"Ahsoka you're in trouble. You're too rash just like your teacher Anakin. I should be running this operation because we are wasting time." Agent Hand complained
"This isn't your place to talk to Ahsoka like that it's Anakin's." May said with disapproval
"Garrett is using the battle and this blockade around Ryloth to further Project Centipede. Coulson just communicated with us that even though Garrett lost his base of operations he has the means to create more GH325. The Jedi are going to have their hands full if the Seperatist get supersoilders." Agent Hand argued
"That doesn't give you an excuse to talk to my padawan like that. I should order you off the bridge of my ship for you selling Master Kenobi and I to pirates." Anakin said as he entered the bridge
"I was trying to preserve my cover as the Clairvoyant. Dooku hadn't met the real Clairvoyant in person so there was an opportunity to get close enough to stop him. If it meant sacrificing two Jedi out of the thousands of Jedi that are in this war than so be it." Agent Hand replied dismissively
"That's not your call to make Hand. It's Director Fury's and Master Yoda's. You can't just unilaterally make these decisions and act like it's ok. We are a team and we need each other. We can't do this alone." May challenged
"She's right. Ahsoka you need to remember to work with others and not rush off and do things your own way. Don't act like Agent Hand and risk the lives of those you command like their worthless chess pieces." Anakin warned
Hand scoffed and shook her head while May continued to glare at Hand.
"I thought I could knock out those battleships so when Master Obi-Wan arrived, he could get through. It took so long for Agent Hand, May and I to get to your airship I wanted to make up for lost time. We lost Agent Triplett and so many others. I was trying to save lives by ordering our troops to move quickly." Ahsoka explained
"I know you meant well, Snips, but there's a bigger picture that you're not aware of. You need to think before you issue commands. A good leader and a good strategist considers all their options and values their subordinates." Anakin said to Ahsoka gently
"I understand Sky Guy." Ahsoka groaned
"What's with the attitude Ahsoka. He's your SO. Show him some respect." Agent Hand demanded
"What would you know about being an SO Victoria? You haven't had that role in your entire career at Shield." Agent May questioned
"This is Phil Coulson with an urgent message. Agent Hand has been operating as Agent Ward's secret SO. She trained him to be an unauthorized triple Agent within Shield with Agent Garrett as his official SO. Due to Hand's influence Ward has kidnapped Agent Skye, Agent Fitz and Agent Simmons and murdered FitzSimmons and countless other Agents to preserve his cover as a triple Agent. Ward and Hand need to be detained immediately for questioning." Coulson announced over the Star Destroyer's loudspeaker system
"I'm being arrested but not Agent May? All Shield Agents are wanted for questioning by the United Republic." Hand complained while raising her hands in surrender
"Agent May puts her life on the line for those under her command. Therefore as the ranking authority on this Star Destroyer she and the rest of Coulson's team are officially under amnesty. You on the other hand, ha, ha, ha are a suspect in an investigation on the Separatist. You're lucky I don't kill you where you stand. FitzSimmons death is on your hands. Captain Rex take this suspect to the brig." Anakin ordered
Hand scowled as Captain Rex and his fellow Clones Echo and Fives arrested Hand and took her to the brig.
"Thank you for having my back Anakin." May said
"I'm just returning the favor. Thank you for looking out for Ahsoka ever since she joined Coulson's team. You aren't a woman of many words but your selfless actions more than make up for it. That's why I need to trust you to watch over Ahsoka again.
The only way we can break the blockade is if I pilot the Defender airship right into the Seperatist battleship and take out the commander.
It'll throw the rest of Seperatist fleet in complete disarray and would make it easier for Coulson and the others to locate Garrett. His forces on Ryloth will be too distracted to protect him."
"What?! That's too risky Master! You could die!" Ahsoka exclaimed
"I'm not like Agent Hand and you're not like Agent Ward. When I lead I can be tough on you but I also want to protect and support you. That's why I'm doing this so I'm the only one at risk. Besides, the Defender is damaged already and May is going to help you come with a strategy so that you and the rest of the fleet will have my back when I fly out towards the command ship." Anakin reassured
"Master, I-I can't. If something goes wrong, I can't be responsible for anyone else dying under my command." Ahsoka argued
"You are responsible, Ahsoka. That's the responsibility that comes with leadership. And I've failed before and learned from it. May has failed and I believe it's why she stopped doing field missions for Shield but she's learned from it. She's here by our side right now. You're not alone Snips. We can do this together. That's why I'm counting on you and so does May." Anakin complimented
May nodded and gave Ahsoka a smile
Ahsoka returned May's smile with one of her own.
"Ok Master. Alright May let's get to work so that we can help Sky Guy succeed at taking down this blockade."
"Sky Guy. I'm starting to like that nickname." May teased with another smile
****
FitzSimmons struggled to process how their former teammate no friend betrayed them. Ward was someone they spent months with on the Bus not just helping him complete missions in the field with their scientific expertise but also playing games and sharing laughs with him. Ward wasn't even a friend at that point he became a big brother who protected them. However it was clear that all of that was a facade. Ward simply wore a mask to hide his true self just like all of the other Hydra Agents who infiltrated Shield.
Simmons was surprised at how quickly Fitz moved on from Ward's betrayal now that the escape pod began to sink to the bottom of the ocean. Then again...their situation was dire and time sensitive. Their oxygen was limited and once it ran out the two of them would pass out and die from suffocation. She wasn't exactly sure how much oxygen they had but Fitz was using a screwdriver to break open a control panel for the escape pod.
"We need to act quickly. The priority is giving ourselves more oxygen. The default setting on the escape pod is two hours worth of oxygen. So Ward and Garrett are going to fly the Bus around in a circle for that amount of time. Once 2 hours passes they'll think we're dead and move on to another location."
"Based upon the escape pod's programmed ability to recycle carbon dioxide into oxygen and its internal power supply you'll be able to give us another 6 hours of oxygen. That'll give us plenty of time to-" Simmons said
"Reconstruct a distress signal on old emergency Shield codes. A number of Jedi loyal to Coulson as well as Shield Agents on the run should pick up this signal and come to rescue us. We just need to create a propulsion system using the excess oxygen-" Fitz interrupted
"To generate air pressure that would be greater than the sea pressure that's forcing this escape pod to the bottom of the ocean. We should be able to build this propulsion system in a few hours. Brilliant idea Fitz." Simmons complimented
"Even in life threatening situations we still finish each other's sentences. I'm so grateful that I have you as a partner Jemma."
"I should be the grateful one Fitz. You always seemed to lock in and problem solve in a way that I couldn't do."
"Well then let's do what we do best and science our way out of a horrible situation." Fitz said with confidence
Simmons nodded and the pair got to work. It took a little bit longer than their initial calculations but they finished after 7 hours of work. They had an emergency signal and a makeshift propulsion system that would push them towards the surface. That meant their oxygen supply was dangerously low. FitzSimmons margin for error to escape was zero. They only had one opportunity to escape.
"Alright we need to hurry. We have to do this soon because-" Fitz began
"We don't have much oxygen left." Simmons finished giving him a confident nod
"Now when I press that power button the escape pod will collapse and the air pressure will push the pod to the surface. It's going to feel like a hundred punches to the stomach so the wind will be knocked right out of us. This oxygen tank is near empty but I rigged it so that it will have a burst of air pressure into your lungs. You need to hold onto it and don't let go but hold on tight okay?"
Simmons confused said, "One burst of air? There's two of us. Fitz there has to he another way."
"I've done the calculations. This is the only way. You have to take it because you're a better swimmer than me. The odds of our rescue are higher if you take it."
"No...I'm not going to let you put your life at risk. We need a new plan." Simmons argued
"We're not discussing this. You're taking it end of story. I couldn't live with myself if you didn't take it." Fitz insisted
"I'd feel the same exact way if I let you hurt yourself for me. Why would you do this? You're my best friend in the whole world I don't want you to get hurt!" Simmons shouted
"Yeah and you're more than a friend to me Jemma. I love you but I was...too scared to tell you. So please...let me show you."
Simmons eyes widened in shock unsure of how to process this information. Simmons struggled to do this and started crying. She hugged Fitz and gave him kisses on his forehead and each of his cheeks. She realized Fitz could potentially die and she didn't want to lose her closest friend. Yet she knew Fitz's mind was made up but she still stubbornly continued to hug him refusing to let go.
"It's ok Jemma." Fitz attempted to console
"No...no...it's not." Simmons said as she continued to cry
"You have to take it."
"No."
Fitz shoved the oxygen tank in Simmons hand and then immediately pressed the button to their makeshift propulsion system.
"No!" Simmons screamed
The escape pod cracked open and floated upward. Simmons wearing the oxygen tank grabbed the unconcious Fitz with her left hand and pressed the nozzle of tank to her chest with her left arm. She continued swimming for another 50 feet as she saw the escape pod sink back to the bottom of the ocean. She reached the surface holding Fitz with her left arm and she let the oxygen tank drift to the bottom of the ocean as well. She stared at Fitz as she felt him getting cold. Their was very little time before he...Simmons shook her head refusing to accept that Fitz was going to die. Simmons started to panic as she looked out at the vast ocean with no air or water ships in sight.