it hit me solidly in the chest. 'But I-' I sigh in defeat and reach into my pocket. I flip open the leather top and get a final glance at it. I shall never see it again. I hold it out to him and he takes it quickly before I change my mind. How does he have authority to do this? He isn't my father. Or did he tell him to?

'That's all Miss Holt.' that last comment burns me. "Miss Holt" not "Agent" .

I turn and enter the elevator I catch a final glimpse of Agent Sitwell and the doors close. I am no longer an Agent of SHIELD. I'm done. This is it for me. I need to get out of here before I break down in tears.

On my way out I spot Skye coming towards me calling my name. I have to get out of here. I sprint from the building and out to my car.

The car refuses to start and after several attempts, I give up and begin to weep into my hands. I hear the door open and a hand lays on my back. Another hand pulls my hands away from my face. I look up and see Dad's face. He looks how I feel. Frustrated and upset. I only ever had SHIELD. I've known SHIELD for two thirds of my life. And now...

'It's all gone.' I say quietly

He pulls me into his arms and he holds me. I feel my pocket buzzing and pull my phone out. Loki is calling me.

I pull out of Dad's arms and answer the phone. 'Hello,' I say casually

'Jaimie are you OK? You don't sound like your self.'

'I'm OK, I'll be home soon.'

'OK, I'll see you then.'

I hang up and Dad says 'Do you want me to drive you home?'