167 Agatha

Phil Coulson/Leader of Team SHIELD

May 19, 2014-Citrusville, Florida Everglades, Louisiana

One day after the whole fiasco, Phil was standing in Sheriff John Daltry's office. The Sheriff looked exhausted. Coulson couldn't blame him. There was a lot going on.

"Deputy Daniel Nakamura has refused to talk to us," Coulson said. "But we have enough from his people. Some of them are career criminals from all over this area. A lot were related to each other. But Nakamura was smart. Used his money to hire them, even got some idiots from out of town."

"All to kill us?" Daltry asked tiredly.

"Well, most of them didn't really know they were going to kill BRIDGE agents," Coulson said.

"But they did know they were going to kill a sheriff."

Coulson didn't have anything to say to that.

"What sort of-" Daltry stopped and sighed. "I need to be more discerning about who I trust… Danny was like a son to me," he looked up at Coulson, and the agent felt a pang of pain. "I thought he would replace me when I was done, if I didn't get voted out. And now…"

Coulson walked forward and sat down in front of Daltry's desk. He placed his hands together and leaned forward. He opened his mouth to speak. Then he closed it, blinking.

God. Was this really so hard to talk about?

"...I had an agent working for me a little while back," Coulson said after that false start. "His name was Grant Ward. I was the one who asked him to work for me. We spent a few months working together with the rest of my team. He was my guy in the field, the man I could trust to take on almost any challenge," Coulson smiled sadly. "I trusted him. Until-"

"HYDRA," Daltry said, eyes widening in realization.

Coulson nodded. "He'd been tricking me for months. Integrating himself into the team, getting closer to us, learning our secrets. Even as I saw him as an ally, he was ready to betray us…"

Coulson leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. "I sometimes ask myself what was real. If he'd ever regretted it. If he really saw us as his friends. I shouldn't. The past is the past. Grant Ward is dead. And unless I get to meet him down the line, I'll never know the truth."

"...Guess I'm glad I didn't kill Danny," Daltry said. "Even if the answer ends up being that he was always a piece of shit. I'd rather know… How do you deal with it?"

Coulson smiled. "Grant was part of a team. And a lot of that team is still around with me. They have my back. That, having people to trust in. It helps more than you know."

"Heh," Daltry smiled quickly and nodded. "I suppose it does. And your team is pretty damn good."

Coulson blinked. He was ready to correct Daltry, to tell him that two members of that team were actually elsewhere. Then he thought about that. About Otto and Melati, and how well they had done on this mission. Of Fitz-Simmons, and how they made a point to visit him everytime he stopped by the tower. Or of Tony constantly bothering him. Of Skye. Of May.

"...Yeah. I have a damn good team," he said in satisfaction. Then he chuckled. "But now, we have to focus on the future."

"Got it," Daltry's eyes hardened. "So tell me, Coulson. What the hell do I have running around in my swamp?"

Coulson chuckled. When Daltry glared at him, Coulson shook his head. "Honestly, it's gonna be hard to swallow. But… When HYDRA and SHIELD ended up fighting in that lab, a scientist Ted Sallis was shot and fell into the swamp with a case full of experimental super-soldier serum."

"Are you even allowed to tell me about this?" Daltry asked, shocked.

"I have approval from my Director on telling you some of this," Coulson said with a wave of his hand. "Anyways… When Sallis fell into the swamp, the serums interacted with his body. My biological expert is still looking into the samples she found, and one of our experts has a theory that something may have interfered with the process," Dial had been very adamant that the Nexus of All Realities was probably involved with the process. Coulson still had trouble dealing with that idea. "But when it was over, that creature was left in his place. The Man-Thing."

"Jesus Christ," Daltry rubbed his forehead. "Who comes up with these damn names?"

Coulson didn't say anything about that.

"So what now?" Daltry asked. "Your folks come by and pick up this thing?"

"...We can't."

Daltry's eyes widened. "Why the hell not!? I can't have some giant plant monster running around in my backyard!"

Coulson winced. "Daltry. There is more going on with Man-Thing than just some 'monster'. He's necessary."

"The hell does that mean!?" Daltry asked furiously.

"It means that if he isn't in your swamp," Coulson's eyes narrowed. "Then things get worse… Citrusville, and all its people, will be in big trouble."

Daltry stared at him. "...Coulson, what-"

"We aren't going to just leave him there," Coulson said softly. "I'm having one of the Avengers come by to explain things further as soon as he's available. And BRIDGE will be making a team to help you. A group of experts," Coulson leaned forward. "John. We aren't going to leave you alone with all this. We need you to protect this town."

"Jesus Christ," Daltry mumbled. "...What do you need me to do?"

Coulson smiled. There it was. Under the uncertainty was something he'd seen from Daltry before. Stubbornness. Harsh and tough as stone. An unwillingness to back down from anything. Daltry was meeting Coulson's eyes with that hard gaze. He didn't understand what was happening in his town. But he didn't need to.

He was Citrusville's sheriff. His town needed to be protected. His own deputy, a small army, a literal plant monster, none of them changed that fact.

"We'll have that discussion soon," Coulson said. "In the meantime, just do what you always do. Protect the town."

Daltry scoffed. "As though I was going to do anything else."

May 20, 2014

"Mahmoud isn't coming?" Skye asked Coulson, confused.

Coulson, Skye, Otto, Melati, Daltry, and May were all standing on an airfield watching as a Quinjet started to make it's descent towards them.

"Director Hill said he's on leave for now," Coulson explained, eyes on the Quinjet. The truck and Daltry's sheriff car were waiting behind the small group. "Apparently his trip to the Savage Land was… harsh."

"Is he all right!?" Skye asked, turning to give him a worried look.

Coulson knew that while Skye and Mahmoud had flirted for a bit, they ended up simply being friends. Close friends. So he was quick to reassure her.

"Dial is fine. Doesn't even need medical attention. But he's taking some time off," Coulson walked forward as the Quinjet finally landed. "In the meantime, we have another expert here."

The back of the plane opened up. As the cargo door slowly lowered, a woman could be seen standing inside. She was elderly, with pale white hair and dignified air about her, her hair pulled up into a tight bun. In her purple dress, holding a black cane, she looked like a headmistress for an extremely strict school. She looked across the group with an arched brow. As she did, a small black cat ran past her, coming to a stop in front of Skye, who cooed and leaned down to pet the animal.

"Mrs. Harkness," Coulson said in greeting as the older woman came to join them. "It's a pleasure to have you here to consult."

"Mr. Coulson," the older woman responded, looking across them. She noted Octavius and Melati in particular, before stopping on Skye. "Behind the shoulders, dear. Ebony has a fondness for being petted there."

"Oh?" Skye followed suit, petting the black cat happily. "Ebony? Such a pretty name, hmm?"

The cat purred, and Agatha seemed pleased. In a very dignified way though.

"Now, I believe we are not here simply to chat, are we?" Agatha looked at Coulson, whose back straightened on instinct. "Because if you did, I will be quite cross, young man. Swamps are not to my taste."

"...I like her," May said with a smile.

They drove for a short while before finally arriving in the swamps, soon coming near the labs. However, when Daltry began to turn the car to head towards the lab, Agatha, who was sitting in the back with Skye and Ebony, spoke.

"No. Turn right."

"Huh?" Daltry looked back at her, confused. "Uh, ma'am, the lab is-"

"The lab is not what matters," Agatha cut him off mercilessly. "I sense that our true target is just behind it. Most likely connected to it. Turn right now."

"Daltry," Coulson added, looking at Agatha. The older woman met his eyes and nodded. Coulson nodded back. "I think we should trust her on this."

"...My life has gotten so weird since you BRIDGE folks," Daltry mumbled as he followed instructions.

"We get that a lot," Skye chirped.

They went down the road for some time. Then off-road. The trailer, which May, Otto, and Melati were bouncing around in, had to stop behind them. Agatha guided them to a place a few hundred feet from the secret location of the SHIELD lab.

They got out of the car, and Coulson stilled.

The swamp felt different there. Very different. It was a warm and sunny day outside. But here… it was cold. Insanely cold. The trees were so tightly packed that the canopy blocked almost all light. A heavy fog hung in the air. And there was a sense of something. Something hanging in the world. Possibility.

"W-What is this?" Daltry asked, stunned.

Ebony strode forward, paws walking atop the ground of the swamp with ease. They were in front of a section of water, the area surrounded thickly in plant-life. The black cat looked back at Agatha. The formidable older woman didn't say a word. She raised a hand and pressed a palm outward. The air rippled like water being hit by a rock.

"Jesus Christ!?" Daltry shouted in shock.

"Not quite," Agatha snapped. "Now, be silent. I am working."

Daltry gaped at her, looking at Coulson. The agent only shook his head and stepped back to watch Agatha work.

For several long minutes, Agatha simply stood there, staring at nothing. Coulson, Skye, and Daltry watched. Ebony licked herself clean.

"Coulson?" May's voice drew their attention. Melati and Otto were following May through the swamp, the trio coming to a stop beside Daltry's car. "What's going on?"

"Agatha is doing her study," Coulson whispered.

"Magic?" Otto sounded skeptical. But he didn't interrupt, only watching.

"Wonder what she's seeing," Skye whispered.

"More than can be believed," Agatha answered.

"...Ears like a bat," Skye mumbled to herself.

"Mind your manners," Agatha stopped and spun around. Hard eyes landed on Coulson. "What lunacy caused this?"

She didn't shout. But in the cold and dark place they stood in, her harsh tones might as well have been a gunshot to the heart.

"We don't know," Coulson answered.

"Uh, yes," Otto stepped forward. "We did find some strange energy readings, but were unable to detect the source. Or what exactly they are doing."

"That is because technology, for all it's incredible versatility, is not made to understand this," Agatha said grimly. "Agent Coulson. Was SHIELD attempting to access other worlds?"

Coulson shook his head, already understanding what she was getting at.

"Then this is… a natural phenomenon," Agatha said slowly, sounding surprised. "It was rumoured, but to finally see after all these years… the Nexus of all Realities."

"This is way above my paygrade," Daltry said.

"The Nexus?" Melati asked.

"A cross-dimensional gateway," Agatha explained. "A place where all of the multiverse is connected. From here, one could travel in between all realities."

"Are you serious?" Otto asked, stunned. "The Multiverse… Do you have proof?"

Agatha scowled at him. "Don't be foolish. To try and prove it would be to open our world to the worlds beyond. I would rather not initiate another Rio or Atlantis incident."

No one seemed to know what to say tothatimplication.

"This place should be guarded," Agatha said, sounding confused. "Where… Oh."

He rose. From out of the waters of the swamp, he slowly peaked up at them. Red eyes blinked lazily. Then he walked up to them.

"Jesus," Daltry said softly.

"Don't be afraid," Coulson said. Not to try and console, but to warn. The instant one of them felt any fear, they were dead.

The Man-Thing strode towards them, coming to a stop before Agatha. She stared up at the creature, undaunted by his size or appearance. Instead, she seemed sad.

"Oh. Oh you poor wretched creature," Agatha held out a hand and placed it on Man-Thing's chest. She shook her head. "What did you do to deserve this?"

The Man-Thing's red eyes closed.

"...Is there a way to change him back?" Coulson asked.

Agatha shook her head. "No. Whatever happened… I can feel the strands of metaphysical energy tying him to the Nexus. He is it's guardian. The one chosen to protect it and destroy those that would come out of it."

"Ted Sallis is dead then," Otto said sadly.

"No," Agatha shook her head. She closed her eyes and hummed to herself. "I sense a human soul within this creature. Sleeping within… Perhaps that is the genius of the Nexus," Agatha turned to look at them. "A human soul, so the creature cannot be possessed. Asleep, so it cannot be manipulated. But also so that it might have the strength that humanity can offer it."

"...So we can't get rid of this thing?" Daltry asked gruffly.

"Absolutely not!" Agatha barked. She rounded on Daltry in an instant. "This creature is tied to the Nexus you fool! It is it's guardian! The protector of our world! He must not be destroyed, moved, or controlled!"

"Okay, okay, damn!" Daltry stepped back in the face of the witch's fury. "I get it. But I need to keep my town safe. If this thing is wandering around melting faces off the second someone gets spooked, I can't just stand by."

Agatha calmed, turning to look at the Man-Thing. The tall creature looked around. Then it turned and began to walk away, apparently no longer interested in it's visitors. "I suppose that I will have to suggest some ways to aid in keeping the unwary from this swamp. This must be kept secret however… The Nexus of All Realities is dangerous. Possibly more dangerous than anything else in this universe."

Dial had said the same thing, Coulson mused to himself. That this thing was the equivalent of finding the Death Star in the middle of nowhere.

"Then it should be studied," Otto said softly.

"Indeed," Agatha Harkness turned her back on the swamp and the Man-Thing, who disappeared into the waters. "In the meantime, I will begin preparing some basic wards. Something to drive off any curious minds, giving them an urgent need to be elsewhere."

"Like Hogwarts?" Skye asked.

"Uh, maybe we shouldn't make that compariso-" Coulson began to say nervously.

"Exactly like Hogwarts," Agatha said, nodding her head.

Coulson blinked. Huh. He thought she'd be offended, but she just went with it instead.

"Once I am done, I'll write up a proposal to your director on what should be done next," Agatha declared.

"Great," Coulson said. "In the meantime… there's someone I need to see."

A couple of hours later, the Citrusville Psychiatric Hospital

Coulson, Barbara, and Daltry were in her room. Coulson was speaking, while Daltry stood beside Barbara. He was looking down at her, worry on his face.

Barbara wasn't speaking. Her hands were clenched tightly together, placed on her knees as she sat there. Drops of water hit the floor as Coulson spoke.

"-still alive," the agent said as kindly as he could. "But… Ted isn't there anymore. That creature. It's replaced him. Turned him into a guardian. And there's no coming back from it. He will always be that way… I'm so sorry, Barbar-"

"Stop."

They sat in silence for a moment.

"I prayed he was somehow out there. But not like this," Barbara looked up at Coulson. Her face, still a ruined mess on half of it, was dripping wet. She rubbed her face under her nose, snorting as snot dropped from it. She winced, and let out a sob. "Oh g-god," she said, shaking. "T-Ted i-is-"

She cried. Openly, with no shame, she cried. It was a sad, ugly thing. Coulson and Daltry didn't stop her. Daltry leaned down towards her, wrapping his arms around her. She stared, unseeing, at the wall as she wailed. Coulson shut his eyes.

This was the part he'd hated. The people who were left behind, when the monsters were created. When people were lost.

"It's okay," Daltry lied to Barbara. "It's okay."