Chapter 19

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[Lab]

We're in the lab, testing out Fitz's gun but it's not right, "Sorry, Fitz. It's close, but it's just not right" I say
"Really? Cause Agent Coulson had no problems" Fitz says

"It's an ounce too heavy" Ward says

"An ounce? Seriously?" Skye asks

"It's the difference between success and failure. When you're on a rooftop with a 15 mile an hour wind, your target is 500 yards away—" Ward explains
"Yeah, but we do have a rifle" Fitz says

Ward and I look at him, "Loose the ounce" We tell him simultaneously

"Yeah, okay. On it" Fitz says before Ward and I leave

Then we get word about a mission so we head back down to the lab, "Hey. Hustle up and grab your gear" Ward says
"We're on a mission" I say

They chuckle, "Something funny?" Ward asks

They shake their heads, "Poor, silly Fitz. He mistakenly left a dummy round in the pistol. Should be proper now" Simmons says holding the gun to Ward

Ward grabs the gun and tests it, "Great. Thanks" Ward says and walks out

I look at the three of them before they bust out laughing, "Okay, what's going on you three?" I ask

"N—Nothing, Cass" Skye tells me causing me to raise my eyebrow at her

[Pennsylvia: Incident site]

"Troop leader's name was Adam Cross. Apparently, he said he heard something in the woods, went to check it out. That's where the electrostatic anomaly occurred" Coulson explains

"What I don't understand is usually they're caused by a massive electrical storm" Fitz says

"But there wasn't a storm within 1,000 miles of here last night" Simmons says

"This anomaly's different. It has s side effect we've enver seen before" Coulson says

"The battery blew straight up through the hood" May says

"Landed over here" Ward says

"Hell of a force to create that kind of trajectory" I say

Ward and I stand up and have our arms on our hips before we feel something bump into us. We see Skye, mimicking us, "What are you doing?" I ask

"I'm shadowing my supervising officers" Skye says

Ward and I take a step, "Shadowing. Now smothering" Ward says walking away

Skye sighs, "He'll get over it eventually" I whisper to her

We follow Ward, "There's scorch marks all over that tree. Lucky the whole forest didn't burn down" Ward says as we keep walking

"I don't get it. Seems to me like this electroshock thingy was some freak lightning strike. I mean, why call us? What's the big—" We see a body floating in the air before Skye chuckles, "Oh. Never mind" She says

We walk up to the others, "So sad a man died this way. And yet, so amazing" Simmons says
"Fitzsimmons, any idea what could cause an effect like this?" Coulson asks

They start talking at the same time, "Time let's try that again. Any idea what could cause an effect like this?" Coulson asks again

"The hell if I know" Simmons says as Fitz says, "Uh, no, no clue"

"Seems to me like we're either dealing with some freak natural event or a new high tech weapon" Ward says
"Or could it be someone from your uber secret Index?" Skye asks

"There's no one on the Index with this type of power" May says
"That we know of. I'll contact Agent Blake at SHIELD HQ, have him check it out. Whoever or whatever's responsible, we can't let this happen again" Coulson says

"Fitz, see his forehead? Look at that endothelial discoloration" Simmons says walking closer

"Yeah, same dispersal pattern as the strike on the truck" Fitz says

Simmons is really close to the body, "Could be an entry wound, cauterized immediately" Simmons suggests

Then there's an electric crackling and the body drops, "Freaky" Fitz says

"Freaky!" Simmons agrees

[Command Center]

Coulson, Ward and I walk into the command center and find Skye, "You found something on Cross?" Coulson asks

"Many things, actually. But you already knew that, thanks to my fancy SHIELD house arrest gizmo..." She shows her bracelet, "...tracking my every key swipe, my online activity, my cholesterol" She sighs, "Just wish it came in another color. Or came off" She says

"The victim?" Ward asks
"Adam Cross. Single, no kids, originally from Wrigley, Pennsylvania, not far from here" Skye tells us

"Been there. They have a nice little strawberry festival in the spring" Coulson says

"Occupation?" I ask

"Phys. Ed teacher at the local high school, and varsity baseball coach, and troop leader, and volunteer firefighter. This guy makes Captain America look like The Dude" She chuckles, "The Big Lebowski. Seriously?" She tells us
"What about a criminal record, restraining order, something that might give us a suspect?" Ward asks
"Nada. Not even a parking ticket. I skimmed all his posts, anyone linked to his pages, hoping for a crazy ex or super powered stalker, and he's clean" Skye explains

"Everybody looks clean on their first go around" Ward says looking at Skye

"Ward's right. We're missing something. Dig deeper" Skye nods her head and walks out, "You've been pretty tough on her" Coulson says
"She lied to us. Contacted the Rising Tide while we were on a mission. If she wants our trust back, she's got to earn it" Ward says

"Seems like you're the only one that's not trusting her" I whisper

Ward looks at me, "The background she ran on Cross is a good start. Put it up on the server. I want May to have a look when she's done with her interrogation" Coulson says before walking out

Before I do, "King, how could you have forgiven her so easily?" Ward asks
I look at him, "It wasn't easy, Ward. But she came to me and apologized sincerely. Look, I know it's hard for you to trust people but I trust Skye and I forgive her for what she did" I go to walk out but stop and turn around, "Why can't you?" I ask him before I leave

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