Maria Hill and Davida

Director Maria Hill

As the Avengers, Reserve Avengers, and BRIDGE went on their missions, Maria had business of her own. She walked through the hallways of the Enterprise, Robert Gonzales with her this time. The older BRIDGE agent kept pace with her as they strode through the helicarrier.

"Gonzales, I want the Iliad out and doing it's work. How are the upgrades going?"

"They're going well," Gonzales said, his voice low and gravely. "Mack has installed most of it with Fitz's help. We should be ready to leave for the work soon. Will you be keeping my best agents with your little Avengers team?"

Maria looked over at Gonzales, who seemed sour. "You wanted someone you trusted to keep an eye on Creel and Bucky. They're doing it."

"And now I worry if I've given them up for a new job," Gonzales grumbled.

"Robert," Maria began to say. He waved it off, sighing grumpily.

"They're grown women. If they want to continue, they'll do it. If they want to come back, I'll welcome them with open arms," Gonzales stopped when they came to a door where Coulson and May were waiting. "Keep them safe, Director. Those two saved my life."

"I wouldn't do any less," Maria said warmly.

Gonzales nodded. He turned to Coulson and May. "I suppose I will see you both later?"

"No doubt about it," Coulson with a smile. May simply nodded, though she smiled as well.

With that, Gonzales turned and walked away.

"...He's kind of intense," May said.

Maria and Coulson gave the famously stoic May a look. She cocked an eyebrow, daring them to say anything. Since neither Maria nor Coulson were that dumb, Coulson instead opened the door.

Inside, a woman was sitting at a chair in front of a steel table, wearing a white prison uniform. She was wearing a metal collar that was a familiar black with green circuitry. Davida Devito looked up at the three and smiled.

"Ah... you didn't bring my boyfriend," she said in joking tones.

Maria cocked an eyebrow, moving to sit in front of her. "Boyfriend?"

"What else do you call a guy who gets you a ring as fancy as this?" Davida tapped the collar, smirking. Despite her seeming jovialness, she was clearly not pleased with the collar. Maria was glad for it, considering it was keeping her powers in check. Davida's eyes narrowed. "My girls. Are they safe?"

"They are," Maria took out a tablet. "You were right. They were checking that Facebook profile. We got in contact with them last night."

"Got to say, kinda clever of you," Coulson added. "Post a specific status on a agreed profile at a specific time using newly made accounts. Clever way to pass messages."

"Well it ain't full proof, but it gets the job done," Davida leaned forward. "Are they safe? Tell me that."

Maria raised an eyebrow. "Yes, they are. Helen is cooperating, but she thinks Strucker may be on to her. That he's guiding your girls specifically to places and missions that Helen believes Strucker is willing to let go of, using them in some game against the other HYDRA leaders."

Davida's fist tightened. "Then get them out of there. You know our deal, I promised you-"

"I promised that they would be safe for traded information," Hill said calmly. She eyed Davida carefully.

In the days since Dial had captured her, Davida had been almost obsessive over wanting 'her girls' to be safe. She wanted them away from Strucker, and safe from prosecution, in return for all the information BRIDGE could get.

But as of now, the data Helen, Marian, and Mimi had gotten them was minuscule. They'd been kept from knowing exactly where the castle they were in was placed in through blind flights to and from the castle, had only bare information on the experiments, and nothing on the future plans of Strucker's HYDRA. The only reason Helen had received the message was a phone she'd smuggled onto the grounds, and even GPS wasn't able to find them for some reason, most likely Sterns. Which made the fact she could even access the internet despite him very suspect.

Maria was still grateful for the information of course. Thanks to them, they now knew more about the structure of Strucker's organization then they ever had. Including that Wolfgang Von Strucker was in charge of anything substantial.

But Davida needed to know the truth.

"Strucker and Sterns are playing games, and we think your girls are being played like pieces on the board," Maria said simply.

"We'll work to protect them," May added. "The Avengers will do their best to save them. But they need to keep playing along."

"You can't guarantee that," Davida said viciously. "Tell me why I shouldn't just fight my way out and get them myself?"

The collar on her neck began to glow a brighter green along the lines of circuitry. A bead of sweat appeared on Davida's face as she fought the dampening effects of the collar. May shifted her feet and moved her hands slightly, face hardening. Davida and May eyed each other, and the tension rose.

Until Coulson stepped forward. "Actually, if I may interrupt the eminent catfight?" Davida and May glared at him. Coulson smiled genially in response. "We have two people who were kidnapped, friends who your team says are there. We have as much to gain from finding that castle as you do. Maybe we can make a deal. Something worth your while."

Davida frowned as Maria hid a smile.

Good old Coulson, the master of communication.