Turn, Turn, Turn

"How's it coming, Jemma?" Mick asked with his blades brandished, watching all sorts of agents in full tactical gear passing outside the doors. 

"I'm hurrying as fast as I can!" She said nervously fumbling about as she wiped the data from the machine she was using. 

"Looks like things are clearing out, if you need more time to investigate, surely we can slip into a different lab before they come looking for us here," Mick said slipping his blades into their holsters as they collapsed into their hilts. 

"That's actually a decent plan," Jemma said as she clicked off the machine, slipping the vial into the small black box, then back into her bag. 

"I have those on occasion," Mick smirked as she smiled back. 

"Ready," she grabbed his hand. 

"Stay close," Mick said softly as Jemma squeezed his hand in acknowledgement. 

He lead her through the halls, doing his best to not only avoid any lingering agents, but staying out of sight of the camera's as well. Luckily Sci-Lab 214 was left unlocked, with its windowless doors being much appreciated. Upon entry, they were greeted by Trip, which caught Mick completely off guard. The most jarring part was the fact Trip had a weapon in hand, a small knife, which forced Mick to brandish one of his blades as the two stared at each other daring the other to move. 

"Hand sent me to look for you," Trip breathed out slowly, moving in such a calculated manner. 

"What's with the knife?" Mick asked keeping one hand in front of Jemma as a means of protection. 

"Apparently there's been a coup, a lot of the level eights are on high alert. Hand said to be prepared for anything," Trip said as Mick slowly lowered his blade. "What's with yours?" 

"Self defense," Mick slid the blade into the holster, which caused Trip to fold his knife, sliding it back into his pocket. 

"Why don't we just go?" Jemma suggested nervously. 

"You clearly had a reason sneak in here, what's going on?" Trip stated, watching them curiously. 

"I, uh," Jemma stammered for a moment. "I wanted some alone time with Mick." 

"What?" Mick gasped as Trip stared at them blankly. "That's not!" Mick was at a loss here. 

"You guys have more secrets than anyone I've met," Trip grunted. "I mean, I know secrets are our business, but this is crazy." 

"You just have to trust us," Jemma stated.

"Why is that?" Trip asked skeptically. "I risked my life to get some miracle drug with your team, and it turns out it was an off the books mission." 

"Agent Triplett," Jemma sighed.

"Look, off the books is where our team stays. People gave their lives to protect the secret of that drug from what Coulson said," Mick stated firmly as Trip glanced at the ground remorsefully. 

"I'm just trying to figure out how it works," Jemma admitted as Trip frowned. 

"Is that all?" He still seemed skeptical. 

"Yeah, that's it," Mick said as Trip nodded with a smirk. "Any idea what's going on out there?" 

"Like I said, it's some kind of attack, all the comms went haywire after Ward shot that guy," Trip said.

"Who could attack SHIELD like that?" Mick asked as Trip shrugged.

"If only I could get a sample to Agent Weaver at the Academy," Jemma sighed trying to focus on her notes rather than the outside commotion. 

"I saw a holobox in a conference room not far from here," Trip said calmly as Jemma seemed excited. 

"Do you think it'll work?" Jemma asked quickly. 

"It's a risk, but a secure one," Trip said as Mick frowned. 

"Fitz's line was scrambled though," Mick grunted. 

"But this isn't patched like that one would've been," Jemma said as Mick shrugged. 

"Lead the way then," Mick said as Trip nodded. 

They slipped through the halls without drawing any attention, ending up in a rather small conference room. Jemma quickly dialed out, as the box rang several times. She seemed quite bothered by that, thankfully Agent Weaver answered as a projection appeared before them. 

"I was beginning to worry!" Jemma stated as Weaver glanced around nervously. 

"Thank God you're okay!" Weaver said softly. "The Academy is under attack!"

"What?" They all said simultaneously. 

"If you can, find somewhere and lock down! We've been infiltrated by Hydra!" the hologram faded away with the sound of an explosion, leaving the three speechless. Mick stepped up near Jemma, placing his arm on her shoulder, as he locked eyes with Trip. 

"Hydra?" Jemma muttered in disbelief. "How can that be? Weren't they defeated during the Second World War?"

"According to the history books," Mick replied.

"And SHIELD records," Trip added. 

"That must be why everyone was up in arms," Mick gasped. 

"Does that mean anyone could be Hydra?" Jemma asked with a shaking voice.

"We need to get more information," Trip stated. 

"But from who? We don't even know if this place is compromised," Mick sighed. 

"Then we hunker down and see if anyone comes after us," Trip said firmly. 

"I'm scared Mick," Jemma leaned into him. "What if something happens to our team? Oh I can't even imagine how bad this is for Fitz!" 

"I'll keep you safe," Mick said bravely. "Hopefully they'll come for us and we can sort this all out." 

The doors burst open as several agents armed with rifles charged in. "Out of the shadows, into the light!" One man yelled loudly as Mick and Trip stared at each other curiously. 

"Uh, what?" Trip asked. 

"Mick," Jemma said softly. 

"Got it," Mick replied as he glanced at Trip, hoping he understood to follow his lead. They nodded as the armed man in front cocked his gun. Jemma quickly ducked under the table as Mick threw his left arm forward, webs spewing from his wrist, wrapping around the leader of the pack. In the mix of the confusion, Trip sprung at the second guy, slamming the holobox into his helmet. Mick then slammed his Chelicerae into both the lead and another soldier, watching as they fell to the ground with a blue flash. The remaining soldiers ease back cautiously then flee into the hallway while Trip picked up one of their rifles, then the two stood daring them to attack. 

"Guess that answers the question of if Hydra is here too," Trip sighed. 

"Indeed," Jemma groaned as Mick helped her back to her feet. "What do we do now?" 

"We take down the Hydra sleepers and find out how deep this goes," Mick stated. 

"You think the three of us can handle taking down a base this size?" Trip asked skeptically.

"No, but surely there are more SHIELD than Hydra," Mick sighed. 

"Perhaps we can make our way to a communication room, maybe we can call for backup?" Jemma suggested, showing Mick her signal lacking phone. 

"That sounds much easier than fighting who knows how many traitors," Trip shrugged. 

"How do we get around without drawing attention to ourselves? This place is riddled with surveillance," Mick was struggling with this situation. 

"We just go," Trip suggested. "Once we get to the Comm's room, we try to call out and we'll just hold our ground there." 

"I guess it's better than being so exposed here," Mick admitted as he heard gunfire from the hallway. He then pulled his spare blade, placing it in Jemma's hands. "If something happens, just run." 

Jemma looked at him, her eyes full of concern. She then reached up, brushing his cheeks and closing her eyes, clearly trying to fight back tears. 

"We'll be okay," Trip said cocking his rifle as Jemma forced a smile and nod. 

"Lead the way," Mick motioned to Trip as he took Jemma's hand placing her between the two of them as they went into the halls. 

The echoes of distant gunfire was quite unsettling as they made their way through the empty halls. Several doors had been kicked in either dead or unconscious agents inside. There was blood trails on the white floors, and on some walls showing signs of a struggle. 

"Man, these Hydra guys are ruthless," Trip said as they passed an office with several people in pools of blood. "Can you imagine thinking the guy across from you is a friend, then suddenly they just pull a gun on you?" 

"If you keep on like that, I'll drop you right now," Mick threatened as Trip paused looking at Mick and Jemma and holding up his hands. 

"I didn't mean anything by it," Trip said softly. "I was just saying. You don't have to be so cold." 

"Mick's been through a lot," Jemma said with a grimace.

"I've had a supposed friend threaten me in the name of Hydra before, and it didn't end well," Mick's eyes showed his inner pain. 

"How long ago was that?" Trip asked as he peaked around the corner. 

"Years," Mick replied. "No one thought anything of it either." 

They were quite as they crept into the large open glass shard filled corridors, ducking behind signs full of holes and tables that had been overturned signifying a large firefight. 

"At least there are signs of resistance," Jemma said softly. 

"Too bad we can't tell who's winning," Trip said. 

Once they reached the narrow hallway things were just as bad. Several agents were leaned against the wall with blood trails above them. Jemma whimpered as Mick rubbed her shoulder with his free hand. "Do you think the others are ok?" She asked with her voice shaking. 

"We can only hope," Mick sighed. 

"Comms room up ahead!" Trip said as Mick felt a wave of relief. "I'll take a peak, think she'll be okay?" 

Mick looked at how pale Jemma was, clearly this was too much for her. "She'll be okay once we get inside and lockdown."

"It's clear," Trip said. "Well, sort of." He pushed the door open revealing several fallen agents with wounds in their heads and blood on the cracked screens. 

"This is terrible," Jemma began to cry. 

"Come on, help me move them," Mick handed his other blade to Jemma as she slumped against the wall sobbing. Once he and Trip moved the bodies into a corner, they turned back to Jemma who was already trying to get a call out. 

"All I'm getting is this obnoxious tone, nothing is working," she sobbed. 

"So we're on our own?" Trip asked as Jemma ran into Mick's arms. 

"Looks like it," he moaned. Before they could do anything the door was kicked open as several unmasked agents, one being Agent Shaw entered pointing handguns at them. 

"I want to see your hands!" He demanded as Agent Hand walked in once her four agents were inside. Mick slowly lifted his hands, stepping just in front of Jemma to protect her, as did Trip. 

She looked up and down at Mick and Trip then skeptically at the rifle leaned on the wall near the two agents with bullet holes in their heads. "Been a little busy have we?" Hand taunted, grabbing a chair, spinning it around placing a leg on the seat with a devilish smirk. "The rest of your potentially short lives is going to hinge on the next moment." Her voice was cold, harsher than ever before, and the look in her eyes screamed trouble. "Hydra has successfully overthrown SHIELD at the highest level, after only seven decades, today is out coming out party. We have the support of level 9 and 10 agents, and the ones that resisted, well, they've been crossed off. Including Director Fury."

"No," Jemma whimpered as Mick felt her head on his back. 

"You're lying," Mick growled as Hand smiled darkly. 

"I'm here to off you a choice, and a simple one at that. Either you swear unwavering loyalty to Hydra right now for all time, or share Fury's fate," Hand growled. Mick and Trip shared a glance then looked back at the four agents with Hand. Without a moment of hesitation, Mick and Trip grabbed the two closest agents, stripping their guns, spinning them around and placing the guns to their heads. 

"I'd rather die that serve Hydra," Mick growled as he sneered at Hand. 

"You can cross us off, but we'll take these two with us," Trip growled. 

Hand's cold expression broke as she waved her agents off. "Good answer," she smirked. "The number of people I can trust in this room is now seven." 

Mick and Trip released their captives as they stepped back staring at Hand in confusion. "So you're not really Hydra?" Jemma asked as she stepped to Mick's side. 

"No," Hand said firmly. "But we have no idea as to who all is." She looked at the computer screens as they flickered. "Have you heard from B squad?" She turned to Shaw. 

"They have microphones placed in all the level four and five holding rooms, as well as several others. There's also been several firefights," Shaw replied solemnly. 

"And the strike team?" Hand asked harshly. 

"They're storming the plane now," he responded. 

"Why test us like that? Why not just spout that weird saying the Hydra sleepers said?" Trip asked. 

"So you've come across them too?" Hand seemed impressed. 

"Sent them packing like the dogs they are," Mick spat. 

"I was so scared you were Hydra too," Jemma admitted as Hand sighed. 

"We're not in the clear yet," Hand stated. "While I am not Hydra, we believe your friend Coulson is." 

"What?" Mick and Jemma gasped together. 

"Agent Hand, word from the Strike team, Coulson and his team aren't anywhere to be found. Scans show they were on the plane when it landed," Shaw said with a frown. 

"Then check the tunnels," she growled. "I should have blown that plane out of the sky when I had the chance."

"How can you say that?" Jemma exclaimed.

"Take a look around Agent Simmons, Hydra isn't showing mercy, and neither should we!" Hand barked. 

"But Coulson is a good man!" Jemma argued. 

"He lives and breathes SHIELD!" Mick barked. 

"He's a liar," Hand said in a cold tone as Mick and Jemma seemed taken back. "Agent Blake discovered a few level 8's conspiring and no sooner than he reported on it ended up on an Op from Coulson that ended with him in the ICU."

"That wasn't planned, it could've been any of us," Mick said weakly. 

"What about his long list of crimes?" Hand asked. "Recruiting known enemies of S.H.I.E.L.D., disobeying a direct order on multiple counts, violation of international law. What about Professor Hall who ended up dead by his hand?" 

"Okay sure, it sounds bad," Mick sighed. 

"Failure to report the crimes of his protégé, Akela Amador. Who's same technology somehow ended up in the head of Mr. Peterson, and you know his crimes," Hand continued as Mick turned toward the ground. 

"But you oversaw the operation that saved Coulson from the Clairvoyant!" Jemma argued, gripping Mick's hand tightly. 

"Yet when we found this brain-dead Clairvoyant, Coulson's man Ward shot him before we could learn a single thing about him. The lies add up, Agent Simmons. Are you telling me he's never kept a secret from you?" Hand barked. Jemma then turned her head down, not wanting to try anymore. "The worst thing you can do right now is to underestimate Hydra. They hide in plain sight. They earn our trust, our sympathy. They make us like them. And when you hesitate, they strike. If we're to survive, we must learn to strike first."

"Not to interrupt, but there's two separate attacks! One on a surveillance room, the other near the power room!" Shaw said as with a hand on his ear. 

"I bet one of those is Coulson's team. We're nearby the Surveillance, so let's start there," Hand said sternly, then glared at Mick, Jemma, and Trip. "You you try anything, I'll have you put down." With that she and her squad left them alone. 

"Mick you don't believe her do you?" Jemma sobbed. 

"Not a chance," Mick said pulling Jemma close, rubbing her back affectionately. 

"Even after all of that evidence?" Trip asked hesitantly. 

"I don't care about the evidence, I know Coulson," Mick said firmly. 

"Then for his sake, I hope he's as good of a guy as you believe," Trip stated. 

Things were quiet until gunshots began echoing through the halls followed by an explosion, then the lights went out. Mick quickly grabbed his Chelicerae in each hand, the blades emitting a faint blue glow of the readied dendrotoxin. "Should we go assist?" Trip asked as he reached for the rifle. 

"Only if they come to us," Mick stated as he eased the door closed. "They probably have nightvision goggles if they cut the lights." 

"Shouldn't the emergency lights be kicking on?" Jemma asked. 

"Depends on how much damage they did to the generators," Trip sighed, then turned on his phone screen, looking around. "Help me find a lantern or something, so we're not completely screwed." 

Mick and Jemma began searching until Jemma clanged something against the chair several times. Then a pale light filled the room. "It was stuck under the desk in a small cabinet," she explained. 

"At least it'll scramble nightvision enough for us to get the drop on the first one in," Trip shrugged.

"One is all we need to send a message," Mick smirked. 

It wasn't long before a radio buzzed from the corner of the room. "Meet us in the Surveillance Room you were right," Hand's voice came through, no sooner than that the lights flickered back on. 

"Do you think it's a trap?" Jemma asked hesitantly. 

"Guess there's only one way to find out," Mick said glancing at Trip who then picked up his rifle. 

"Sounds like a plan to me," Trip smirked as they stepped out. As they walked they marveled at the amount of damage, finally reaching the room. Once inside they saw Agent Garret on the ground with several heavily armed agents in cuffs. Simmons quickly embraced Fitz, Mick walked over to Coulson and embraced him. 

"It was Garrett," Coulson said as Trip stood motionless in the doorway. It was clear the pain on his face, the betrayal he felt. 

"Trip," Mick said as Shaw caught him as he lunged for Garrett, who simply smiled darkly. 

"Load him and the other traitors on my jet," Hand motioned at Garrett. "I'm sorry for all of this. Can we talk in Command?" She had eyes locked on Coulson who nodded. "The rest of you can rest easy for now. We've got a lot of work ahead of us." 

Coulson then followed Hand out with May right behind them, as Mick embraced Fitz who seemed quite pleased to see them. "It's hard to believe all of this," he muttered. 

"You should see the rest of the Hub," Jemma sighed. 

"I don't think I want to," Fitz shivered. 

"No, you really don't," Mick shook his head. 

"Would you believe they shot up the Bus?" Fitz asked. 

"Yeah, sadly," Jemma sighed. "How was the lab?" 

"Not sure, but now that the mess is all cleared up, maybe we should scope it out? Hopefully nothing is ruined," Fitz said as Jemma nodded with a smile.