Chapter 67: The New Member

Inside the plane known as "The Bus," the atmosphere was calm but full of anticipation. Skye's recent recruitment had sparked some internal discussions among the members of the S.H.I.E.L.D. team. Everyone had their own opinion about the new addition, especially considering Skye's past with the hacker organization Rising Tide. Still, Coulson seemed determined. He saw something in Skye that others might not have noticed yet, but it would take more than just his word to convince the rest of the team.

As Skye walked down the aisle of the plane, her sweaty palms showed that she was nervous. This was all still new to her—the high-tech environment, the people who seemed to live their lives surrounded by secrets and missions that Skye had only seen in movies. Now, she was a part of it, and the weight of that responsibility was starting to weigh on her shoulders.

"Skye!" — A cheerful voice broke the silence, and she turned to see Jemma Simmons, the team's smiling and energetic scientist, standing next to Leo Fitz. They both seemed genuinely happy to see her. — Welcome to our humble team! — Simmons said, as Fitz nodded in agreement.

"Yes, welcome!" — Fitz repeated, still focused on some technological device that he was quickly and skillfully adjusting.

Skye smiled, relieved to see friendly faces.

"Thanks, guys. It's… I'm still getting used to all this, you know?" she admitted, looking around.

"Oh, you'll get used to it in no time," Simmons assured her cheerfully. "The shuttle is amazing! And we have all these super important missions… Fitz and I take care of the science side of things, of course, but it's a talented team."

Fitz looked up briefly, nodding.

"Yeah, and, well… you're going to need to learn a few things about how we work around here." — He said, as he adjusted a piece of alien technology that seemed to emit a blue glow. — And believe me, there's a lot to learn.

Skye shook her head, still absorbing the idea of ​​being in a secret organization like S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Okay, okay... This is still a little surreal for me." — She confessed, laughing nervously.

"Surreal is part of our everyday life." — Fitz said, looking at her with a sideways smile. — You'll see.

While Skye was getting acquainted with Simmons and Fitz, in a separate compartment on the Shuttle, Coulson was in a more serious conversation with Grant Ward and Melinda May. The trio was gathered around a table with S.H.I.E.L.D. files and devices, while the soft sound of the plane's engines hummed in the background.

Coulson looked from Ward to May, clearly pondering what he was going to say next. He already knew they both had strong opinions about the new addition to the team.

"Skye will be joining us as a consultant," Coulson began, his voice firm and professional. "Just like we did with Tony Stark. She won't have full access, but I believe she has the potential to help."

Ward frowned slightly. His military experience and discipline made him naturally wary of trusting someone with Skye's background, especially with her connections to the Rising Tide.

"Consultant…like Stark?" Ward repeated, raising an eyebrow. He crossed his arms and looked directly at Coulson. "I understand the idea of ​​consultants, but Stark is a genius, a billionaire, and he saved New York. Skye is a hacker who leaks classified information. Do you really trust her?"

May, beside Ward, was silent, but it was obvious she was listening intently to every word. Her face was neutral, as always, but her eyes reflected careful consideration. Coulson, sensing Ward's skepticism, leaned forward.

"I understand your concerns, Ward," he said, maintaining his usual calm. "But Skye isn't just a hacker. She has a unique instinct for finding patterns and information. And so far, she's shown us that she's willing to cooperate."

Ward kept his gaze fixed on Coulson before finally sighing.

"I'm not saying she can't be useful," he began, his voice calmer now, but still firm. "But we have to be careful. I don't think she's ready to be given too much freedom yet. We need to make sure she proves herself trustworthy before we give her any more leeway."

May, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke up.

"Ward's right," she said, her voice calm but sharp. "Skye can be a valuable asset, but we can't forget where she came from. Trust takes time to build. We should monitor her movements, at least at first."

Coulson nodded slowly, understanding and accepting both of their concerns.

"I agree. Skye will have restrictions. She'll start slowly, working with us closely. But believe me, I see something in her. Something that can make a difference." — Coulson stated, convinced.

"I just don't want her to jeopardize a mission due to lack of preparation," Ward said, softer now. "We've seen this before."

"She'll have to prove herself, Ward. Just like we all have at some point," Coulson replied firmly, before turning to May. "What about you, May? Do you think she can handle what's coming?"

May kept her posture rigid, but gave a slight nod.

"If she can't, we'll find out quickly." That was all she said, but in her characteristic style, those words carried more weight than any long speech.

Coulson then smiled slightly, pleased with the consensus reached.

"Okay. Skye will be monitored. But give her a chance. Let's see how she does." He concluded, ending the conversation.

Meanwhile, in the main compartment of the Bus, Skye continued to try to absorb her new reality. Simmons was still explaining various technological functions, and Fitz was distracting her with gadgets he had developed himself.

"So, this thing... what does it do again?" Skye asked, holding up a small, silver device Fitz had handed her.

"Oh, this?" Fitz smiled excitedly. "Basically, it can detect changes in the alien energy signature within a 500 meter radius. Very useful, especially after what happened in New York."

Skye looked at the device with a mix of fascination and confusion.

"Wow. And here I was thinking the most I could do with technology was hack a cell phone." She joked, laughing lightly.

Simmons smiled, placing a comforting hand on Skye's shoulder.

"You'll learn quickly. And in time, you might even be able to help us develop new forms of technology." Simmons said, excited about the possibilities.

Skye looked at her in surprise.

"Really? You think I can do that?" Fitz shook his head quickly.

"If you can hack S.H.I.E.L.D., you can do this and more," he said with conviction.

Skye laughed, but before she could respond, she felt a change in the mood inside the plane. Coulson, Ward, and May walked out of the conference compartment, walking toward her. Coulson had a slight smile on his face, and Ward and May looked more serious.

Coulson stopped in front of Skye, Fitz, and Simmons, and put his hands in his pockets.

"As I said before, Skye will be joining us as a consultant," Coulson began, looking at Fitz and Simmons with a smile. "But she's also here to learn. She'll have restrictions, of course, but I believe she can be a valuable asset to the team."

Ward remained silent next to Coulson, but his eyes met Skye's for a brief moment. He still looked wary, but not hostile.

"Well, it looks like we'll be working together then." — Skye said, trying to break the tension with a nervous smile.

"Yes," Ward finally replied, his voice softer. "But remember, Skye, you still have to prove yourself. This isn't the Rising Tide."

"Understood," Skye replied, keeping her tone professional, but her heart pounding in her chest.

Coulson looked at her, his smile confident.

"You'll do fine, Skye," he said, before turning to Fitz and Simmons. "Now, let's get ready for what's coming. We've got an 0-8-4 on the way."