A DARK VEIL of sadness and loss had descended upon S.H.I.E.L.D, whilst HYDRA was reveling in the joy of the Patriot's demise, but no matter how people felt about it, there was no escaping the truth — the Resistance was without a leader after the attack on HYDRA's Enlightenment Cultivation Center.
For Jenna Rivers, it felt like losing her father all over again — not because she had been particularly close with Jeffrey Mace, as she really hadn't, but because Henry had been an important part of S.H.I.E.L.D too. He had defended the agency and its beliefs until his very last breath, and still to this day, he was remembered as some kind of an iconic hero, and no doubt Jeffrey Mace would become an equal legend over time. And, nevertheless, it was never easy to lose someone — especially if you had to actually witness their death, and accept that there was nothing to be done.
And that was why this felt like the aftermath of Henry Rivers' death on repeat. Because as he had passed away, he had inspired Jenna to join S.H.I.E.L.D and become an agent like him, and now, the Patriot's death was giving her the push she needed to work harder for their freedom. She wanted to bring S.H.I.E.L.D to its former glory, even if it was merely in the Framework, and she wanted to be reunited with Fitz, and she wanted to get out and live happily ever after in the real world. Watching Mace die, leaving him to his fate, it had made Jenna feel useless and like she hadn't done enough, but now, she could do so much and that was an opportunity she wasn't going to throw away.
"You okay?", Evan's voice snapped Jenna out of her thoughts, and she made a spin around to find her brother standing there, with Simmons by his side, a sight that earned a smile from the scientist. "I mean, emotionally and physically", he added whilst gesturing towards Jenna's shoulder, and as her lips parted, the blonde looked over to her arm where a scar was already forming on the place of the gunshot wound.
Exhaling, she looked back to Evan and Jemma and shook her head. "My shoulder is fine, it's whatever, and you know me. Always turning grief into motivation, and that's what I'm gonna do — I want to put an end to this. To Madame Hydra", Jenna faced them with bravery, and in an instant, Simmons broke into a smile.
"Well, then I have some good news. There was an attack on Madame Hydra, and I'm quite sure it was Daisy. She is on the run with May, and once we're reunited, we'll form a plan to escape", Jemma explained, and as expected, it put a smile on Jenna's face as the blonde clapped her hands together in enthusiasm. Finally, something that wasn't a complete failure or a miserable tragedy. "I'm going to go over the photos that Trip managed to get with him. Do you want to join?", Simmons continued before Jenna could say anything, and as she looked over to the arm that was being offered to her, the blonde nodded eagerly.
"I'll catch up with you", Jenna confirmed, and with that, Simmons flashed a smile and walked away. Once she was all alone with Evan, the younger Rivers turned to her brother with a lifted eyebrow and a curious gaze in her eyes. "So, Ward, huh? Or men in general?", she couldn't help but ask, and breaking into a sheepish grin, Evan shrugged.
"It's no big deal, really. Just something I've figured out over time", he radiated, and smiling back at him, Jenna leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Well, I'm proud of you. For a lot of reasons. And no matter what, I'll support you, okay? Love you", she took his hand gently, and for a moment, they just stood there — a happy part of a family, nothing but love and adoration for one another.
But eventually, Jenna realized something and it made Evan laugh as she said it out loud. "I should probably call mom and Jane too."
—————
JENNA HAD SURPRISINGLY little trouble finding Simmons and the agent named Antoine Triplett, both of them looking at the photos he had taken whilst undercover at HYDRA, and as she entered the small room, Jenna couldn't help but smile. Simmons had told her about Trip and how he had been a part of the real world too, and as she looked at them talk about his grandfather, who had been one of the legendary Howling Commandos, it did seem like they were old friends. Even if Trip had no idea who she actually was.
"Howling Commandos, huh? That's pretty awesome. I've always been a Captain America fan", Jenna sneakily inserted herself into the conversation, and both of the S.H.I.E.L.D agents in front of her turned to look at the blonde, with Trip breaking into a grin and offering his hand for her to shake.
"Really freaking awesome, yeah", he laughed, "I'm Antoine Triplett, people tend to call me Trip, though", and nodding eagerly, Jenna took his extended hand for a quick shake.
"Jenna Rivers. It's great to meet you, I've heard lots about you", the scientist radiated with joy, but sadly, the good mood in the room was brought down with Simmons' panicked "Oh no, no, no", which caused both Trip and Jenna to turn to the biochemist with worried stares rooted deep in their eyes. The woman never made a fuss about something irrelevant, so Jenna was already taking the horror on Simmons' face quite seriously — clearly, today wasn't going to be as laid-back as the blonde had hoped for.
With her eyebrows knitted together, she stood by Simmons and eyed the drawings in her hands, titled Project Looking Glass — a rather ominous name. "Is that quantum-energy manipulation?", Jenna wondered out loud, with a mixture of concern and confusion landing upon her own heart, and licking her lips nervously, Simmons bobbed her head in a quiet nod while staring at the picture.
"Darkhold tech", she blurted out, and Jenna stepped back, as she had heard of that dangerous book before — she had never seen it herself, but she was glad, as the tales she had heard in the world of science made it sound fairly nightmarish. And whatever this was... if it had anything to do with Darkhold, it couldn't be good. "I've seen this machinery before. It was designed to build elements from thin air. This looks like it's creating something even more complex. That machine required an immense amount of energy. It was powered by a hydroelectric dam", Simmons proceeded to explain, handing the picture to Trip before pacing back and forth the room with her mind trying to come up with a solution.
Nodding, Jenna sighed. "And obviously, this device would require a more significant source of energy", she put two and two together, and although Trip was struggling to understand any of their science talk, he did contribute to the matter by sharing all that he knew.
"Well, I got nothing about a dam, but I heard someone talking about shipping parts East to some oil-drilling platform while I was undercover", he shed some light from his point of view, and whereas it didn't ring any bells for Jenna, Simmons chuckled quickly, figuring out what was going on like the smart girl she was.
"Ivanov's base in the Baltic Sea. Of course AIDA's using his assets here. She's probably working with him on this side, too", she murmured out loud, and even if Jenna was nearly as lost as Trip, she understood that Simmons was referring to the real world, and AIDA's connections there. Frankly, the more she heard about the life-model decoy, the more Jenna hated her. Not only that, but each time she was also reminded how truly, undoubtedly dangerous Madame Hydra was, and how stopping her was absolutely necessary.
And of course, the thought of her and Fitz, together, helped Jenna motivate, bringing up lovely ideas of ripping her fake robot head off of her artificial shoulders.
"I think I know where the machine is being built. Can we take the Quinjet on a recon mission?", Jemma then continued, looking over to Trip, and once the man assured that no one was there to tell them no, Jenna brought her hands together in agreement, forcing her to hiss at the jolt of pain that poked at her shoulder.
"I don't care what you say", she defended herself before either S.H.I.E.L.D agent could spew any speeches of hope and well-being, "I'm coming with you."
Whatever could be done to destroy AIDA and her evil schemes for good, Jenna was down for it.
—————
"I HEARD YOU went undercover at HYDRA too", Trip nudged Jenna as the two were seated in the smoothly flying Quinjet, earning the woman's attention as she looked up at him and let the image of Fitz's adorable smile fade from her thoughts. "To save... the Doctor?", the man continued, treading carefully on the subject, and in return, Jenna chuckled softly.
"Sounds insane, I know. Would you believe me if I said he's been brainwashed and he's actually a cute little nerd who works for S.H.I.E.L.D?", she wondered, and with a shrug, Trip flashed a grin at her.
"Girl, it's HYDRA. I've heard crazier stories. For what it's worth, I hope you get him back one day. It would be pretty good for the rest of us, too", he explained, and unable to hold back a giggle, Jenna figured that it was a good point. If she got Fitz back and opened his eyes, the Framework would no longer have a slightly deranged leader to direct them down the wrong path. The path that tortured kids, destroyed lives, tore familiar aparts, stained innocent hands with blood.
Once Simmons had spotted a drilling platform, with a different structure than the rest, the Quinjet landed and the three of them, along with a bunch of agents to ensure their safety, rushed outside and into the dimly lit hallways. Guns in hand and lifted, Simmons, Trip and Jenna led the way confidently — although the latter would have loved to submit to the fear threatening to break through the barriers and flood into her heart, Jenna was too caught up in the idea of getting out, getting freedom, and getting Fitz back. For all that, she was willing to go beyond her comfort-zone.
"On my mark", Trip instructed before they burst through the door that Jenna had pointed out, and with her hands squeezing the weapon slightly tighter, the blonde was watching the man's back in case someone would jump on him. Of course, she was loyal to a fellow S.H.I.E.L.D agent, but on top of that, she was beginning to truly bond with him.
However, once they raided the room, they came to the conclusion that there was quite literally nothing there. No one. Just emptiness and a disappointment to smack them in the face.
"I guess this isn't where she's building the damn thing", Antoine sighed, lowering his gun as he walked around quietly, with the other agents spreading out to confirm the space was devoid of other people.
But, Simmons wasn't giving in so easily. "No, this is where she's building it, just not in this world", she pointed out, her face contorted with frustration anger when she continued, "and now I know what it will do. I knew the machine could create matter, but AIDA's gone beyond that. She's found a way to generate living matter human tissue. She wants to make herself into a real person."
Looking over to her best friend with shock widening her eyes, Jenna gulped. "A real person?", she whispered whilst pushing her gun into its holster, "she can do that?", and all it took was one convincing nod from Simmons to make her feel like fainting. She already hated AIDA as the artificial being she was — what would she be like as a real person? Nothing too delightful, for sure.
"Hey, I'm not gonna pretend to get all this, but I'm here to help", Trip interjected with his tone soft and reassuring, and even more surprised now, Jenna faced him with a hint of disbelief visible in her eyes.
"You believe us? You do realize we're talking about an entirely different world here, right?", the scientist crossed her arms, but much to her relief, Trip didn't change his stance on the matter.
"Come on. That's way too crazy a story to make up", he grinned, and sighing in happiness and comfort, Simmons seemed to silently praise whatever divine powers had allowed this small victory. It seemed that everyone doubted them when they mentioned the real world, and while Jenna didn't exactly blame them for struggling, it was quite refreshing to find someone who put his faith in them. "But whatever we do, we need to do it fast. When I took those pictures, talk was they were about a week out from finishing the project", Trip continued suddenly, and turning to him as well, Simmons lifted an eyebrow.
"And when was that?", she questioned nervously, and naturally, the answer was exactly what they dreaded.
"About a week ago."
»»»
aww, some trip and jenna bonding (': i loved trip, i was so upset when he died because hE DID NOT DESERVE THAT
not too many chapters to go, i'll wrap up episode 19 in the next chapter and then also dive into episode 20, which means that the end is very, very near omg. prepare yourselves!