5067/SSR 1950: Out of the Blue

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SSR 1950: Out of the Blue
Date of Scene: 07 February 2021
Location: A Warehouse in Chinatown, N.Y.C. - 1950
Synopsis: Peggy and Daniel receive a call from Lily Chen, who has discovered a cache of Hydra weapons. By the time it's all cleaned up, the Asian woman has been recruited and SHIELD has a whole new mess on their hands.
Cast of Characters: Melinda May, Peggy Carter, Daniel Sousa
Tinyplot: Echoes In Time (SHIELD 1950)


Melinda May has posed:
The fight that occurred in the Blossoming Lotus Trading Company warehouse along the east river was brutal and fierce. It was also remarkably one-sided, given everything. The Triad cell that called the warehouse theirs was prepared for the possibility of rival gangs launching hostile takeovers. They were prepared for a potential raid by G-men. What they weren't prepared for was the incursion of a single warrior with impressive infiltration skills and almost preturnatural martial arts abilities.

Before they actually realized there was a problem, half their perimeter guards were down. The other half followed in short order. Only a handful of shots were fired during the whole exchange. Most of them were panic shots fired blindly into the dark and usually in the wrong direction or into the bodies of their comrades -- mainly because the infiltrator didn't give them the opportunity to bring those weapons to bear against her.

She's too well-trained for that.

That doesn't mean there wasn't a man or two on the inside who couldn't give nearly as good as he got. The last of the Triad fighters to fall wasn't so much lucky to last so long as he was careful. In the end, however, it didn't matter. He went down just like the others, the lot of them bound and left for the cops.

At least, that was the plan... right up until, rifling through wooden crates holding their latest shipment, she discovered strange looking rifles with highly unusual ammunition. Thus, Lily Chen stands in the small business office, her black hood pulled back, dialing a number she *hopes* is the one she saw on the back of the card Director Carter gave her. Her memory, since arriving in New York, is sharp. It's only what came before that arrival she can't remember. Which, yes, is most of her life. Nevertheless, she makes the call, listening to the line ring and waiting.

Peggy Carter has posed:
"We've got half a dozen warehouses where they *might* be...and probably one where they are, and five where perfectly normal businesses are operating and if people start shooting innocents are going to die. I...think I need you on this. Pick your recon partner but... need your eyes and your ability to stay quiet. If they move before we nail down this address, then the intel will be for nothing..." Peggy explains quietly as she stares at the files strewn on her desk, sitting a bit too straight to be relaxed even though it's just her and him in the office. They could be doing this over dinner, at home, cuddled in far closer. But she hasn't yet managed to get to the point that she can ask him to risk his life while they sit at home together. There are some lines a woman doesn't cross.

Then the phone rings. Her direct line, not the outside line being transferred in. Very few people have that number and her brows both arch. She considers, "...Even odds that it's that Chen woman? Or maybe Chester? Which bet you want?" She asks him. Then she picks it up and rests the phone on the desk... "Directors Carter and Sousa speaking." He's here. Whatever this is, she's bringing him in on, so they might as well start the call together.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Nodding Daniel looks over the papers spread on Peggy's desk considering the mission. "I'll handle it Peg, Cortez is from that part of town I'll grab him and head-" the ringing of Peggy's private line cuts him off. "I'll take Chester," he says. The General had been down in Washington all week so he was sure there was some snarl with the DoD or DoJ to bend Peggy's ear about. His too by the sound of it as Peggy introduces him in the call.

Melinda May has posed:
Lily pauses just a moment as she hears Carter's voice, those clipped British tones and sharp, businesslike attitude. It's thoroughly appropriate, but something about it jars her in a way she can't quite put her finger on. Nor can she even say why.

She scowls faintly and plows ahead, schooling her own tone into a similar attitude. "Director Carter," she says simply. "It's Lily Chen. I've found something I think you neeed to see. I'm at a warehouse on the east river." She rhymes off the address quickly. "Will you come?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
There is a glint of amusement in Peggy's eyes as she hears the familiar voice. She mouths towards Daniel 'You owe me dinner.' But it's all in clear good fun. Then her expression turns all business as she grabs a fresh note pad and starts writing down information. "Ms. Chen, of course. Are you in any danger at this momeng and how big of a team do you think we will need? Can you give us your exact address?" Peggy's eyes linger on Daniel, a slight tilt of her head to him to see if he can think of other questions to ask.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel snaps his fingers and as he ends up losing the bet. "You got lucky," he teases before falling quiet and listening to what Chen has to say. When Peggy looks his way for other questions he says the only ones that come to mind. "What did you find? Can you describe it?"

Melinda May has posed:
Lily repeats the address she gave. Then, she shakes her head, for all that they can't see it. "I'm fine." She touches a finger to the corner of her mouth, wiping away the hint of blood there. That last fighter was good enough, she'll have bruises in them morning. But he's no threat now. And she'll take a moment in the washroom before they arrive to clean herself up.

"There are a dozen recently received wooden crates here that are filled with tesseract weapons." A beat. She decides to explain how she reached that conclusion. "They have a Hydra insignia on them and blue, glowing ammo. So... Bring enough people to secure this site better than its previous occupants did."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"...Tesseract...weapons?" Peggy asks with a touch of confusion, "I... am not familiar with such terms, but if you are with an 0-8-4 or HYDRA shipments...stay there. We'll be there in 15 minutes or less, if we get lucky. Stay safe. Get out of site and hide until we are there for back up, just in case." Peggy commands on the phone. She's then standing up, immediately opening the small weapons locker that is in her office and pulling out two firearms as well as a few sets of restraints and a flash grenade. SHe nods for Daniel to take what he needs. "I guess we have a new mission." She comments flatly, before leading the way out.

She'll drive. She usually drives, especially when they might be playing frogger with traffic and his leg. She also enjoys it.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel's brows raise at the term too, not having heard it before. Though the danger seems real enough and he stands as soon as Peggy does helping himself to a similar load out as Peggy. "Seems like it," he says as he puts his new toys into pockets or hangs them off his belt. "Getting tired of tripping over the remains of Hydra though, first we find that new cell in Queen now this. I'll grab the next dinner of ours if they're not related."

He follows her down to the car getting into the passenger seat his cane resting between is feet as Peggy drives.

Melinda May has posed:
Once they've hung up, Lily takes a moment to attend to the blood on her face and knuckles. She also does another sweep of the warehouse, to ensure it is still as empty as she thought it was. She gathers the weapons the Triad toughs were using and puts them in the office. Then, she makes sure the last of the unconscious bodies are bound. Those that are bleeding -- and not dead -- she bandages enough to keep them alive, but makes sure they're unconscious, too. She'd rather not have to deal with a literally bleeding 'hero'.

Thus, when she hears Peggy's car come to a stop, she moves to the outside door that leads into the office and opens it, letting the amber light within frame her dark figure. She's wearing a black jumpsuit that's actually vaguely reminiscent of Melinda May's tac suit. It's not made of nanomesh or spandex, of course. Indeed, its construction is perfectly contemporary for the time. But it's easy to move in and makes it clear it's no accident she's onsite.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The drive is exciting, to say the least. While Lily didn't say she was in immediate danger, Peggy seems to be acting on the thought that she probably is and driving as such. It means she's got her little spinning lights out (at least enough she can vaguely alert cars around this is an official task) and she's weaving through traffic. That gets them some horn blares and a near miss of an accident at least twice, but she's good at being defensive and they make it to the warehouse in one piece. She gives Daniel a lofted brow a he makes a comment about the cell in Queens. "...Mm. I think you're right, but I like buying you dinner too, so it's a deal." She offers warmly. Then they are soon skidding to a stop a little past the warehouse, not wanting to draw attention. Peggy takes a slow circle of a drive around, looking for any other back up. None found, she kills the engine and nods for him to join her.

Seeing Lily on the sidewalk, still the absolute vision of Melinda May, makes her head slightly hiccup. She puts a professional smile on her lips and turns her head, looking up and down the street to make certain no one else is coming out of the wood work. She arches both brows to the black jumpsuited woman. "...Seems you came here with purpose, dressed like that... "

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel is used to this kind of driving by now, not even flinching at the near misses, and only holding onto to the handle above the door on some of the sharper turns. "Sounds like we've got a deal then," he says of their bet as the car comes to a stop

He joins Peggy and Lily on the sidewalk soon after, cane in one hand other on the gun in his pocket. "And looks like you've been busy" Daniel says adding to Peggy's comments. "So, what's the situation?"

Melinda May has posed:
"There's a reason Mr. Wong doesn't like me," the Asian woman says with an offhanded shrug. She leads them into the warehouse, waiting until they're both in before she pulls the door closed behind them. "It's through here," she tells them, leading the way through the office to the warehouse proper.

The space has lofted ceilings filled with girders. There's a line of narrow windows at the top of the walls, letting the winter moonlight slant in. But the lights hanging down from the girders on sturdy pipes cast enough light to clearly illuminate the warehouse floor.

As she leads them across the dusty wooden floor, she answers Daniel's quiestion. "The Blossoming Lotus Trading Company is a front for a local Triad cell. They've been causing their neighbours some grief. I felt the need to remind them to mind their manners."

Near the loading dock is a cluster of wooden crates. One of them has its lid loosened, laying askew across its top. Lily moves to it and pushes it off, pulling back the straw covering everything to reveal the rifles laying inside.

"Regardless, they make a lot of their money smuggling in shipments for third parties. Opium and slaves are chief among their imports. I thought this was more of the same, until I opened this crate."

The rifles are the very same design as weapons used by Hydra's shock troops in Europe late in the war -- just before Captain Rogers brought down the Red Skull.

Peggy Carter has posed:
Peggy follows the other woman inside, but she's got her sharpest eyes on now, never quite focusing on one thing -- waiting for something to jump out of the shadows at all of them any time. She's at that heightened awareness until the boxes are opened and the pair can practically see the flashbacks before Peggy's eyes. She recognizes all of those weapons. She was on the wrong end of most of those weapons several times. She lets out a slow, long breath...

"Definitely HYDRA. Some sort of... 0-8-4 as a power source, we've not identified it yet. What did you call it again? And...you cleaned out this whole warehouse all on your own?" Peggy asks with a slightly pointed, curious look.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel makes a face as the weapons are revealed. "I remember those," he says both from the war and from the battle in the desert not all that long ago. Though catching the flashbacks in Peggy's eyes he stands a little closer to the woman in wordless support.

"Not bad," he says of Lily clearing the place out on her own a glance towards Peggy. It seems Lily had more than May's appearance.

Melinda May has posed:
"Tesseract," Lily replies. She frowns faintly. "It's... named after... whatever the original power source was, I think. I... vaguely recall reading something about it sometime, but..." She shakes her head. She can't remember more than that. "I don't know." A half smile touches her lips, though her brows somehow remain knotted. Perplexed. "I don't suppose it's any better a name than 0-8-4." Even that has a ring of familiarity to it.

She cants her head slightly as Peggy gives her that pointed look. A brow rises in response. "Yes," she says slowly, eying her. "It's not like I walked in the front door and started shooting." She flips a hand towards where a couple of unconscious bodies lie. "They shot each other."

Peggy Carter has posed:
The commentary about the pair shooting each other gets a highly skeptical, but impressed, look from Peggy. "Of course they did. Without any help from you." She is half smiling with that. The feel of Daniel standing a bit closer to her back shouldn't be a comfort, but it is, her shoulders easing just a bit. Ninty percent of people in the world would probably miss it, only an expert profiler would pick up on those microexpressions from the professional woman. But the strange woman is probably that perceptive.

"We should get these confiscated. Into the car and back to SHIELD, before anyone else comes to claim them. If you want to see the operation... you're welcome to come with us, Miss Chen. I'd be... highly interested to hear more about this original energy source. I don't believe we know anything about a ... tesseract?" SHe looks back to Daniel, really trying to figure out if she's missed something in their files.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel snorts at the mention of how the two guards came to bein their current state. "Sure," he says with a smile. Sensing Peggy's tension fading he stays put, replying when Peggy looks at him about this tesseract, "First I've heard of it. But I agree we should get those things back to base, maybe send a team down to secure the warehouse and search for any further intel."

Melinda May has posed:
Indeed, Lily Chen is far more familiar with Peggy Carter than she has any right to be. Not that she realizes it. She just notes the easing of the Englishwoman's shoulders and her comfort with Daniel. It's telling.

"I think you'll need a truck," she tells Peggy, agreeing with Daniel and gesturing to the other crates. "I'd be surprised if there wasn't more than just these." She knows there's more in dozen or so crates nearest them. She doesn't know what else might be hidden throughout the warehouse.

"I don't know what more I can tell you about the tesseract," Lily admits, though she doesn't refuse to come this time. "This is the first time I can remember seeing these." The key word there being *remember*. "I'll come if you want. This is outside of what I can do on my own."

Peggy Carter has posed:
There's a trace of confusion on Peggy's features as May says she can't tell them more about the Tesseract. And then she catches the slight emphasis on the word 'remember' and her head tilts a bit more. "I'll... call in a truck to come down. I don't want to leave this site unguarded until we've cleared these things out. Where's the phone you used?" Peggy is clearly interested, but work before talk. They can get more done if the things happen in the right order. "And you don't *have* to come with us. You still have no reason to trust us other than we did as we said and haven't bothered you... but if you want to come, this intel is valuable. We... we are happy to not cut you out of the process."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel for his part moves to stand by the crate while things are sorted out, playing guard for it for now a plan is made to call for back up. Spotting a label on the cate stating its intended destination was a warehouse in Queens, he checks it against his notes, "Looks like this connects with the other thing Peggy," he reports smiling faintly, since it means she owes him dinner. He slips his notebook back in his pocket as he makes his way back to Peggy and Lily.

Melinda May has posed:
Lily gestures back towards the office. "There's a phone on the desk." She glances over to Daniel as he makes comment on something linking together. She's not entirely surprised that might be the case. "I'll come with you," she tells Peggy again. She doesn't know what help she can be but, "I want to see what you do." She wants to find out why her instincts are telling her she needs to connect with these people.

"Besides, if there is a connection between what's here and whatever else you're working on, I'm your best bet to help you find it in Chinatown."

Peggy Carter has posed:
Dark eyes roll in Daniel's direction as he makes that comment, "That was *basically* freebie, you know. You're lucky you're handsome and I like buying you dinner." Peggy smirks wryly to him, but some part of her seems to trust this woman enough to let down a bit of a guard in front of her. Or, maybe, she's just that in love with her Field Director. Either way, the flirtation is more than clear.

She then makes her way into the office, picking up the phone and dialing the number she has memorized quite quickly, "Kathryn, put me through to Charles upstairs. Thanks, dear... Charles. I need a four man team and two of the large, armored trucks to this address within the hour. We've got a whole warehouse of HYDRA tech to clear out before someone else comes back for it. Everyone come armed. Just in case." Then she's looking back up, leaning against the desk as she studies the two. "...your assistance would be... Appreciated. But... you clearly are remembering things, even if you say this is... the first time you remember encountering them?"

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel rolls his eyes as well, "Freebie or not it's still dinner," he says with a smile, clearly comfortable letting down his guard if Peggy was. He trusted her instincts.

As Peggy makes the phone call, he says to Lily. "What we do, is a lot of what you've done here tonight," nodding at the guards and the box they've secured. "But mostly it comes down to keeping stuff like that," he nods out of the crate. "Out of the hands of people who'd use them."

Melinda May has posed:
A flicker of frustration moves behind Lily's eyes as Peggy comments on her memory. "Yes," she says. "But... there's so much I don't remember." Like most of her life. An odd shudder runs through her, causing her head to jerk slightly to one side. Her hands clench and release quickly. It's almost like one of those involuntary someone-just-walked-over-your-grave type of of shivers. Autonomic and fleeting. As it passes, she shakes her head quickly, briefly, as if to clear it, and rolls her shoulders.

She glances to Daniel and offers a brief nod. "I know Hydra is a danger," she says. "I think they're going to become an even bigger danger in the future. They're... insidious." An odd choice of words, perhaps. She's not speaking contemporarily. She's just a trifle unfocussed.

Peggy Carter has posed:
All joking about dinner is gone now, especially as Peggy sees that faint twitch and shiver from the woman across from her. She stands a bit straighter, arms crossing over her chest as she steps over to slowly circle Lily Chen. She's looking the woman up and down, from every angle, clear concern in her dark eyes. "Daniel... tell me if I'm wrong, but there is not a single difference I can stop from Melinda May...on the woman in front of us. Not...one." There's even a trace of guilt behind Peggy's words, highly concerned that they failed at getting May back home.

"You're right... HYDRA is a danger... and why do you think... about the future? Why would you say that, considering we are here, now, doing everything in our power to stop them?"

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel takes a moment to study Lily after giving her an apologetic smile for the awkwardness of having someone stare at her like that. "No, I mean if I didn't know better I'd say they're the same person."

He nods then in support of Peggy's question, "Especially as best as we can tell they're on their last legs." Or he hoped so, five years after the end of the war.

Melinda May has posed:
Frustration is replaced with wariness, focus returning to Lily's eyes as Peggy starts prowling around her. Tension rises in her shoulders and there's a subtle shift of her weight -- a warrior preparing to fend off an attack. Her eyes narrow. She twists on the ball of her foot and steps away from both of them, turning so she can see both of them. That her heartrate hasn't increased appreciably has everything to do with Melinda May, but not in the way Peggy fears. Not in any way Lily knows.

"They're... insidious," she repeats, watching them carefully. "I don't know why I think they'll be a future threat. I just know that they will be." Her jaw tightens. "They'll go to ground. And then they'll come back."

Peggy Carter has posed:
As Peggy realizes she's being far less than comforting, she slows her pacing and comes, instead, to stand next to Daniel. She lets out a slow breath, calming her own heartrate and worries as she leans against the same edge he is, shoulders almost touching. The man is a grounding force for her like little else. As May explains her thoughts on the future of HYDRA, Peggy frowns even deeper but she doesn't argue. Something sinking in her stomach agrees.

"And you...remember nothing from tbe Mojave desert? Coming through a... portal of sorts? Just...appearing in this time? What...do you remember, if I can...ask?"

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel's own demeanor remains calm, though he does slip his hand into the pocket with his gun as tensions rise. Though as they ease the hand emerges, a glance given to Peggy as she moves to stand near him. Like her Lily's comments about Hydra cause a sinking feeling in his gut, one that he feels will be hard to shake.

Peggy's questions get a look as he follows the line of questioning before looking back to Lily for the answers.

Melinda May has posed:
If there's one clear indication that Melinda May and Lily Chen are not one and the same, it's the different ways they handle emotions. Lily doesn't quite have May's stoicism so tightly nailed down. She is influenced by the emotions she senses around her. And she can somehow sense the rising guilt coming from Peggy, the concern and the curiosity. She can sense Daniel's protectiveness and curiosity, his concern, perhaps, for both women. And she can feel very clearly how much they adore each other. It can't help but change Lily's responses.

"I woke up on the frozen pavement of a chemical factory at the south end of the island," she tells them, watching Peggy more closely than Daniel. "Not the desert. Here, in Manhattan." At Roxxon Oil, specifically, but she can't articulate that for some reason. Probably because she was so disoriented at the time. "I went home and had to convince my landlord I'd never left. That's the first thing I remember."

Peggy Carter has posed:
That gets a highly curious look from Peggy, her head tilting a bit to the side. "Once the trucks get here...why don't we swing past the Roxxon Facility on the way back to the offices and see if it looks familiar to you? That's where our friend Melinda appeared... but certainly not where she left us. I... " Peggy's lips falter, no really good explanation in her head yet, but she clearly wants to bring the woman back for further questions. Maybe examination. She thinks something is going on, that much is clear.

Then she's looking back to Daniel, searching his face to see if he's got any other ideas about the matter. They don't share a brain and that's why they work so well together. He's good at seeing other angles. "And... you ARE right about this being connected. So, if Ms. Chen here is willing to help... maybe add her to you and Cortez's team for the moment? At least as a consultant. We'd have to get her trained up for full agent status..." But she lets those words hang in the air. If the woman fought as well as it seems, the training wouldn't be hard.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel blinks at the mention of the Roxxon site, that pretty much confirms he'd followed her line of questioning to the right conclusion, or at least the same theory she was currently exploring. He shakes his head when she looks his way though, "And your name? Did you wake up at the site remembering it?" he asks.

There's a nod though for adding her to the investigation. "Sure thing," he looks to Lily. "I can read you in on the details when we get to the office, there might be something that might connect."

Melinda May has posed:
The training, likely as not, will be a cakewalk. A refresher, more useful for the agency to evaluate her than for her to learn much from them -- beyond the contemporary administrative preferences and cultural norms. Still, Lily's brow arches some at the idea they'd even offer training. But that's not what really captures her attention.

"You mentioned her before," she says bluntly. "Who is she? Why do you think I'm her?" Because she knows that's the case.

Her attention shifts to Daniel. "I... No. I didn't remember my name. But Suelin called me Lily. She knew me." All certainty has fled from her. There's a hint of panic in her eyes, like an animal backed into a corner.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The tension ramping up from May, especially as they get deeper into the other woman's identity, is not missed by Peggy. While she's been on edge herself, she doesn't want to escalate the situation any further. Peggy stands up a bit straighter, palms facing down, even her shoulders forcing themselves to relax a bit. "We'll...explain more at the office. I promise. But, Melinda May was... a good friend and agent. Someone we trusted. And one of the most highly skilled martial combatants I've ever met." Peggy's eyes trail to the room, considering the people the other woman has already taken out, but not making the connection verbally.

Then there's the sound of heavier trucks pulling up outside and a heavy hand pounding on the back door near where the crates should be outloaded. "Boss. We got the trucks!" Someone calls through the heavy metal.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel nods when Lily mentions how she came by her name. His eyes cut towards Peggy for a reaction before the trucks arrive, when someone shouts through the door, Sousa calls back. "Who called for you?" his hand already reaching for the pistol hidden in his jacket.

Melinda May has posed:
Lily knows, as the SHIELD people move in, that the Triad will be on the rampage come morning. The numbers she's taken out tonight are nothing compared to what she expects will come. And if SHIELD is going to get involved, she'd be a fool not to accept their help.

As Daniel calls out for confirmation of the identity of the new arrivals, she holds her tongue. She knows they're not Triad. The Triad would come in shooting.

Instead, she allows her attentionto remain fixed on Peggy. Her brows knit a little more obviously. "Your office is that telco building?" she asks slowly, a flicker of something in her eyes. Her expression returns to that blunt, challenging expression. "I won't react well if I am put in your interrogation room," she notes. Something about that simply makes her uneasy. "I will listen to you, but I won't be imprisoned."

Peggy Carter has posed:
A groan comes from the man at the door. "The boss. Carter. Geesh, just let us in, it's cold out here!" And the tone is definitely recognizable as one of the night desk guys, so it's likely they are in fine shape to open the door. When Daniel checks, he'll find two large SHIELD cargo trucks and a crew of four people each, mostly men, but two of the lady trainees have slipped onto the crew, even if it's heavy box carrying. They are starting to get use to some equity in the office.

Peggy looks back to Lily with a slightly nostalgic smile on her lips and a little laugh, "No, not the TelCo office any more... we've got a new place, a bit bigger, near Chelsea. We're under a new banner now too... SHIELD. The SSR still has some offices but we're the main show. And I have no intention on putting you in that room again. You're here as an ally, not as...well, what we thought Melinda May originally was. I swear it."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel unbolts the door opening it enough to peek out before throwing it open when he recognizes the agents outside. "It's all good," he tells Lily and Peggy. "One crate for sure to go back, then we're going to need the place secured and scoured for evidence, Wallace, you're level 5, congratulations you've got the scene when we've cleared out of here. I want the place taken apart to the bolts for any last bit of evidence. I'll come back when I can to check on your progress.

He looks over to Peggy then, "Anything else Wallace needs to take care of while he's here, Director?" He asks slipping fully into his role as Field Director Sousa now that the troops are around.

Melinda May has posed:
Lily gives Peggy a slow nod. And if she doesn't exactly relax, she at least doesn't show any increased tension. That's something, anyway. She looks over at Wallace and the others coming in. There isn't anyone among them she recognizes, but that's not necessarily a surprise. "You will want to post guards," she tells him. "The Triad can be subtle, but they will come in shooting, if they see you. And there are about a dozen people here. At least two of them require medical assistance." She doesn't *think* anyone is dead. Yet.

She turns back to Peggy and adjusts the cuffs of her jacket. "Let's go, then," she tells her. "I don't really think I need to stay here." The Triad will guess who started this, anyway. Or, at least, Mr. Wong will.

Peggy Carter has posed:
A small smile flickers across Peggy's lips as she hears Daniel commanding the rest of the team out there. She just enjoys seeing him in action. There's a reason he's field director. But he's got it in hand, and Lily adds the last bit of notation about the bodies and best how to handle the scene. Peggy's amused, warm smile only grows a little. It's like the woman knows how to talk to the team already. "No... nothing more from me. We'll send another car of muscle, Wallace, just in case you encounter trouble."

With that, Peggy's leading the way back to the car she and Daniel came in. She opens a back door for Chen, doing her best to be polite, but she's rather eager ot get back to the office and maybe iron out a few more of these questions. "...Wallace actually brought two of the ladies along. They're starting to.. finally... get used to the idea that every agent gets a chance on every mission, regardless of sex or where they're from. It's... nice to see. Finally." That comment is probably, mostly small talk. She is happy to see it. But the fact she's saying it in front of Lily? Maybe there is a bit of sly recruitment hints under it.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel catches the remarks about the people needing medical attention, he nods, "Cooper, there's a phone in the office. Call for an ambulance. Smith, Dagget, you both were medics in the war take a look at these men and keep 'em breathing until the ambo gets here," he says. He takes a final look around before nodding to Wallace, "It's all yours, Wallace, like the director says muscle is on the way, but if you run into trouble just get the crate out and go, no heroics, we can afford to lose the warehouse." Then with that he's on his way limping after the ladies back to the car. "Helps we've stacked the deck from the start with some good examples of women agents, Rose, Foxy, Clarissa not to mention a certain Director. After that, guys like Wallace would have to be nuts not to take /any/ of his fellow agents seriously." Though he does pick up on those tiny hints, "But if we're going to build on that we're going to need more."

Melinda May has posed:
There may be recruitment under what they say. But Lily's attention is only peripherally on their words. She's preoccupied with the fact these people think she is someone else... and may have the answers she lacks.

Still, she nods, though they may not see it, sat in the back as she is. So... "Yes," she says. "The sooner they learn to take advantage of each other's strength and cover each other's weaknesses, regardless who who the agent is or where they come from, the more successful SHIELD will be." She frowns at herself for a moment, the words sounding... stilted to her.

And then sighs silently. She's out of her depth and beginning to wonder if, perhaps, she shouldn't have called. Save that she knows they needed to see those weapons. But maybe she should have just left that for them to discover rather than drawing more attention to herself.

Answers or no.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The drive back to the office is fast. Peggy isn't dodging lights like she was on the way here, but she is weaving through traffic and doing a few other probably not really legal things. She doesn't much care and does it with an expertise which probably means no one in the car should be worried, even if they are a bit startled.

The gorgeous, if slightly boring looking office building in Chelsea is definitely not the telco place, and the front desk is more security and reception oriented than phone girls. Peggy and Sousa are given respectful nods while Lily is given a long, curious look, but no one stops them since the woman is with the directors. Up to the 20th floor, where both their offices are. It's all quite stiff an proper, a far larger operation than the SSR building. "Welcome...to the new SHIELD tower. Howard Stark and myself are two of the founders of this new organization, SHIELD. Daniel here is one of our top Field directors of the north and west coast. But you seem to already have a...bit of knowledge on this. Interestingly..."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel is for the most part quiet on the ride back to headquarters but Peggy can likely read, and Lily can likely feel his curiosity, taking the odd glance at Lily and running through the facts in his head. Once in the building, he nods to the security and reception people in the lobby calling some of them by name. He doesn't remark on Peggy's comments, just waits to hear Lily's response as they walk into the offices proper on the 20th floor.

Melinda May has posed:
The drive doesn't bother Lily any. Then again, she's a pilot and handles a car just about as well as she flies. She's not sure why she knows that. But she's sure of it. Something more to add to her curiosity.

She follows the pair through the building and up into the lofty offices. There is no one on the night staff she particularly recognizes. But she feels their eyes on her and senses their curiosity.

As they enter the high office, the implication of Peggy's words isn't lost on her, however. She glances to the pair, moving to look out over the city. "I don't recognize this place, if that helps," she says, offering a bit of a shrug. "I don't think I know as much as you think I do."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"MAY! I thought we sent you back home through that portal thing!" The phones guy at the front desk on the top floor apparently was on that original operation, as he greets the woman with a mix of concern and happiness to see her. It seems this other woman made an impression. Peggy then shoots him a glare, "...Not May, Cardoza. And keep an eye on those phone lines, you're the only one up here tonight. Oh...and get a bit more muscle out to the site we just sent people. There might be trouble." With that redirect, Peggy nods for them both to join her in her office.

It's much nicer than what she had at the SSR. Enough for a desk and a couch. Corner office. Looking over the city. Even a little wet bar -- installed by Howard, of course. She nods for them all to settle around the coffee table instead of the formality of her desk, but it's nicer than the interrogation room. "..are... Either of you hungry? And... sorry about Cardoza. Your twin was... well liked, even if she never got to see these offices either."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel gives Cardoza a shake of his head, before they make the office, the door's barely closing on Peggy's office before the agent is back. "Field Director, Wallace is calling they want to talk to you about something they found at the warehouse." Daniel nods, "Guess I've got some work to do, Cardoza, stay for a moment, Director Carter or Miss Chen may want you to call out for food," he says before flashing a smile to Peggy and nodding to Lily before slipping out of the office to answer that call.

Melinda May has posed:
Lily's head snappes around at Cardoza's greeting. She looks, uncharacteristically, like a deer caught in the headlights for just a moment. She is grateful when both Daniel and Peggy redirect the man's attention. But it means there's a bigger spike of curosity among those few that witness it.

She steps into Peggy's office, away from the scrutiny and the windows that first captured her attention. She will concede that, yes, this room is much better than the interrogation room at the telco building. When Daniel takes his leave, however, and she's left standing there with Peggy, she finds herself a little more able to center herself just a little more. Though the tension doesn't drain from her, she moves to the end of the couch. "It's fine," she says with regard to Cardoza. "It's not like he's the first to mistake me." Present company included. "Apparently, Ms May was well known."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Among the agents who worked the case which Ms. May... was involved, everyone ended up quite fond of her. You will have to forgive the mistakes. Your appearance really is...Uncarry." When Daniel's being called away, Peggy pauses and nearly reaches over to tug him into a brief kiss goodbye, but she stops herself. They were still in the office and someone else was with them. Business over pleasure. So, instead, she gives his hand a brief squeeze and a small smile follows. "Be safe, darling." With that, she lets him go and looks back to the woman who calls herself Lily.

"...So, sit. Relax as...much as you can. Would you like a drink? Coffee or tea, if not something harder?" Peggy asks gently, truly trying to put the woman at ease in compare to the first time someone who looked like Lily Chen was in her offices.

Melinda May has posed:
Lily waves a hand in dismissal, her body language subtly different than May's, however. Peggy lived with the other woman long enough to see. It's a subtle difference. She's adopted some of the mannerisms of the woman she met in Chinatown, that small wave being one of them. And the way she composes her features to try to mask her growing sense of overwhelm.

"Tea," she decides, moving back slightly on the couch. Anything harder will muddle her, and she's not ready for that. Not here. Not now. "How... long has SHIELD been here?" It's an awkward question.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The slight change in body language is oddly reassuring. It helps make the case that no, they did not fail Melinda May, and this is another person. Something else is going on here. Peggy studies her quietly for a few heartbeats and then forces her eyes away so she can go make tea with the little, strange electric kettle Howard made her. At least it means she doesn't have to hunt down a sink and stove to do it.

"SHIELD? Uh... about a few months now. We were in the process of starting to set this up when we met the...other woman. Things have been official a little less than half a year." Peggy seems open to answering questions, to doing what she needs to make the woman feel safe.

Melinda May has posed:
"Tell me about her?" May would turn that question into a statement -- a request, yes, but still a statement. Lily's voice tends upward at the end, a little more uncertainty about her than Melinda May ever displayed. But, then, Melinda May knew clearly who and what she was, no matter how out of her depth being seventy years in the past might have made her.

So, yes. There are tells.

Still, despite that rising tone, there's a look in Lily's eye that says the answer is important to her. It's why she's come. She's not looking to be recruited -- though that may change. But she is looking for answers.

Peggy Carter has posed:
There's silence from Peggy for a few heartbeats. She looks over Lily in quiet consideration, her jaw half set. It's like she's weighing just how much to tell her, how much the woman can be trusted, and if she says things -- how much will that imprint on Lily trying to be Melinda May if she's not.

"She wasn't from...here. The best way to describe it was another... plane of existence. If that makes any sense to you. I know I probably sound a little insane..." She gives an apologetic smile. "But, she was incredibly capable. A strong fighter, a woman who would not give up on anyway, scientificially, she could hold her own with some of my best. She spoke several languages and also enjoyed a good whiskey..."

Melinda May has posed:
Lily knows there's some editing happening in Peggy's words. She doesn't know how she knows, but she does. She can sense Peggy's caution and subtle apprehension. A hint of frustration rises in her eyes, only because nothing the woman says really helps her sort anything out in her head. But the frustration recedes behind a polite Asian smile. "I do like whiskey," she admits.

She shakes her head after a moment and lets out another silent breath. "I will tell you what I remember. Will that help?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Yes, very much so. Maybe we can piece together...how you look so much like her, and what is going on here, from that." The kettle makes a strange hissing then beeping sound, Peggy abruptly shutting the thing off before it explodes, and then pouring it across the strainer she already has filled and sitting in a ceramic pot for the brewing. She has a nice green tea, something bought in Chinatown no doubt, and that's the mix she's chosen.

Melinda May has posed:
The green tea is soothing and Lily looks surprised when she relizes what it is. A delighted smile crosses her features briefly, before they pull back into a pensive expression. "The first thing I remember is the cold," she says slowly. "I was laying on rough pavement in the middle of the refinery. There was snow. I was wearing a pilot's jumpsuit. I still have it at home."

She breathes in the tea's aroma for a moment before taking a sip. "I heard voices. They were speaking German. I hid among some standing pipes and watched them. They had scanners of some sort -- like a geiger counter. Something in the crater attracted their attention. I don't know what. I've tried to figure it out, but I couldn't understand most of what they said." All of which likely means Hydra was there.

She changes her focus from the middle distance to Peggy. "I waited until they left and then walked as far as I could back into the city." No money means no taxi. "It took hours, but I made it to Chinatown. Suelin recognized me and wanted to know why I hadn't called her." She gives a wry smile at that. It's hard to call someone you can't remember.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The comment about the pilot's jump suit makes her frown almost immediately. That's an important detail that Peggy hadn't told anyone. She brings the tea tray over to rest on the coffee table between them, letting it steep a few more minutes as she settles down and crosses her legs neatly. "Melinda May...when we sent her back to her...home... Was wearing a 1949 USAF pilot jumpsuit. That was what she wore for the last mission she did with us in the Mojave desert." Peggy informs the other woman quietly.

"She was only here about six weeks. We found her at the Roxxon Chemical Plant. She... when she escaped staying with us the first time, had set herself up a place in Chinatown... But eventually we trusted each other enough she stayed at my Penthouse for about a month."

Melinda May has posed:
"Suelin asked me why I hadn't been home," Lily admits. "I think she thought I'd gone to visit relatives for Christmas." Which she hadn't. She doesn't remember Christmas. "I didn't dissuade her." She still won't.

"I don't remember you," she says bluntly, looking for all the world like May in that moment. "I feel like I should. Like I should know you. Should trust you. But I don't remember you. I spent the first two weeks trying to find anyone who knew me. I even went to your Telco building. I just didn't go in. I spent an afternoon at an Automat, because I felt like I should. But I don't know why." Of course, by the time she did that, the Chelsea building was probably already in use. And it's not like Angie works at the Automat any more. There's no reason anyone who knew her would be there, any more. The best of the SSR agents -- the people who knew May -- moved to SHIELD.

"I found cash under the floorboards in my room. I don't know how I knew it was there or where it came from. But I knew it was there. I used it to add to the wardrobe that was still in the closet." May didn't leave much behind. But she's an agent. She left enough, just in case.

It worked out well for Lily.

Peggy Carter has posed:
Every inch of that news makes Peggy frown deeper. She leans forward, her elbows on her knees, as she stares at the woman. "The Automat is where I used to go for lunch almost every day. Melinda joined me while she was here. We did work out of the Telco building for that whole mission, until we went to the desert. The woman...knew how to fend for herself. She was staying in the building near where I found you. I wouldn't be surprised if she put money under those floor board. Or...if... You did." Peggy admits softer, something fallen in her features.

Every inch of her is certain this is Melinda May in front of her. That they failed, somehow. Peggy exhales slowly, reaching for the tea to pour them both cups. "Melinda wasn't...from here. No where near here. There'd be no one who knew her other than us, and where she rented that room. No family... no other friends..."

Melinda May has posed:
That Peggy thinks she is Melinda May bothers Lily on a level she can't articulate. But, then, chances are she's picking up on the Englishwoman's emotions, feeding off of them and reflecting them right back at her. Consequently, her expression mirrors Peggy's.

"If I am her," she says after a moment or two, looking at Peggy, "why don't I remember? Where did she come from? Another plane of existence? Where?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Why you don't remember...I... don't know. And why you reappeared HERE, when the anomaly that brought her to us had closed here and was in the desert anyway... " Peggy shakes her head quietly, "I don't know. That's what doesn't make sense to me. And...I'd tell you where she was from, but I don't think you'd believe me. I'm not supposed to let it go beyond the few people that know. Even most of our agents don't know exactly where she came from..." Peggy explains softly, her tone genuinely apologetic that she can't just blab to this woman the exact origins of her seeming other self.

"Do you remember the exact day you...reappeared?"

Melinda May has posed:
"January 15th," Lily says. "Or the 16th." Hence the snow. She senses Peggy's reluctance almost as if it were her own, and so is reluctant to push further. This despite the fact she really wants to know. If she *is* Melinda May, shouldn't she know?

But she lets it go, that reluctance forcing her hand without her even being conscious of it.

"I'm sorry," she sighs, setting her cup down. "I don't think this is helping..."

Peggy Carter has posed:
A deep sigh escapes Peggy's lips and she sinks back, taking her tea with her. "That's when we sent Melinda back to her ti... place. So... And I know this must be uncomfortable, either you are Melinda May or...some part of her reflected back into this world, somehow. Or... a piece that... God, I don't know, took on a life of her own? Everything lines up too uncomfortably well. Especially if you can remember none of your life or training before this. How did you manage to take down a dozen HYDRA agents tonight? How...is that possible? Even our current, best training would make that a challenge for a solo agent."

Melinda May has posed:
Lily cants her head at the last question. The earlier speculation... that's interesting. She will need to think about that, since it suggests that it's not guaranteed she's Melinda May. And somehow, that makes her feel just the tiniest amount better -- though, again, she may be feeding off of Peggy's emotions subconsciously. But the question about how she took down the agents? That one she knows how to answer.

"The trick is never to take them on directly," Lily says, her expression relaxing into the same one Melinda May uses on the training mats 70 years from now when she's dealing with agents ready for specialist training. "Or, if you do, never more than two or three at a time. You need to be quick, flexible, and fully aware of your environment." Her lips twitch into a small smile, an almost satisfied look. "I had three advantages -- my size, their surprise, and the fact they didn't have radios." That last... is a decidedly May piece of knowledge. Not too many people even think about radios or cell phones, yet. Radios have base stations. There are some handhelds out there. Peggy has used them for years. But organized crime is less inclined to them than paramilitary agencies.

"I am also fairly methodical," she admits. "Once you take down the first perimeter units, you have to keep moving to take down the rest. But you isolate, you disarm, and you hit them from behind whenever possible." She shakes her head. "I understand the value and honour in a fair fight. But you should know: A woman against a man is almost always at a physical disadvantage. Generally, in a fair fight, all skill being equal, the bigger, stronger, faster person will win. I simply make sure my skills are better and my reflexes are faster. I can't usually out power anyone. But can almost always out maneuver them."

Remember how Melinda May said the SSR needed to find trainers in Chinatown? This probably isn't quite what she meant... but it certainly qualifies.

Peggy Carter has posed:
"...Yes. All those steps are very true and echo most of the training that I already give to my crew. Especially the women we are recruiting because...physically, they are usually at a disadvantage. You aren't wrong about any of this. But that also doesn't sound like the training of a woman who grew up a regular lifestyle in Chinatown..." Peggy gives a weak bit of a laugh, taking a sip of her tea as she considers some old memories. "When I first met Melinda, I...was certain she was a spy. For those capabilities alone, and many others."

Then Peg's expression softens. She sits forward to look into Lily's eyes, a hint more serious but still open. Reassuring. "Either way, you... you are here now. Even if you are still her and something failed, the anomalies are... gone. Any way of talking to her home is gone. I think this is your life now and...if you want to make it a part of our lives, I... am fairly certain SHIELD would embrace you with open arms."

Melinda May has posed:
Lily's brows twitch, drawing in briefly before relaxing. It's the idea of somehow being cut off that bothers her. It sits as a tension around her eyes. Whether she's cut off from some unimagined home or something else... it bothers her. And, as she studies Peggy's face, she can't help but think SHIELD is the best hope she's found at understanding what may have happened to her. If she walks away now, she may not receive this offer again... because, she suspects, Peggy would respect her independence too much to give it a second time.

"I..." she begins. "I think... that may be... a good idea." She looks around. Her eyes settle on the large SHIELD insignia on the wall. It's subtly different than how she thinks it should be. But still familiar. She nods. "I would... I would like that, yes." The last word, at least, is entirely decisive. Entirely May.

Peggy Carter has posed:
There is a moment that Peggy senses the hesitancy, the worry that it's now or never, and then she sits even closer. SHe's studying Lily as intensely as possible with eyes which are used to picking apart every detail of someone's personality. It means when the decision is made, and that glimmer of May comes through, Peggy all the better feels the sense that she truly means it. A slight smile touches her red lips.

"...Good. Well, good then. I'll have Chuck get you set up with the initial intake paperwork, then there will be skill testing which... I have a feeling you are going to pass without much updated training. There's still team work building activities and training as partners with other agents, but... hell, Chen, we could use your help. I can't train people fast enough to handle the weird shit that happens in this city, much less this world."

Melinda May has posed:
An odd half-smile pulls at Lily's lips. "SHIELD has always been about the weird shit," she notes, realizing even as she says it that it's knowledge pulled out of time and space from someplace not here and not now. But she's certain of it. "And... I think I know how to train people. I think..." She shakes her head and rephrases what she wants to say. "I *feel* like it's something I've done before. Maybe I can help."

If she can, chances are Shotgun Rose and Foxy Heat will be in their glory, finally having a chance to learn parkour and proper martial arts. And both Leviathan and Hydra will suddenly find themselves in a world of hurt.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The comment about 'has always been' is enough to draw up both of Peggy's brows. "You talk about SHIELD like you've always known us... and yet, we're six months old, barely that. There's... a lot to say that you were, somehow, Melinda May. But that's... Well, you're Lily Chen, now. You are with us. We'll get your qualifier tests, paperwork, and...start you where you seem a good fit. If that's training? All the better for us. Alright? Look future. Not back." Peggy reassures the woman, trying to give a smile that is all confidence and helping wash away that feeling of abandonment she is faintly getting from her new agent.

Melinda May has posed:
"I don't understand it either," Lily says with a sigh. "I don't even know why I said it. I only know what I feel. It's not even thought, really. Just... feelings. Impulses. I say things, and only after they're out do I think about what they mean." At least, that's true when it comes to SHIELD. "I'm going to have to watch that. I know. But..." Her eyes narrow and the first hint of something playful crosses her face. She points at Peggy. "I blame you. I never say these things except to you."

But then the Director is moving on, talking about the administrative side of everything and the woman inhales a deep breath and lets that hint of casual familiarity fall away. "Whatever you think is best," she concedes. "Perhaps... we can start in the morning." Because it's heading on toward late, this evening. And she needs to straighten out her head before she says anything more she shouldn't.

Maybe she should have had that offered whiskey instead.

Peggy Carter has posed:
As Peggy seems to realize she's probably, slightly overwhelming May, she gives a gently reassuring smile and stands up. "But...yes. The morning will do fine. If you don't want to go back to Chinatown, you are...welcome to the other bedroom in the penthouse for tonight. If you do, I'll send a car to get you there safely. I'll be here waiting for Daniel to finish with the clean up anyway..." It was strange going home without him, but she doesn't exactly voice that out loud.

Once Lily has made her decision, Peggy gets her all set up, including with notes for intake in the morning. She'll shake her hand instead of a hug, the two still getting to know each other, but it's more familiar than Peggy would normally be. The warmth is still there, even if not all the memories, and Peggy's not going to shy away from it. She gives the woman a fond good night before heading back to her office.