[Note: There isn't a missing chapter — this one should have been numbered 808 instead of 809. However, I accidentally mislabeled it while saving the file on my PC. Since renumbering the remaining chapters yet to be published here would be quite a hassle, I've decided to keep it as is. Thanks for your understanding!]
As Coulson, Ward, and Killer Bee returned to the aircraft, May and the others let out a sigh of relief.
May asked, "How did the Sound Ninja get involved? What exactly happened?"
Coulson shook his head helplessly, "We were too late. The Centipede organization sold the entire building to the Sound Ninja this morning. It's now their base."
"Thankfully, Kabuto was there. If not, we could've faced total annihilation today."
Fitz and the others turned to Miles, who also shook his head, "I had no idea about this."
Ward then spoke up, "What concerns me more is what the Centipede organization got in return from the Sound Ninja."
"Was it the Curse Mark of Fire, or something else?"
"If it's a stabilizer for the Extremis virus, then their threat level is far too high."
Coulson sighed, "Let's hope it was just a Curse Mark. But who knows? They're not exactly known for sharing their clients' details."
…
Later-
Coulson approached Miles with a box as they stood at the aircraft's hatch. "You've got two choices: take what's in this box, or we'll lock you up in a much bigger box."
Miles, confused, asked, "Can you give me a hint?"
Coulson remained silent, and Miles, realizing he had little choice, reluctantly accepted the box. Clearly, whatever was inside was better than imprisonment.
He opened it to find a wristband.
"What's this for?" he asked.
Coulson took the wristband and fastened it around Miles' wrist, "It does whatever we tell it to. You'd best avoid any illegal activities."
As soon as the wristband was secured, a blue light flashed from it.
"And for the foreseeable future, you'll find it very hard to access any digital devices."
Coulson closed the box and said, "You're free to go."
Miles pointed outside, "Great, but we're still in San Francisco."
Coulson smiled, "Yes, we are."
"I live in Austin, Texas."
"I know."
"Oh, and by the way, the Women and Children's Protection Association thanks you for your anonymous donation."
With that, Coulson turned and walked away, calling to Skye, "Come to my office."
Skye watched Coulson leave, then turned to face Miles.
Miles asked, "Are you planning to stay?"
"If they let me," Skye replied.
Miles looked at her thoughtfully, "You've changed."
Skye nodded, "Maybe."
"You're not the same as before."
Skye looked at Miles and said, "You're not what I expected either."
With that, she turned and left.
As she walked away, Miles called after her, "I hope you find the answers you're looking for."
Skye paused briefly, then continued walking. Miles glanced at the ramp behind him and turned to leave the aircraft.
Skye headed to the lounge area, where Ward and May were drinking. She said to Ward, "I'm heading to Coulson's office. As my supervising officer, do you want to come along?"
Ward looked at his glass, shook his head, and replied, "I'm off duty."
Without even turning to face her, Ward's response made it clear to Skye. She nodded and said, "Alright, then."
She then made her way to Coulson's office.
After knocking a few times, Skye walked in. Coulson was facing away from her, and Skye sat down in the chair in front of his desk.
"I didn't mean to..." Skye started, but Coulson cut her off as he turned around, "Don't lie to me."
Coulson walked over to her, continuing, "From the moment you stepped onto this plane, you've been lying to me, to us. You've not only deceived us, but you've also deceived Killer Bee."
Skye quickly tried to defend herself, "I didn't..."
But Coulson interrupted again, "You're lying right now."
"I stood up for you in front of the whole team. Some of them started to believe in you, they risked their lives for you."
"Why are you really here?"
"You've been hiding something from us all along. It's not just about your boyfriend—there's something more, Skye."
"I'm giving you a chance to come clean right now. Say it, or don't say it ever again."
Skye remained silent for a few moments, remembering that Ward had once said something similar to Miles in the interrogation room.
Finally, Skye reached into her clothes and pulled out a SIM card, placing it on the desk.
Coulson glanced at it and asked, "What is this?"
Skye's voice was low and somber, "Everything I know."
Coulson's expression remained serious. "About us?"
Skye, with tears in her eyes, replied, "About me."
"This is why I learned how to hack, why I joined the Rising Tide."
"It was all to gather any information I could about my parents."
Coulson picked up the SIM card and inserted it into a decoder. Files began displaying on the nearby screen—photos, documents, and even a file with the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo appeared.
Skye continued, "But it was all for nothing. No records, no trace."
"My life's investigation led me to just one file—a redacted file."
Coulson, looking at the file on the screen, said grimly, "Redacted by S.H.I.E.L.D."
Skye stared at him with tear-filled eyes, "No matter what you do, I won't stop searching."
Coulson paused for a moment and said, "You might not like what you find."
"It can't be worse than what I've imagined."
Coulson took a few steps forward and sighed, "Maybe I can help you."
Skye nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks.
At that moment, Coulson picked up a small box from his desk, identical to the one he had given Miles earlier.
Skye accepted the box, and Coulson turned to leave the office.
Opening the box, Skye found a wristband inside. She took it out and fastened it onto her right wrist.