Chapter 129: The Recruitment of Mike Peterson

It was a normal morning on the Bus, or at least as normal as a morning could be for a team of SHIELD agents. After their night off at the diner, the team was back to their routine, and as usual, it wasn't long before a new mission was placed in their hands.

Coulson was gathered with the team in the briefing room, his face more serious than usual. He looked around the table, observing each member carefully.

"We have a new mission," he announced, crossing his arms as a hologram of a file appeared on the table. "Super soldiers infused with the Centipede serum are appearing in several cities. They are dangerous, well-trained, and have shown superhuman strength. We cannot underestimate them."

May, sitting with her arms crossed, frowned.

"Super soldiers? It seems someone is trying to replicate the Centipede project again."

"Exactly," Coulson confirmed. — And for this mission, I believe we need backup.

He pressed a few buttons on the panel, and the image of Mike Peterson appeared in the center of the hologram. Mike, the man who had once been a victim of the Centipede project, was now training at the SHIELD academy, trying to control his powers and deal with the emotional impact of his transformation.

Ward, who had been quiet until then, leaned forward.

— Do you want to recruit Mike Peterson for this mission? — His voice carried a tone of skepticism. — Don't you think he might be volatile, considering what he's been through?

Coulson shook his head.

— Mike has potential. He's more in control now, and we're dealing with super soldiers. We need someone who has the same level of strength to deal with them.

May agreed with Ward, although she wasn't one to voice her concerns openly. Her rigid posture spoke volumes.

— Mike is a double-edged sword, — she said, calm and direct as always. — He's already proven himself to be a valuable asset, but what happened before... we have to be careful.

Coulson sighed, understanding both of their concerns.

"I know there are risks, but we have to trust his training. He wants to do the right thing, and I believe we can help him find that path." Skye, ever the champion of those seeking redemption, looked at Coulson with empathy.

"Mike wants to change. He wants to be a hero, and I think this might be his chance. If he's training at the SHIELD academy, it's because he believes he can do it."

The room was silent for a few moments. Ward and May exchanged glances, clearly unconvinced, but they trusted Coulson and knew he rarely made rash decisions.

"If we're going to do this," Ward said finally, "we have to monitor him closely. Any sign of instability, and we pull him off the mission."

Coulson nodded.

"I agree. We'll keep him under control and make sure he's prepared. Now, the mission."

He switched the hologram to security footage showing a prison. A familiar, hooded figure appeared in the images.

"That's Raina," Coulson continued, pointing to the image. "She's been seen recruiting prisoners. We believe she's working with someone much more powerful, someone they call 'The Clairvoyant.' We don't know who he is yet, but he's been providing strategic information to Raina and her allies." May frowned as she analyzed the images.

"This woman has caused trouble before. And now it looks like she's assembling an army of super soldiers."

"Exactly," Coulson said. "We need to find out what she's planning and stop her before she causes more damage." Skye leaned in to take a closer look at the images.

"She recently released someone. A man named Edison Po," she said, after a quick search of SHIELD's files. "Po was a high-level military strategist before he was arrested. If he's involved, that's not good."

Coulson pressed a few more buttons, and the information about Edison Po appeared.

— Po was freed by super soldiers infused with the Centipede serum. He is now working with Raina, and she seems to be interested in consulting him about the Clairvoyant.

"What do we know about the Clairvoyant?" Ward asked, crossing his arms.

"Very little," Coulson admitted. "We know that he has detailed information about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s movements and seems to predict our actions before we can react. He is a natural strategist and extremely dangerous. We do not yet know his identity, but we must act quickly before his plans advance further."

At that moment, the monitor in the corner of the room blinked, signaling a call. Coulson accepted the call, and Mike Peterson's image appeared on the screen.

"Mister Coulson," Mike greeted, his voice carrying a mix of determination and uncertainty. "I was informed that you wanted to speak with me."

Coulson approached the screen, crossing his arms.

"Mike, we need you for a mission. We are dealing with super soldiers who are using a version of the Centipede serum. I know you're still recovering, but we believe you can help us."

Mike looked hesitant for a moment, but then nodded.

"I've been training for this. I'm ready. I want to do the right thing, sir."

Ward, who had been listening to the conversation, frowned but remained silent. He still had his doubts, but he knew Coulson was making a strategic decision.

"Very well," Coulson said firmly. "We'll send you the coordinates and meet you at the location. Get ready."

When the call ended, Coulson looked at the rest of the team.

"Let's get ready. We have a long journey ahead of us."

Later that day, Skye, May, and Mike were in the monitoring room, reviewing the security tapes from the prison where Raina had recruited Po. Skye was typing furiously on the keyboard, searching for more information.

"Here it is," she said, highlighting a portion of the recording. "It's definitely Raina. She infiltrated the prison with ease and freed Po with the help of the super soldiers."

Mike watched the screen intently, visibly uncomfortable at the sight of Raina, the woman who had once tried to manipulate him.

"Raina…" he murmured. "She was the one who recruited me in the first place. I can't let her do this to more people."

May, beside Mike, crossed her arms.

"We'll stop her. No matter what she's planning, we won't let her continue."

Meanwhile, across the city, Raina sat in a dark room with Edison Po. She looked at him with a cold smile, while Po adjusted his tie with military precision.

"The Clairvoyant is anxious to hear how we're progressing," Raina said, her voice soft but full of purpose.

"We're moving forward as planned," Po replied. "The super soldiers are ready, and the next step will be to consult with him to decide our next moves."

Raina nodded, satisfied.

"Everything is proceeding as planned. The Clairvoyant knows exactly what to do."

Po, with a calculating look, took out his phone and began typing a message.

"Let's see what he has to say about our next target."

Meanwhile, on the Bus, the team was ready for the mission. They didn't know that, on the other side, Raina and her allies were already one step ahead, ready to launch their next attack.

The battle against the Centipede project and the Clairvoyant was just beginning.