6531/The Framework: Hello There

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The Framework: Hello There
Date of Scene: 11 June 2021
Location: The Framework
Synopsis: Jemma and Daisy finish developping their app with which they hope to turn May back to the Light Side. Now they only have to hope they won't get shot in the process. But it instead they are recruited for an impromptu saving of the elder Carter-Sousa child!
Cast of Characters: Daisy Johnson, Jemma Simmons, Melinda May, Peggy Carter, Daniel Sousa, Dottie Underwood
Tinyplot: The Framework


Daisy Johnson has posed:
Hours had been spent with careful group work between the four usual suspects outside the Framework, Collingwood, McLaren, Jemma and Daisy. DNA grouping, then a little splicing to adjust to the app specifications. It's hard work, but someone has to do it! Eventually what resembles one of those AR games for the smartphone comes to 'life'. Theoretically they'd be able to track Peggy's DNA, and that of her descendants, through it. A trump card to use with May? Well, yes.

"So, this -should- work." she says to the others, getting up to her feet and stretching. Ugh, muscle cramps. "When we go in it's only a matter of loading it up to our phones with the code we created." She tells McLaren with a faint grin. "It's time to get hackin'.."

As for Jemma she asks her. "Lets just hope she doesn't go into violence from the get-go. I don't think my pop star body can take much punishment..." all those no-no drugs and lack of exercise and proper food. Ah well!

Though even with all the dangers surrounding the mission they had to do something. And it was time to get May back on their side! She sits on the makeshift pods they created, setting the AR goggles on and preparing herself to get into the Framework. "We will meet in front of the Triskelion."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
The good doctor Simmons slowly rotates her left shoulder. It has been getting better, due to not actually needing to strain it in virtual space, but it still needed exercise. And Jemma isn't going to run through any physical challenges anytime soon. "With the modules we are developing, we should be able to last at least a little while with May. Remember Daisy, it is only on the surface that your avatar looks like a pop star. With what we have been doing here, you should be able to perform your best Keanu impression inside, with the help of our Operator here." With that, Jemma flashes one of her smiles towards McLaren. Yes, with the amount of work the four of them have put in, Jemma certainly caught on to the fandoms. And is all the happier to feed into them.

"We are going to the Trisk? Do we have a cover as to why a school teacher and a pop princess would actually be together?" There Jemma goes, overthinking again. "I mean, I suppose we could have been childhood friends. But that is a little farfetched, don't you think?" There is just a bit of hesitation in that voice of hers, a sliver of worry darkening that British accent. "Well, we could make it more of a coincidence, too, I suppose. I guess we will just have to improvise."

Improvisation. The bane of Jemma's existence.

Jemma makes it over to her own pod, settling down into position. "Just....keep an eye open on us. Feel free to extract if the situation becomes critical." What would that mean? She is going to leave it up to the super team of Sarah and Mark to figure that out.

The goggles slide on...and Jemma prepares herself for that tell-tale lurch as the real world fades out, to awaken in the virtual...

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Daisy can't help it. She lets out a little giggle at Jemma getting into the Matrix fandom. So of course that she comments. "We will make a Trinity out of you yet, Jemma." a wink and she puts on her goggles. "Now let's teach these girls some kung fu and get on our way." as for why they would be meeting by the Triskelion?

"Eh, just say you won some contest to spend a day with your favorite pop star diva or something. I mean, she must have all those promotions going. Ginny tried to really into detail about them but I just sort of crossed my eyes and tuned out...." so the usual when something she doesn't care about is being spoken. But Maybe she -should- had paid attention!

She offers a thumbs up to Collingswood and McLaren. "Keep in touch. See you on the other side, Jemms." and she sleeps in the real world, at the same time waking up inside the Framework. In her bed? Of course.

She puts on some alternative clothing. Dark leather? Yes. A leather jacket? Of course. Shades? On her pocket for now. They might need to infiltrate.

"Reminder to self, get an outfit interface for the Framework." And she goes towards the front of the Trisk to wait for Jemma.

Melinda May has posed:
McLaren grins at Daisy and Jemma as they toss references back and forth. The smug look he gives Collingwood is just enough to make her want to Gibbs smack the back of his head. But she refrains. Barely.

Even so, the pair wish the others good luck. "Just remember," McLaren cautions them. "There's going to be a delay of a minute or two, possibly a few more, between any request you make and what we're able to send in. All the feeds are on a record delay and injecting the code will have a similar transfer time back in, so..." So, they may be improvising more than they like.

"I'll keep my eyes on you," Collingwood promises. "And try to keep Mark from bouncing off the walls with an excess of caffiene." There's good natured humour in her tone. She likes her partner, most days.

Then, however, the women are immersing themselves back into the matrix and all Sarah and Mark can do is monitor and wait.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
Another smile and a quick wave of the hand and Jemma gives her approval to Sarah. After all, there are a lot of parallels between the two techs and the Fitzsimmons gestalt...and who better knows the need of the occasional wrangling than Jemma? Isn't that the whole reason she jumped into this infernal simulation, to go wrestle her own partner out? Not that she will admit to that fully.

The eyes close in the real world....and open in the virtual. A cozy little apartment in Westchester. Oh, yes. Jemma has a little driving to do. But...does a school teacher have anything that could pass as a stealth outfit. Or even something to meet a pop diva? That...is going to be interesting. To the closet! And...in the back, something that would be appropriate. And...something that most likely wasn't there before. A perforated demin jacket. Black turtleneck. Black jeans. And shoes to match. That...is certainly not something a school teacher would wear. Jemma leans out, turning to look at the mirror in her room...and to the two outside she knows are watching her. There might have been a mouthing of the words 'Thank you'. She has her suspicions as to how the outfit came into existence.

But, no time to truly consider. The ensemble is assembled, though being careful to not look back in that mirror again (go figure?). Then...out and into the car. Virtual Jemma may not have been to the Trisk before, but Jemma Prime knows the way easily...pulling up to the figure in leather waiting for her out in front.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Standing at the aforementioned place is indeed a Daisy. Or in this case a Skye Starr, hips thrusting from one side to the other as she waits.. Impatient much? A little? Or maybe nervous. It's a dangerous assignment, and they are also undercover. Not that she has been idle, peeking through her phone to make sure the app downloaded correctly, also taking a look over at the security systems of the Trisk ... It wouldn't do to have security cameras working when they went to meet May.

She glances up from her phone briefly when Jemma arrives but soon enough is back on her phone. Didn't recognize her? Most likely! But when she looks up again her brows shoot up. "Well, well, well..." a smirk on her expression. "Sexxyyyyy..." she winking at her friend and nodding her head approvingly.

"Are you ready to cause a commotion inside the triskelion? Because with our outfits we gonna roooockkk.." who knew Daisy was so vain? But she's getting Skye vibes!

And then to keep appearances she says a bit louder. "So glad you could join me today. Hope this 'day with Skye Starr' turns out to be everything you imagined!"

Melinda May has posed:
Inside the Triskelion, Melinda May steps out of an interrogation room. The young man inside is suspected of being an Inhuman sympathizer -- if he's not actually Inhuman himself. His bloodwork will bear that out, soon enough.

It's not accurate to say May enjoyed herself this morning. Her fervor for The Cause has waned in recent days. She still hates Inhumans, considers them monsters, but she knows that her every move is watched and scrutinized. She's been meticulous about avoiding anything that even whiffs of the Carter-Sousa's since Memorial Day, to be sure. But that doesn't mean she's anywhere near out of the woods.

And she still needs to find Melly. Which is proving exceptionally difficult, thanks to the locks the Doctor has put on the files.

The man in the interrogation chamber does look the worse for wear. And May moves into a small bathroom to wash the blood off her hands. Normally, she takes a certain satisfaction from her job. Today, however, that satisfaction is hollow. It was merely a way to vent some frustration. And that... isn't remotely satisfying. The only thing that actually made it any better was that she couldn't feel the man's pain.

Indeed, since leaving Washington, she hasn't particularly felt anyone else's emotions. Yes, Peggy's have lingered with her. So have Morse's and the Doctor... which has been both disconcerting and curious. But... no one else.

And thank god for that. May doubts she could have swallowed a lot more of it.

She dries off her hands and exits the bathroom, starting down a hallway, heading out toward the main access corridor.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
Jemma Simmons may be in all black, which seems to have been the right way to go, but as Daisy, err, Skye greets her, especially with that wink, those cheeks flush a bright red. Yes, it is a bit unique for Jemma to have something so unique on, and she knows it. The Sheffield accent is tinged with just a little bit of mild embarrassment and perhaps more than a little excitement. "Yes, it seems that someone was looking out for me and ensured I had an appropriate ensemble for our little excursion." The smartphone slides out of a pocket on the jeans. Jemma hoists it up, pulling up her own version of the app and then comparing it to Daisy's own. "Looks like our little homebrew application is working rather well. Fabulous."

As far as going into the Triskelion? Jemma would feel a lot more comfortable if she had at least an ICER with her. But....for the sake of cover, that cannot be helped. She just looks over to Daisy and gives her a nod. Then, slowly, a visage that Daisy knows well takes form on Jemma's face. A look of gears turning...and perhaps just a touch of amusement.

"Oh, I cannot believe I am meeting *the* Skye Starr! This is so amazing!" For a person that doesn't normally improvise, Jemma seemed to pull off the star-struck fan rather well. There just might be a flicker of a wink for Daisy. "I am ready whenever you are!"

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"Positively delightful." Daisy adds with a little bit of a mock brit accent of her own as Jemma speaks of about the application working. But then she quirks a brow. "Would anything be expected of our geniuses?" and she moves to wrap one arm with Jemma so she can start leading her inside the place, a grin forming when the other woman goes with the ruse. She can't help but laugh amusedly at it. "Yes, yes. I am so amazing, am I not?" so vain! But she does roll her eyes subtly at Jemma. Oh, the things she has to put up with to pass as Skye...

But now it was time to go. She begins leading them into the Triskelion, "I will show you a few places open to the public, and where I normally hang here. Not that I am often around because I need to practice my singing and all that and ...." blablabla.

She goes on about it for a good while to create a cover but eventually it's time to check on her phone. "Collingwood, can you send us May's location?" and when the confirmation comes on where she is it's time to go. Sure, it's restricted space, but Daisy is an hacker and she has been working on a few things outside the Matrix so with more or less work she starts getting past security to approach that bathroom's exit where May is coming from.

"Here we go, Jemms..." she tells her friend, taking in a breath. "I am going to jam the cameras here, and comms. So we will be momentarily without communication to Collingwood and McLaren. But there will be no surveillance on us or May. Hopefully." one could never be too certain where it comes to hacking.

Melinda May has posed:
The corridor is mostly empty when May turns away from the bathroom door and begins heading back toward that main corridor. She looks up, however, as a strange sense of anticipation comes over her. Her dark eyes fall on the two women approaching her.

It takes her a moment to register just who they are. Holden Radcliffe's pet songbird and... the teacher? May's steps slow and her expression shifts from contemplative to sharply suspicious. "You shouldn't be here..."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
Well, Jemma is along for the ride. It works for the cover, as she appears rapt in listening to everything that Skye says. Of course, she is familiar with the layout of the Triskelion...and there is a sense of relief when she realizes that the virtual version follows the same floor plan. At least...there's no surprises that way.

As Daisy prepares for her electronic interference, Jemma offers a nod of affirmation. It means that the operator on the outside is not going to be able to assist right away. Though, maybe, just maybe, he prepared for that eventuality. And...there is the minute or so delay, too. All of that is running through Jemma's mind as the two walk down the corridor.

And then the initial contact is made.

Immediately, a flush of excitement, caution, and more than a little of joy floods Jemma's emotions. Emotions that certainly would be visible to those monitoring biofeedback info...and perhaps, just perhaps, emotions that a confused and suspicious Hydra director suddenly find herself feeling, inexplicitly. There is a slight tug on Daisy's sleeve, just as an indication that yup, target acquired. They are getting better and better at reading the code. Perhaps now it is time to see how well they are at manipulating it.

With a glance over to Daisy, just as a confirmation that the surveillance is, indeed, down, Jemma shifts. The cover is dropped. Not only of the star-struck fan of one Skye Starr, but also the cover of that of innocent middle school science teacher. And Jemma says two words. Just two.

"Hello, May."

No hint of confusion. Not an ounce of fear in there, either. But, with the way that they are said, it does not take an empath to know that Jemma *knows* May. Not as a feared director or as an acquaintance of a mother of a student. No...as a person. Completely open. Which...is probably even more confusing for the normally reclusive May.

And then, three more words that are sure to grab her attention. Given as both an answer as to why the two are there...but, more specifically, why the two are there, in that corridor, facing May.

"Daniel sent us."

Daisy Johnson has posed:
There is a certain sense of anticipation from Daisy, followed by relief and then warmth at finally seeing May again. And sure, there's a few vestiges remaining when she remembers what she did to her mother here but it's mostly a matter of telling herself that this isn't real! Or is it? That's why the brain can't control feelings. So there's just a little conflict inside her as she steps to the side.

"Hello there." She joining her own greeting to Jemma's. Eventually her warmer feelings do win over. This is a woman she has met for years, one of her family. And a victim in this story.

"A nod is given to what Jemma says. About Daniel. "We are here to help." the not-so-technological Skye takes another look at her phone. At the hacking in place. So far so good, it's not broken and no signs of AIDA having detected them. But for how long? "And we may not have a long time." a glance to Jemma, at least if they want to keep their 'disguises' here in the FW.

The smile she offers May is an open one though, very different from the usual drug-addled Skye Starr. This one being a lot more ..., caring.

Melinda May has posed:
The strange emotions that push up against May's awareness are disconcerting enough -- she really thought she was past that. But the words from the school teacher, especially given the fact May *knows* Simmons knows she and Peggy were hunting for Melly, galvanize her faster than anything else. Her eyes snap to the nearest camera and she draws her weapon, taking a step back as she brings it up. She doesn't fire, but it's clear she's as close to panic as Melinda May ever gets... which is less Edvard Munch's The Scream and more Kurt Wimmer's Equilibrium. All business, all threat, no visible emotion.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she lies. Because, seriously... The one is screwing the Head of HYDRA and the other works for an indoctrination center. Not to mention, she's been waiting for some sort of loyalty test. "But, even if I did, neither of you are authorized to be in this section."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
Not a lot of time? Well....this is going to make things interesting, then. With a nod, Jemma acknowledges Daisy's warning. And, rather than attempt to coddle May or even try to break any information they might have to her gently, Jemma just goes for broke.

By starting with a question.

"Doesn't that fact alone make you the least bit curious that we knew our way here in the first place?" This isn't school teacher Simmons that May had experience with before...the one that seemed to be cautious and slightly confused. No, this is confidence that is radiating from Jemma. There is even a step closer, as if that weapon of May's really doesn't seem to matter, though the quick flash of fear from Jemma cannot help but be felt. And yet, Jemma continues. "How does a man come back from the dead these days? One that speaks of another world, outside of this one. Certainly that isn't a commonplace occurrence, is it?" Oh...please keep those cameras off! "And what in the hell does a pop star, a school teacher, and a supposed dead man have in common?"

Oh, to hell with it. Jemma pulls out her phone, taps on the application, and holds it out at arm's length, almost as if she is using it as a shield against May's weapon. "Look. This is the current known whereabouts of all of the Carter-Sousa children. We know this, because this..." The phone waves around to indicate everything. "...is a simulation. A viewpoint that I know you heard before. Just like I know that, right now, you are most likely sensing a terribly confusing mix of emotions. Urgency, compassion, fear, concern....just to name a few. I know this...because I know you, Agent May." Agent...not Commander? Old habits die hard. "I know who you are. And I know what you are capable of. And, you know that I am right. You sense my conviction, don't you?"

Another step forward...then another. "You must. You have to...."

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Yea. No time for coddling. And Daisy knows May isn't the small-talk type. In fact, she'd most likely shoot first and ask questions later if they went gentle. So hardcore it is. That look to the cameras is noted and Daisy nods slowly. "They are off." as if to assure the woman, and indeed she does feel rather sure of what she is saying. Her hacking is impeccable. Besides, there's no red light on the camera too. Off!

She listens as Jemma speaks about what they have seen, about May, the Carter-Sousa children. She keeps her arms apart, even if her phone is in her hand, perhaps to show she is not a menace, "We have known you for a very long time, May. We have worked together, fought together, even laughed together.." mostly them on that last one, not May. Just on occasion!

"Search your feelings, May. You know this to be true."

Her own feelings out and strong. She knows May will make the right decision. She always did. That's why she has Daisy's full trust. And that much is felt.

Melinda May has posed:
May's eyes dart back and forth between the two younger women. The fact she is able to feel their emotions, battering against her own, is still disconcerting. It's not a sensation she understands. Jemma thrusts out that phone and she shifts her weight back on her heels, almost recoiling. But there must be something in the English woman's words, since she doesn't pull that trigger.

"You know I was searching for Melinda Sousa," she says bluntly to Jemma. "For all I know you..." She looks to Skye -- who has no known technical skill whatesoever in this world -- "Paid someone to mock that up." Except the dots for young Lily and Michael are right where they should be. And Melly... well she's nowhere near where May expected her to be.

Skye tells her the cameras are off. May's eyes narrow. She studies the pair for a moment. They don't *seem* to be carrying weapons. Just their cell phones. There's nothing in the cut of their clothing that suggests a concealed firearm or ICER. Which means, if May has to lay odds, she's probably safe enough to lower her weapon to reach out for that phone. After all... chances are good she's had a helluva lot more combat training than either of them. If she can take down an Inhuman like Jiaying, she can take down these two school girls.

"Let me see that," she says, lowering her gun slowly in one hand and reaching out with the other for Jemma's phone. She glances between the cautiously. "Tell me where Daniel was the last time he and I spoke," she demands. Because she has told no one and she knows HYDRA doesn't know, or they'd have already stormed the house and taken him away by now. And, had that happened, she'd know.

Search her feelings? Her feelings are a roiling mess, despite the good will the pair are consciously throwing at her. In true May form, she shies away from acknowledging any emotion outwardly at all.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
Jemma snaps her head around to Daisy, her eyes growing wide as Daisy lays out the pop reference. It may not be visible to May, with Jemma's attention back towards Daisy...but Daisy can readily see Jemma mouthing the word 'Really?' silently back to her. And May? She can probably feel that flash of amusement that Jemma cannot quite get under control in time.

Fortunately, for Jemma, she is able to keep the smile off of her features when she turns back towards May, still holding the phone out. "Yes, I know you were searching for Melly." There is an admission of truth there, that rings out plainly. "But, Skye here would not have known. And that still does not explain why the both of us would risk walking into here, just to give you a location. It would have been easier to just have called you."

More of that truth. Jemma was always, if anything, extremely forthright with her friends. There might be just a little sigh of relief as the gun lowers. As Jemma takes a couple steps closer, to pass the phone over, she gives the answer to May's question. "Where you are keeping him now. The panic room in the basement at the DC residence. That same address that two of those three markers should be at, if not close by." It is possible the kids are out playing or on an errand...and, without Jemma's phone, she just can't check.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Look. It's not as if it had been the first! Daisy even went with the classic 'Hello there!' when they first reached May. So that look from Jemms? It gets thrown right back with a raised brow. You may take a nerdette's body, but you shall never take away her references! And Star Wars did teach her a lot...

As May then goes and asks them for confirmation she nods grimly. It isn't that scene that pops into her mind when May asks it though. Or rather, she knows where he is *now*. But there's something else imprinted in her memory. Of when May killed the Daniel of that world.

"We know the promise you made him, May." a look to the phone. "That you'd look over the children." the promise done when she killed him.

And who else would know about this? There was no one else there was it?

Melinda May has posed:
The women continue to speak, their tones soothing and cautious. May can *feel* the urgency underneath the words. She can sense the earnestness, the concern, and the determination that drives them. And as they reveal things they can't possibly know... Her shoulders and jaw tighten.

She looks down at the app on the phone. Glancing to them briefly, she cautiously decides to holster her weapon, allowing her two hands to manipulate the screen. She zooms in on Melly's location, the coordinates. She... knows where that is.

A chill runs down her spine, and the expression on her face shifts from wary tension to open alarm and a flash of anger -- all of which get swallowed up in an instant. She does not return Jemma's phone. Instead, she straightens and looks between them. "Come with me," she orders simply. "Keep your mouths shut and try not to draw attention to yourselves." Her gaze rake their appearance briefly, before she nods faintly to herself.

Decision made, whatever it may be, she strides purposely between them, heading back toward the main cooridor, expecting them to be at her back.

---

Collingwood has been closely monitoring May's vitals particualrly. She keeps her eyes on what's happening with Jemma and Daisy, too, but it's May that's the proverbial canary in the coal mine, here. About five minutes ago, the Asian woman's heartrate and adrenaline levels spiked. She started showing signs of both stress and that same mirroring behavior from earlier. But at the time that happened, the only visual information Sarah had was the water running over May's narrow-fingered hands as the blood from her interrogation victim flowed down the drain. It's only now that the images on the screen are starting to catch up to the medical readouts. She glances up in time to watch May pull her weapon on her friends. "Oh, shit..."

McLaren sits at his laptop, scowling with fierce concentration as he works on tweaking settings, trying to shorten the lag between the data rip his servers are making of the matrix data (with a stellar bit of compression algorithm coding, if he does happen to think so, himself) and what's actually happening in there in realtime. He's pitched the whole scene, from the eyes of all three women in separate views, up onto the large screen Lars brought in at the beginning. He's even got a fourth view, surmounting the lower three, that is a virtual amalgamation of the whole scene -- like watching it unfold on TV instead of just through internal points of view. Hell, he's been waiting for an opportunity to test it. Their voices carry softly through the room, the volume pitched low to allow him and Collingwood to both hear what's happening and ignore it in favour of the other realtime monitoring they must maintain.

But when Daisy says, "Hello, there," his ears perk up. Like Sarah, Mark glances up to the screen, watching the scene unfold. But, when Daisy finally gets to, "Search your feelings, May..." the man laughs outright and punches the air. "I think I love her," he tells Sarah with a grin. "Seriously. She is *so* awesome."

Sarah, longsuffering Sarah, just rolls her eyes. "I'll be sure to pass her a note in homeroom for you."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
Oh...oh. Jemma knows that tone. That flat, authoritative tone that May just used. That is so familiar. That is the tone of getting things done and do not argue. And Jemma...finds herself reacting almost on instinct. Yes, she is going to follow May and trust that they are not walking into a den of vipers.

But...try not to draw attention to themselves? Did she look at Daisy's ensemble? Jemma is one thing, with her black on black that could somewhat pass for tactical undercover. But Daisy is a literal pop princess here. It may not be possible to not draw attention for her.

Oh well. Too late now! With a shrug to Daisy, Jemma is off and walking, right behind the commander.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"That's the May we are used to.." Daisy mutters to Jemma when May gets all bossy with them. But it's good with her! Means they are getting through. Maybe! They weren't shot so ..., victory? The little rebel that Daisy is complains just a little bit inside but eventually does follow along with Jemma's more instinctive reaction.

Going undercover though? Undetected? She looks at Jemma. Did she just read her mind about how not-subtle she is? Which is why she draws out her shades to put them on. Yes, totally copying May's style with those wicked cool aviator glasses she was carrying.

And she is quickly following afterwards, silent for now. Or at least until she can hold it in. Which by experience is not long. She likes to talk!

Melinda May has posed:
May leads them at a fair clip through the corridors of the Triskelion. She's shorter than either of the younger women, but she makes up for that lack of leg length with a crisp, quick stride. They don't need to run to keep up with her, but they certainly aren't out for a Sunday afternoon stroll. Indeed, the only time May slows her walk is when they're approaching checkpoints.

"They're with me," she says to a pair of green-and-black uniformed troopers at one particular stop. She gives him a flat look. "Director Radcliffe's orders." Whatever the whispers that are going around about May's fall from grace, everyone in the Triskelion knows Daisy -- well, Skye's face on sight. Thus, the doors are opened and, before long, it should become apparent to both Daisy and Jemma that May is heading out of the main towers toward the long peirs that stretch out along the river... where the quinjets are kept.

Indeed, before too long, they're exiting the building and crossing the tarmac to where a recently refueled jet sits waiting. May doesn't glance to the women at her back, she merely marches toward that waiting ramp. A flight officer in a black uniform moves to intercept her. "I'm sorry, ma'am," he says, holding up a hand to stop her. "You're not authorized to take this jet."

May pulls up short, but somehow manages to make it look natural, rather than a surprise. "Excuse me?" Ice. Arctic ice is in her tone.

"We have orders, ma'am. These vehicles have been seconded by Sky Commander Morse. She left very specific orders."

"I'm sure she did," May says neutrally. Her right hand crosses her body and in one fluid movement, she draws her gun and fires. The man drops. He'll go to his grave with surprise etched into his features. "Help me pick him up," she tells her companions. Leaving him on the tarmac isn't a good idea. He can lay in the back of the plane until she's ready to jettison him in to the nearest body of water.

Guess there's no going back, now.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
Odd, it would seem that the trio seem to know where they are going. Well...at least Jemma, for that matter. There really isn't any second guessing or random acts of sightseeing from the supposed school teacher on her little stroll with the pop star and the Hydra commander.

The set up to a joke possibly somewhere. But....nothing is immediately funny about the current situation now. Especially as the trio reaches the tarmac for the quinjets. The pause as the flight officer does his job, advising May that she is not authorized is somewhat expected. The response for that, with May's own version of authorization? That does elicit a gasp from Jemma and a tremor of shock through the body. Yet, to Jemma's credit, she gets control of herself rather quickly. It does help to remember that this is only a simulation. That wasn't a real person just now. This is just a mass of digital code that Jemma is now helping to dump in the back of quinjet.

An amazingly lifelike set of digital code that is slowly seeping virtual blood on those cute shoes of Jemma's. Well...at least the shoes aren't real, either.

There is only a moment's pause...before Jemma decides to relieve the digital corpse of its armaments. In particular, she claims an ICER, should the flight officer have one. And only the ICER. Jemma is still Jemma, in this virtual construct or the real world. She is still going to go for the non-lethal option.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Nope, no sightseeing here either. She is following at a pace, urgency on her eyes. This is dangerous, and it may blow their cover right up. She sends a quick message back to Collingwood and McLaren. <Can you keep us apprised on what happens in the Trisk? We need to cover our tracks, and May is most likely being tracked.> and if Daisy knows about those she may very well be able to neutralize them. Teamwork...

Of course that while Daisy is doing that there's the shot. She looks briefly .., shocked. That registers on her emotional field. Perhaps not at the death itself, she has seen death. But at the cold blood in which she does it.

She helps Jemma bring the body in too though does go for the lethal weapon that's left, checking the clip to make sure it's full and sliding the gun on her pants.

"There's more Agents stuck in here." She informs May as they appear to be getting ready to leave. "You. Peggy. Fitz. Bobbi." which may or may not be too much to handle now. But she does need to know. "So please, no shooting any of those."

Melinda May has posed:
May strides forward into the plane as Jemma and Daisy drag the flight officer aboard and divest him of his weapons. She registered their shock at the death of the officer. It very nearly cracked her resolve. Even, so, she glances back to Daisy at her words about Fitz and Morse. Her skepticism is clear. But, it *is* the second time, now, she's been told that by someone.

"You said we work together in the 'real world'?" Oh, those air quotes are so apparent around those words, even without the gesture. "Can one of you fly?" She certainly can. But she also knows there are trackers on this plane that need to be disabled, as well as a remote control system that has to be circumvented.

Nevertheless, she's sliding into the pilot's seat and firing up the engines. There'll be time enough when they're in the air to deal with all that. "Strap in," she calls to them. "We're not waiting for pre-flight, here."

She flips on the cloak as the engines force the plane up into the air, and pulls on the yoke. Next stop, Washington, D.C.

Peggy Carter has posed:
Just sitting and waiting in a house has been a lot. Since the visit from HYDRA, they've been even more paranoid, keeping Daniel away from any windows and often down in the panic room, just in case. It's noon, however, and there's not light to shine out the windows into the night, so it's safer for her husband to be upstairs. It's the quiet before the storm, really. Lily's sitting in front of her father in the living room, watching one of her preferred cartoons on the telly, as Michael rests in Peggy's arms nursing. There's the remains of lunch on the coffee table and if it wasn't for the heavy air of threat that hangs around the house, it might almost be an idyllic scene.

Peggy's got her feet up in Daniel's lap, shoes off near the door, and is doing her best not to fall asleep as she feeds the baby. Having an infant is always an exhausting prospect and she's been waking up at the smallest of sounds in the house as of late. Now, with everything so calm, it's hard to keep her eyes open. Fortunately, the nursing pillow in her lap is a good help to keeping the baby balanced without her being all that awake.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
The ICER is claimed, sitting on Jemma's hip. There is slight differences with it in comparison with the design she and Fitz came up with....but only cosmetic. This is still her tech and that gives a sense of calm. Of course, having something that Jemma can see and hold also helps, too. As much as she trusts the work that Daisy, Sarah, Mark and she put into the mod packets for this simulation...it is still mostly untested technology that she cannot see.

Nevermind the fact that the ICER isn't exactly real, either.

There really is little need for May to tell Jemma to buckle up. She is already moving to claim a seat (incidentally the same seat she always takes in the real world), the hands moving to fasten the belts automatically. A sure sign that Jemma is no stranger to a quinjet. "We do. And I don't, unless you count drones." There is not much more in the way of explanation, at least for flying. "As far as what we do together, that may take a little more explanation than we may have time for."

It really isn't the time for the SHIELD edition of 'This Is Your Life.' But, if May presses the point, Jemma will provide what explanation she can. Though, as Daisy would know, Jemma doesn't really do 'brief explanations' well.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel smiles over at Peggy and Michael, the lure of seeing them like this proving too much. This was as close to the life he hoped for as he was likely going to get, so mission or no mission he'd enjoy what he can. Besides, until he heard from Daisy and Jemma, he had nothing to do but wait.

"You going to be able to keep from passing out Peg?" he asks glancing back at the TV as Lily laughs at what's happening on the screen.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
So it takes a remorseless, cold-blooded killer May for Daisy to have that chance to fly a Quinjet with May on board. Daisy would laugh if things weren't so serious at this point. But she damn well finds the irony in it, "I can. You have taught me." she says to the Asian woman, moving over to get into the copilot's seat and bucking up. She points with a thumb behind her to where Jemma is. "She is biotech. I am the hacker." there's a lot more to the two of them than just that..., but for now it will suffice. Yet it's clear she isn't revealing everything. Like hey, I am an Inhuman too! But that wouldn't fly well now, would it?

As they get ready to go up she straps in, competent enough in the co-pilot's seat as she helps in the take-off to make it faster. And there they go! "What's the plan?" she then asks May.

Melinda May has posed:
May's not interested in a This is Your Life review. She just wants a co-pilot for this little adventure. That Skye Starr turns out to have the training is... surprising. That May trained her? More skepticism. Still, there's perhaps a little more proof that things are not at all what they seem.

"The plan," she says as the plane lifts off and streaks away from the Triskelion, klaxons sounding in their wake, "is to collect the Carter-Sousa family and go find Melly -- if she's actually where you say she is. After that... we'll see."

The fact is, if Jemma and Daisy are lying, May's already proven she'll have no problem whatsoever pulling the trigger. Their only saving grace? Right now, alive, Skye can be used as leverage against Radcliffe and, by extension, the Doctor. Don't think for a moment that May hasn't thought of that.

Once they reach crusing altitude, May passes the controls over to Daisy, saying, "Keep us pointed toward D.C. and let me know if we get any company. I'm going to kill the transponder." That allows her to unbuckle and slide out of her seat. She kneels down beside the main console and starts ripping the casing off beneath. Then, she digs into the guts of the thing until she finds the first of the systems she needs to tear out. Once it's been removed, she moves toward the rear of the plane, chucking it briefly atop the dead guy near the hatch. It'll get jettisoned with the rest of the trash.

"How are you with a screwdriver?" she asks Jemma as she passes. "I have two more systems we need to remove." The next several minutes are spent doing just that, until, between them, they've managed to disable the remote control system and at least three redundant tracking systems. If there are any others, May doesn't know about them or can't reach them.

And if there's one in her, she sure as hell doesn't know about that.

By the time she returns to the pilot's seat, they're approaching the perimeter of D.C. She reassumes the controls, adjusting their flight path to head for the comfortable little cul-de-sac where the Carter-Sousa townhouse stands. Before long, the front window of the house is subtly vibrating with the force of the VTOL thrust in the middle of the street. It looks like a veritable windstorm has started up outside, since the jet is still invisible.

"Keep the engines going," she tells Daisy, as she touches down, "and keep us cloaked. I'm going to collect the family..."

---

Meanwhile, McLaren is just now getting Daisy's text. He types back a quick 'on it', though she won't get that until they're nearly at D.C. Then, after a few more minutes, he sends, 'Running silent. HYDRA's losing their shit.'

Eloquent, Mark. Real eloquent.


Peggy Carter has posed:
As Daniel's voice breaks her almost dozing state, Peggy half jerks up, Michael stirring a bit more as his little fist clings harder against her shifted shirt. "Mm? Oh, yes... For now, at least. Once he's done eating, I might nap right here, if you want to take him." Peg mutters drowsily, letting her head slightly drop back against the arm of the couch. She's absolutely in that state of insisting she's not going to sleep but probably dropping back off to sleep within moments. Daniel's seen her like this so many mornings. While her body has changed in this place, the core of what makes Peggy herself is clearly very much there.

Then the windows are trembling. She doesn't know why, but she knows that tremble. So much for sleep. Her body jerks up, eyes going wide as she stares at Daniel. "Panic room. Now. That's a quinjet." She orders him, adrenaline starting to pour through her as she quickly unlatches Michael, who starts a fuss, and gets her shirt back into place. "Lily, TV off. Be quiet. The mean people are coming again."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel has indeed seen Peggy in that losing battle with sleep many times and until the windows rattle he's all set to let her lose it and get a bit of sleep. "Sure I'll take him-" he begins but when the windows rattle, he nods in agreement with Peggy, getting up and moving to give Lily's hand a squeeze then heading to the basement, when his phone beeps and he checks it. "Peggy hold on, it's May she's got-" he pauses. "Some friends with her," by his tone he sounds like they're actual friends and he's not just using the word as a euphemism for yet more trouble.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
With May holding Jemma's cellphone, any response from McLaren will not be received by her. Not that the delay would let them see it until they are almost to DC anyways. However, when May asks if Jemma can handle a screwdriver, she is all too willing to leave the seat and assist. It gives Jemma a chance to look over the Quinjet. And....even if she is biotech, she does know a thing or two about the systems of the quinjet. "Remarkably similar. Which means that...if we are disabling trackers..." Jemma turns to the back with May, and starts working on a system, almost before May could instruct where. And....it really doesn't take too long before the work is done.

The view outside, as the jet touches down, is familiar. At least for Jemma. "We're here." And really, should May look at Jemma's tracker on the phone, those two dots should be immediately at the forefront. She blinks as May says to hold still while she goes to collect the family. "You do not want any..." The question dies. No, Jemma, May does not seem to want help. "Hmm...nevermind. We will be here."

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Now that the Daisy is on the commands of a quinjet, finally, it's all very bittersweet. She does hope it was in better circumstances... But then again, is there a better circumstance than helping in saving their friends? So she smiles grimly, a look at her phone from time to time to look for updates from the Operator.

"Hydra is on the dark." She tells over her shoulder as they get on disabling the trackers. "We should be fine for the moment."

As they lower down Daisy keeps the jet steady, waiting for them to go down to fetch the family. A look over to Jemma when May steps out. "So, what do you think?" She asks her friend.

Melinda May has posed:
The ramp lowers, a strange portal hanging in the middle of the street, only really visible from the house directly, since May oriented the jet away from the house when she landed. She sprints down the ramp, toward the door -- fully visible for just a few moments to anyone watching the house... like, possibly, a very sneaky Russian double agent. She hits the steps to the front door and slides her key into the lock. She's then in and taking the stairs up to the main level two at a time.

She enters the room and has Lily scooped into her arms almost before she's really registered where everyone else is scattered. "I may have found Melly," she announces, turning until she sees Peggy. She meets her friend's eyes. "We need to go. Now." A beat. "We're not coming back. Grab what you need, but make it fast."

Peggy Carter has posed:
The words from Daniel get a confused look and a double take, "*What*?" Peggy breathes out, boggled. But then there is Melinda at the front door. Peggy stares between them both and then nods, setting a fussing Michael down in his bassinett. Lily seems the most on top of things.

"Aunt Mel!!" She screeches happily, wrapping her arms tightly around the woman's neck. She's just happy to see her. But she'a also smart enough to realize what not coming back means. She frowns, burying her head in Melinda's neck, "I need Bunny." The long, lop earred floppy rabbit she often carries around.

Peggy curses lightly, yes, even in front of the children. She looks over to Daniel, knowing he's still not quite himself, "Get Michael's changing bag. It's in the nursery right by the change table. Make certain there's extra diapers in it, they're under the table. I'll get Lily's bunny and a few things for us." Peggy knows where those things are scattered. And then she's running. Soft and retired, perhaps, but Peggy knows how to move when she has to. It's less than two minutes before she's back with a big duffle over her shoulder with some emergency things, and Lily's bunny ear sticking out the top. She's also checking a second gun, making certain the chamber is cleared, before she hands it to Daniel. The first one is already holstered under her arm. Once she hands Daniel his gun, she scoops up the bassinet in her free hand. "Let's go."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
Jemma offers an honest answer. "This version of May is frightening. You know, if she wanted to, she would have just shot us just as easily as that officer." The glance back towards the back shows that yes, Jemma has been thinking of the variables. "I do believe the only reason that she didn't is that we were using her empathic abilities without her realizing it. She knows we know what is going on, but the moment we stop being useful..."

There is a shudder. Oh, Jemma is no fool. "We are not there yet. We need to be careful."

Dottie Underwood has posed:
Dottie has been watching the Carter-Sousa house on her own recognizance since it was no longer safe of her to do so with HYDRA's surveillance equipment. While she did intend to give May a set of coordinates, what if something happened to the woman? Safer to deliver the coordinates in person. And now, as the slight asian woman disappears into the house, Dottie emerges to be able to guide them to safety.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel moves, following Peggy's instructions and getting Michael's bag together in a hurry, by the time Peggy's back, so is he, taking the gun and clipping its holster to his belt. "Got Michael's things," he reports to Peggy before looking to May. "Where are they keeping Melly?"

Melinda May has posed:
Melinda gives Lily a hug, cradling her closely in a manner no one in the real world has likely ever seen from her before. Such a contrast, the tenderness she shows the child vs. the brutality she showed the flight officer. When she's sure Daniel and Peggy have all that they and their small family needs, she starts moving back towards the door.

"New Jersey." she tells Daniel as she descends the steps and pulls that door open. She doesn't give away more than that.

As she steps out onto the front porch, May sees Dottie emerging from hiding and chuffs out a breath of air. She shouldn't be surprised. And maybe she isn't. Really, at this point, she's just increasingly confused. It doesn't show on her face, but it's starting to show on her bio monitor back at the Sphere -- spikes of adrenaline, cortisol, and an unusually elevated pulse. Inside the Framework, as she's increasingly surrounded by people who have emotions she can sense and feel, she's slipping into combat breathing again in an effort to control that spiking heartrate and sense of rising panic.

"Come on. We have to hurry." Then, Lily in arms, she starts to jog back towards the yawning ramp that seems to hang in the middle of the air. She takes the child as far up to the front of the plane as she is, keeping her well away from the body they'll be dumping before they leave the Potomac.

She crouches and straps her in, more of that tenderness showing as she does. "There you go, pretty girl. Mum's got Bunny. You can have him soon." She rises, kisses the top of her head, and then turns toward the pilot's seat again. "Strap in. We're wheels up in thirty seconds."

No time to waste.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The question Daniel asks is the only other thing on her mind. She still trusts Melinda and is going to go wherever to find their daughter. She gives a sharp nod, "Then lets go." She pauses on the edge of their house, looking back to it for just a second then turning up to kiss Daniel, Michael's carrier still carefully in one hand. "I love you. Let's get our daughter." And with that promise, and abandoning the house that had become so entirely a home over the last few years, Peggy dashes out the door with May.

She pauses as she sees Dottie, her head turning, but there's a sweet, sad smile across her lips, "Dot. You're on board for this adventure then? Good. Come on." She's clearly fond of the woman as well, and there's no doubt or double guessing why she's here.

When Peggy climbs up onto the ramp, she looks over to see Jemma, a hint of confusion on her face, and then Daisy, which just gets MORE confusion. "Your...friends, Melinda? Ms. Simmons, it is good to see you again." Peggy doesn't look herself. Her hair is longer and softer, she's in comfortable pants and a nursing top. Her body's soft and far more curving than they've ever seen Peggy Carter, three children having been born, bred, and fed off of this frame. She's carrying one of them in one hand now, a small infant with a brush of dark hair in a carrier. "I'm going to try to get Michael to sleep. You all get Melinda back, I'll...take care of everyone else, alright?" She asks flatly. She doesn't WANT to stay out of the fight, but someone has to defend the children. She knows she'll fight more fiercely here, while the others retrieve her eldest. Then she's heading to the back, to strap in somewhere safely.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel nods. "Then Jersey it is," he says wasting no more time before heading out to the waiting jet. At least until Dottie appears his brows raising at Peggy's fond respose to the woman. "Huh, just when I thought this place couldn't be any more messed up," he murmur but he trusts Peggy and May and give the woman a nod. "Dot," he greets before climbing into the plane. "Jemma, Daisy, good to see you," he says with warm familiarity. "I'm gonna guess your plan did the trick?" he asks as he moves to help Peggy get strapped in, promising her, "We'll get her back, and then we're going to get you out of here."

Dottie Underwood has posed:
Dottie doesn't waste time with pleasantries. Just nods at the greetings. She helps to hustle the family onto the quinnjet. Looks like they've picked up an extra passenger.

She takes the favored Bunny from the go bag and brings it to the little girl. "Here Lil's. Hold him tight now."

She straps in nearby in case the child needs some distraction during the flight.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Daisy nods slowly back at Jemma. She was no fool either. And she'd be ready. "We will have Daniel with us now. And don't think she'll do anything to us while the kids and Peggy are around. As long as we don't threaten them. But ..., that's easy enough to accomplish.." then a look to Jemma's ICER and another nod.

But talk is over when they start coming up to the quinjet, a big thumbs up given to Daniel when he actually steps in before she then smiles to the kids and then up to Peggy. "Call me Daisy."

"So, Daniel. How have things been going here? Is everything okay with you here?" then a nod about the plan working. "It did ..., in a way. We are still working out the kinks with May here but ..., so far so good."

When Dottie does join in Daisy blinks and then lets out a, "Oh boy..."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
As May returns, with Lily in her arms, Jemma grows quiet. A smile is given to the girl, with a twitter of fingers in greeting. However, it is the way that May interacts with Lily that catches Jemma's attention. There is a soft side to her...and Jemma just witnessed it.

But, commentary will have to wait. As Peggy enters the quinjet, Jemma offers her a smile. "Hello, Peggy." Yes, first name basis. Jemma is not playing her role this time. Then, as Daniel arrives, Jemma offers a nod towards him as well. "And hello to you, Agent Sousa." With a glance towards Daisy, she offers a small grin and gives a nod. "We were able to develop the tracking software to locate specifically the unique DNA sequencing that would be present with your children. Daisy and I have it with us." As confirmation, Daisy's phone shows the interface, with two bright shiny points right next to each other.

Melinda May has posed:
May works the controls to the plane and it lifts up above the other quiet neighborhood. She keeps the jet below radar, despite the cloaking, flying low over the river as she goes. "Dottie," she calls, leveling off. "A word..."

When the Russian joins her, she speaks softly, so only she and Daisy are likely to hear. "There's a body in the back, along with some electronic garbage. Dump it in the river for me, please?" When Dottie agrees, May makes sure the quinjet stays steady until the deed is done. Doubtlessly, Peggy and Daniel are able to distract Lily when the wind starts up and the refuse is jettisoned.

When the hatch closes again, May pulls out Jemma's phone and looks at it, acertaining the coordinates for Melly. "We'll be there in about fifteen minutes," she tells everyone. Then... the real challenge begins. Who to trust... and how to find the girl.

It's a helluva way to submit her resignation, though.

Screw HYDRA.