Resurrection - Chapter 3
Having completed the initial rebuilding of S.H.I.E.L.D, Coulson turns his attention to those who will be the next generation of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. His charge to them is simple...and honest.
Chapter 3
As they settled into the cockpit seats of the jump jet May began running through the pre-flight check list. Coulson just sat back, continually wondering if the decisions he had made were good. As May rotated the plane into the air he finally spoke. “Did I get it right?”
Obviously it was a loaded question, and May knew exactly what he meant. “I think it’s a good start,” she said, nodding slightly as she retracted the landing gear and began the climb out from the airport. “I didn’t see any glaring problems, but...well...time will tell.” Coulson remained silent, digesting her response. “They’re going to have to get used to your management style. You and Fury don’t have much in common.”
Coulson smiled. “Yes, I suppose that’s true. Although, I’m not sure he was much on direct supervision of anybody outside of the field agents. I can’t really visualize him sitting in an office sorting through reams of paperwork about budgets and paperclips.” He paused. “Does anybody actually still use paperclips?”
Now it was May’s turn to smile. “Probably not, but being a governmental agency there are probably several cases of them in various storage rooms…just in case. I know we still have staplers.” Coulson nodded, knowing full well that the machine that created rules and red tape would continue to function, just as it always did.
“So, what’s the schedule?” May asked as they settled in for the flight.
“I have to talk to the students at Science and Tech, and then we’ll get back on the bus. It’s supposed to meet us there.”
May looked at him, studying his face before responding. “So you really are going back on the bus? Isn’t that a rather strange place for the Director?”
Coulson nodded. “True. Well, yes and no. Fury was usually on the helicarrier, but only because we had it. That was his command post, at least for the big things.” He stopped and returned her serious look. “That’s not me. Sitting in an office isn’t me. Walking around in some command bunker isn’t me either. You know me better than that.”
May almost cracked a smile, and then nodded imperceptibly. “So, you still want to get your hands dirty. What’s the mission?”
He shrugged. “Hard to know right now. There’s nothing specific on the radar at this moment, but that can change. All those people who escaped from the fridge are still out there, or…well…they’re out there again. The only one we got, not counting Garrett and Ward, is Marcus Daniels. There are probably another dozen or so. Raina is still out there.”
“Do you really think we can find them all?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I think we have to try. I know we have to try. I just hope we’re not too late.”
For the next two hours neither of them said much more. Coulson napped lightly and May retreated into her meditation, seeking solace in her usual hide-away while the autopilot kept them on course.
* * * * *
Like the employees in the auditorium at the Hub, the student body at Science and Tech no longer filled the space. Some who had been recruited by Hydra were gone, and some had simply decided on a new vocation when reality invaded the campus, deciding that the honor and glory of working in the most advanced, cutting edge labs in the world wasn’t worth the danger that came with the job. As Coulson walked onto the stage the room went silent.
“You all know that SHIELD has been attacked from within. Like all other remaining personnel we have asked you to endure a difficult interrogation. I am happy to acknowledge that everyone here, every one of you, passed. A few have chosen to leave regardless, and while I regret that I can understand their concerns and those of their parents. We will miss them, but we must move on.”
“As we move forward I will ask only two things of you. First, I ask that you dedicate yourself to helping rebuild this agency. We need your best. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t bright and able. I know that. I know that you can make valuable contributions to our cause. You must know that too. As you now know for certain, there are others, equally bright, equally able, and more importantly very well funded…working to challenge the structures of free societies. They are willing to sell their services to the highest bidder, often without regard to the end use of their research.”
“We cannot change their decisions, and the results of their work will make our own jobs harder. I’d like to believe we can stay ahead of them, but, in fact, in some situations we’re already playing catch-up. For you, that is the challenge, and I don’t say that lightly.”
“The second thing I ask is more subtle. I’m asking you to believe. I can’t promise you that we won’t make mistakes. I can’t promise you our future will be free of danger. I can’t promise you that the next attack won’t end in success. The battle of New York was a close call, and there will be more. But…I need you to believe.”
“I need you to believe that we will try to do things right. I need you to believe that we will always attempt to do the right things. I need you to believe that the job we do is important. I need you to believe that we can protect people who cannot protect themselves, and that that is a worthy calling. I…I need you to believe.”
“I need you to trust. Trust yourselves. Trust each other. Be there for each other. Trust your professors. Trust…your instincts. You are not here for financial gain, and sadly some of your discoveries will go unrecognized. While we have developed Nobel Laureates, it’s not a given that your work will become public or your successes will be recognized. Some of the most impressive things you do may be in fields where no recognition is possible. ”
“Believe…and trust. I know those are hard things. I know those things are even harder now. But SHIELD wasn’t created to do easy things. It wasn’t created to hard things. It was created to do impossible things. It was created to fight against unknowns, against super and supernatural powers.” Then he spoke more slowly, allowing his quiet words to resonate throughout the hall. “SHIELD was created to provide hope where none existed. It was created…to protect, and as never before…the world needs protection.”
Then, very softly, he added more. “The world needs our protection.”
Chapter 3
As they settled into the cockpit seats of the jump jet May began running through the pre-flight check list. Coulson just sat back, continually wondering if the decisions he had made were good. As May rotated the plane into the air he finally spoke. “Did I get it right?”
Obviously it was a loaded question, and May knew exactly what he meant. “I think it’s a good start,” she said, nodding slightly as she retracted the landing gear and began the climb out from the airport. “I didn’t see any glaring problems, but...well...time will tell.” Coulson remained silent, digesting her response. “They’re going to have to get used to your management style. You and Fury don’t have much in common.”
Coulson smiled. “Yes, I suppose that’s true. Although, I’m not sure he was much on direct supervision of anybody outside of the field agents. I can’t really visualize him sitting in an office sorting through reams of paperwork about budgets and paperclips.” He paused. “Does anybody actually still use paperclips?”
Now it was May’s turn to smile. “Probably not, but being a governmental agency there are probably several cases of them in various storage rooms…just in case. I know we still have staplers.” Coulson nodded, knowing full well that the machine that created rules and red tape would continue to function, just as it always did.
“So, what’s the schedule?” May asked as they settled in for the flight.
“I have to talk to the students at Science and Tech, and then we’ll get back on the bus. It’s supposed to meet us there.”
May looked at him, studying his face before responding. “So you really are going back on the bus? Isn’t that a rather strange place for the Director?”
Coulson nodded. “True. Well, yes and no. Fury was usually on the helicarrier, but only because we had it. That was his command post, at least for the big things.” He stopped and returned her serious look. “That’s not me. Sitting in an office isn’t me. Walking around in some command bunker isn’t me either. You know me better than that.”
May almost cracked a smile, and then nodded imperceptibly. “So, you still want to get your hands dirty. What’s the mission?”
He shrugged. “Hard to know right now. There’s nothing specific on the radar at this moment, but that can change. All those people who escaped from the fridge are still out there, or…well…they’re out there again. The only one we got, not counting Garrett and Ward, is Marcus Daniels. There are probably another dozen or so. Raina is still out there.”
“Do you really think we can find them all?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I think we have to try. I know we have to try. I just hope we’re not too late.”
For the next two hours neither of them said much more. Coulson napped lightly and May retreated into her meditation, seeking solace in her usual hide-away while the autopilot kept them on course.
* * * * *
Like the employees in the auditorium at the Hub, the student body at Science and Tech no longer filled the space. Some who had been recruited by Hydra were gone, and some had simply decided on a new vocation when reality invaded the campus, deciding that the honor and glory of working in the most advanced, cutting edge labs in the world wasn’t worth the danger that came with the job. As Coulson walked onto the stage the room went silent.
“You all know that SHIELD has been attacked from within. Like all other remaining personnel we have asked you to endure a difficult interrogation. I am happy to acknowledge that everyone here, every one of you, passed. A few have chosen to leave regardless, and while I regret that I can understand their concerns and those of their parents. We will miss them, but we must move on.”
“As we move forward I will ask only two things of you. First, I ask that you dedicate yourself to helping rebuild this agency. We need your best. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t bright and able. I know that. I know that you can make valuable contributions to our cause. You must know that too. As you now know for certain, there are others, equally bright, equally able, and more importantly very well funded…working to challenge the structures of free societies. They are willing to sell their services to the highest bidder, often without regard to the end use of their research.”
“We cannot change their decisions, and the results of their work will make our own jobs harder. I’d like to believe we can stay ahead of them, but, in fact, in some situations we’re already playing catch-up. For you, that is the challenge, and I don’t say that lightly.”
“The second thing I ask is more subtle. I’m asking you to believe. I can’t promise you that we won’t make mistakes. I can’t promise you our future will be free of danger. I can’t promise you that the next attack won’t end in success. The battle of New York was a close call, and there will be more. But…I need you to believe.”
“I need you to believe that we will try to do things right. I need you to believe that we will always attempt to do the right things. I need you to believe that the job we do is important. I need you to believe that we can protect people who cannot protect themselves, and that that is a worthy calling. I…I need you to believe.”
“I need you to trust. Trust yourselves. Trust each other. Be there for each other. Trust your professors. Trust…your instincts. You are not here for financial gain, and sadly some of your discoveries will go unrecognized. While we have developed Nobel Laureates, it’s not a given that your work will become public or your successes will be recognized. Some of the most impressive things you do may be in fields where no recognition is possible. ”
“Believe…and trust. I know those are hard things. I know those things are even harder now. But SHIELD wasn’t created to do easy things. It wasn’t created to hard things. It was created to do impossible things. It was created to fight against unknowns, against super and supernatural powers.” Then he spoke more slowly, allowing his quiet words to resonate throughout the hall. “SHIELD was created to provide hope where none existed. It was created…to protect, and as never before…the world needs protection.”
Then, very softly, he added more. “The world needs our protection.”