CHAPTER 112: To kill someone close
Inside the Triskelion all the agents were busy due to the Insight Carriers being launch in a matter of only 3 hours. Most still haven't recovered from the death of Director Fury and the betrayal of Captain America. But duty must come first. All of them needed to make sure that the launching of Project Insight won't have any problems. Each and every single one of them believes that it would be a great way to secure the safety of the country and the world.
Suddenly the serious atmosphere of the entire Triskelion was broken when all the speakers in the entire base were activated. And the voice in the other line was Captain America himself.
"Attention, all S.H.I.E.L.D agents. This is Steve Rogers. You've heard a lot about me over the last few days, some of you were even ordered to hunt me down. But I think it's time you know the truth. S.H.I.E.L.D. is not what we thought it was, it's been taken over by HYDRA. Alexander Pierce is their leader. The STRIKE and Insight crew are HYDRA as well. I don't know how many more, but I know they're in the building. They could be standing right next to you. They almost have what they want, absolute control".
The news shock the agents in the agency. All of them knew that during World War II Captain America fought against HYDRA. So they were quite shocked that they still existed.
While the most skilled agents began to carefully scan their surroundings. Some even secretly took out their guns to protect themselves.
"They shot Nick Fury and it won't end there. If you launch those Helicarriers today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way, unless we stop them. I know I'm asking a lot, but the price of freedom is high, it always has been, and it's a price I'm willing to pay. And if I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not".
Suddenly every single individual that has a S.H.I.E.L.D. badge from the lowest agents all the way to the highest-ranking members of the agency. From the field agents to those agents who just work at the desk, all of them received a phone notification.
"TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!" "TING!"
Multiple phones began to ring, and this made all the people in the agency surprise. The next voice to come out of the speaker is that of a woman's voice.
"I am Maria Hill, the former right man of Director Fury. Level 9 agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Right now every single one of you has been given a phone notification. For the last couple of days, since they assassinated Fury, I have been in hiding. But it was in hiding did I found a piece of valuable information. We found a list of all HYDRA sleeper agents in the agency. Once you open the file sent to your phone, it will automatically show your S.H.I.E.L.D. I.D. and in the background and edges of that I.D. it will give you a color designation. Blue for S.H.I.E.L.D. and red for HYDRA. I am asking all S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to do your duty. To protect this country and this planet".
It was at that moment that Maria ended the call. Her last words had greatly increased the tension in the facility.
"Show me your phone, Ricky!", a level 5 agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. said. He held a gun in his right hand, and a phone showing a screen with a blue color in his left hand. The man had a conflicted expression on his face. Once Agent Hill's speech ended he immediately click on the phone notification he received previously. He was glad that his phone designation was correct but when he glanced at his best friend, Agent Ricky. He immediately pulled out his gun.
"Show us your phone, Agent!", A level 6 agent ordered Agent Ricky. Ricky, real name Richard, is a Hydra Agent. He found himself in a room of loyal S.H.I.E.L.D. members. He knew this even before he opened the file. That was the reason why he didn't click his phone notification, he would be immediately killed if he did.
"Come on John, it's me? How could I be HYDRA", Agent Richard said to his best friend, Agent John. For a brief moment, Agent John's resolve faltered. He didn't want to kill his friend, but luckily for John, they were other S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents with him. If he was alone with Richard when Hill's speech was broadcasted, Richard would no doubt kill him.
"Agent, I won't ask again! Show me your phone!", The level 6 Agent once again ordered. Richards looks at him briefly but his attention went to John. He was about to plead his innocence when out of nowhere a gun was fired in the room.
"BANG!"
Agent Richard was hit directly in his forehead, and fell on the floor dead. Agent John was shocked when he saw his best friend die. He immediately pointed his gun at the level 6 Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and said, with tears in his eyes, "HOW COULD YOU FIRE! HE DIDN'T OPEN HIS PHONE!".
"Calm down, Agent! Put your gun down! We are all loyal S.H.I.E.L.D. agents here", the level 6 agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. said as he once again showed him his phone which has the blue color designation. He orders one of the agents in the room to check on Agent Richard's phone. When the notification was opened, it showed Agent Richard's S.H.I.E.L.D. I.D. with the color red designation. He was HYDRA. With the truth in front of him, Agent John was heartbroken. The person that was the godfather to his 2-year-old son, his best friend, was a HYDRA sleeper agent and that truth is hard to swallow.
"BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!"
Multiple gunfires were heard in the agency as the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents began to fight against the HYDRA sleeper agents. Richard and John's circumstances were common. Best friends ended up killing each other, superior officers killing their mentees or the other way around, and some even ended up killing the love of their life.
Two beliefs have clash today, and people had begun to choose sides. One would bleed and die and the other would survive. This moment was just one of the few events that S.H.I.E.L.D. needed to do to cleanse themselves with the disease that is HYDRA. And it would be a painful process for those loyal to the agency. But a painful process they must undertake to make sure of securing humanity's safety.