3. S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Catchy," I note. I don't think I can remember what some of the letters stand for now, it was too much of an information dump. "So...what exactly is that?"
"A counter terrorism and intelligence agency." I think Hill is giving me the short definition. "It was originally created to protect the United States, but it upgraded to saving the world from all possible threats."
"That explains the nice technology you've got here," I murmur.
"You really don't remember anything, do you?" Hill asks thoughtfully.
"No, I think I would have remembered S.H.I.E.L.D." I frown. "Have you been in the news a lot?"
"Recently, yes." Her tone is quiet, her shoulders tense.
"Vanessa showed me two symbols and asked if they meant anything to me. One was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s."
"I know the other," Hill states. "But I won't tell you about that."
"Why not?"
"It's not my place to explain it to you. I will leave that up to other people."
"If I can ask, Agent Hill, where exactly are we going?"
"You'll see soon enough. We should be landing in a few hours."
That's comforting. I think. "Why am I here?" I ask her. "I know you've got the answer to that, as I'm sure Vanessa does too."
"We told you from day one that you were rescued. We helped you heal."
"That's not good enough for me anymore." I put my hands on my hips. "I want a thorough explanation. Why can't you let me go home?"
Agent Hill sucks in a breath. "That is something you will have to discuss with Agent Finley when you see her again."
Agent Finley? It's a bit strange to hear my last name associated with the word "agent" in front of it. I can't be related to this said 'Agent Finley,' can I? Would I even get an answer if I asked?
"I can show you to where you can sleep, if you want," Agent Hill offers.
"If we're going to be at our destination in a few hours, I think I'll sleep out in that room we were just in. The couch looked really inviting."
"Do you know the way back?"
"I'm sure I can ask for directions if I have to."
I leave Agent Hill in the room as I find my way back to the homely room. Agent Finley. The title sticks in my head. Is it a coincidence that S.H.I.E.L.D. has someone who shares my last name? Is it an uncle? Aunt? My mom or my dad? Do I have a sibling who works with this agency?
I'm getting way ahead of myself. The world isn't that small.
I find my way back to the homely room without much trouble. It's empty, and I gravitate towards the couch. I jump when I see something shift in a chair not far from me. I nearly scream, but I hold it in. It's the same guy I had seen earlier during my polygraph, the only guy I had a semi-good look at since I first woke up on this jet. It still stuns me how I can be on a jet for some reason. This isn't what I picture.
Curiosity takes hold of me so I can look at the guy's features more. He's not dressed in S.H.I.E.L.D. attire, but he wears dark clothing. His shirt sleeves are long, and on his left hand is a glove. It's a little strange to me, to wear one glove and not the other. Maybe he's got a reason for it.
His hair is dark and smoothly combed on his head. I'm tempted to touch the stranger's hair, but he, for some reason, intimidates me, so I abandon the idea. He's got his chin resting on one of his hands, he looks like he's out cold. I purse my lips, feeling frustrated, not with the guy, but with myself.
Something tells me I should know him, I can't understand it. How should I know someone I have never seen until today? I need to settle down. Maybe the nap will help. I curl myself into a tight ball on the couch, trying to keep my eyes off the other person in the room with me.
***
I'm enveloped in darkness. I feel around until my hands bump into a cold door.
Lights turn on behind me, as does sound. The monitors have nothing but noise on them, all I hear is static. They are the only things producing light in this room.
I don't understand why I'm here. Dreams make no sense sometimes.
But something tries to overcome the static, grow louder than it. A voice.
"Keeping breathing," says an unfamiliar voice. It's a guy's voice. No picture comes up on the monitors, only audio. "Come on, don't go on me."
The static takes over once again, but there is no picture. I tilt my head. I look around and realize no one is in here. Just me.
"Leave her!" a voice demands, this one a woman's. "We don't have enough of us to go after them."
More static again. Is this...is this what Vanessa was talking about? The accident? The day I got the head injury that made me this way?
"We've got you," the guy's voice comes on again. He's almost reassuring someone. Is that someone me? Is this what I remember from the accident, only voices? "You may not like me for it later, but you're in better hands now."
***
My brain pounding is the only reason I wake up from whatever that was. It had to be parts of the accident coming back to me. It's the only logical explanation.
I sit up only to realize the stranger is gone from the chair. I really hope he's real; I don't want to start being delusional from the head injury.
I throw my legs over the side of the couch, ruffle my blonde hair. I need dreams like that more often. What if that's the only way I can remember what happened?
"Good, you're up." I look to see Agent Hill standing towards my exit. "We're here."
A little wary but thankful to be getting off the jet, I follow Agent Hill out to the ramp. We aren't even down it yet before I feel a rather chilling breeze run for us. I shiver as it goes right through me.
We're in an outdoor hangar, it explains the wind. Agent Hill walks with collected composure as she leads me across. All around are crewmen in orange suits, some near our jet, and others near other small planes.
I smell saltwater. My nose wrinkles.
"Where are we?" I ask over the wind as I jog to catch up with Agent Hill.
"Somewhere where we won't be found. You better keep up if you don't want to freeze out here."
I divert away from Agent Hill long enough to peek over one of the sides of this outdoor hangar. I reel back at seeing the massive drop into rough waters below. It's a ship, I conclude, of some sort.
"Ms. Finley," Agent Hill shouts for me.
"Sorry!" I run to her while she waits a bit impatiently for me. "Curious." I blush.
"If you were any more curious you would have dived into the water." She turns on her heels and heads for a pair of doors.
I feel relieved once we're inside; I revel in the warmth. Agent Hill gets a lot of greetings from passersby, and all I receive are confused looks. It's an improvement from the nasty ones I got on the jet. The halls seem bigger on this ship-thing. I know it's a ship, but I know that's not what it's called.
"You guys really have a lot," I murmur as I see a small group of S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel walk past.
"It's not as much as we used to have," Agent Hill tells me quietly. "This is a good portion of what we've got left."
"What happened?"
"Not my place to tell."
We walk through another set of doors, and I'm awestruck. So many stations, so many S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel. So much technology. There's a huge window that gives all a beautiful view of the blue sky in front of us.
Anybody who loved technology would kill to be here.
"What is this thing?" I have to ask.
"It's called a Helicarrier," Agent Hill explains. "It's good in sea and in air."
"This thing flies?" I sputter.
"Hence the name. Welcome to the bridge, Ms. Finley."
"Wow." I shut my mouth to stop looking like a gaping fish and clear my throat. "So, have the others gotten off the jet?"
"You were the last one off. I bet you'll want to see where you're staying."
"It's not another infirmary area, is it?"
Agent Hill smiles thinly. "Relax. I've made arrangements for you."
"We're here because...?"
Agent Hill goes serious on me with the expression on her face. "We're regrouping, taking some time away from all the action that we've been through lately. You unfortunately were in the said recent action."
"I would ask 'how so,' but I know you'll tell me that it's not your place to tell me."
"You learn quickly. I can show you your living quarters really quick. I've got to stay here on the bridge."
"That's up to you."
Agent Hill decides to show me to the sleeping area, I happily follow her.
It's strange, but in a good way. I'm in the hands of S.H.I.E.L.D., the supposed good guys of our world. I don't know how I ended up here. Someone's bound to tell me once I beg enough.
It isn't long before Agent Hill opens the door to my living quarters. I've got a roommate, and her name is Vanessa. She's standing like she's been caught doing something dirty. Once I step deeper into the room with Agent Hill, we realize Vanessa isn't alone.
She's with the stranger I've been seeing on the jet. So I'm not crazy if he's there and Vanessa can see him. That's a relief.
"Agent Hill," Vanessa greets her. "Danielle. Looks like you're my roommate."
"So it would seem," I agree. I don't disagree with the arrangement. At least I'm not alone or with someone I don't know.
Speaking of people I don't know, the stranger is still in Vanessa's—and my—area.
"I'll talk to you about it later," he tells Vanessa before heading out. His voice isn't what I expect, it's not so low or deep. I mean, it's low, but not deep.
I get a good look at his eyes, as his and mine are fixed on each other. They're a rather pretty blue. I refocus once he's completely out of the room.
"I'll leave you to it, then," Agent Hill tells Vanessa. "I'm putting you in charge of her."
"Not surprising," Vanessa replies. "I can help her the best."
"I'll leave you with her, Ms. Finley," Agent Hill says. "Don't worry, Agent Finley will help you get the answers that you want."
As Agent Hill leaves, I look at Vanessa, wide-eyed. Agent Finley is Vanessa? This is getting weirder by the day.
"Something wrong, Danielle?" she asks in a rather clipped tone.
"Just thinking," I squeak.
"About what?"
"Something."
"So specific."
"Who was in here earlier?"
"You'll get to meet him."
I'm not sure that I like the idea. "Are you two...like, together?"
"Absolutely not. We're more like acquaintances who have to tolerate each other."
I roll my eyes. "So, you're my babysitter."
"Pretty much." Vanessa ties her hair back into a ponytail. "Agent Hill has a lot on her plate, Natasha can't really help you either. I'm your best bet at getting answers."
"Believe me, I've got enough questions."
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