Chapter Text
Washington, DC
Spies are used to gunshots. It comes as part of the territory.
Therefore, this should mean that heads of intelligence agencies should also be used to gunshots.
Well, maybe just those who came up through the ranks. Those that lived long enough.
The heads appointed by their political masters, on the other hand... When shit started to go down, they tended to whimper, and faint, and usually needed to be rescued by their more experienced deputies.
Anyways, most of the leaders seated around the table in Washington, DC, to discuss the SHIELD threat, were more of the former. It was the usual suspects in the great game: Brits, Germans, Russians, Chinese, Brazilians, South Africans - although most noted it was quite unusual to see the Australians stalk in, take a seat and glower as if something had been stolen from them.
As international threats go, SHIELD had become a big one. An American organization, that was supposed to be long dead, now seemed to be very much alive, thank you. A now dead Director who claimed to be Inhuman, but wasn't. No obvious oversight, no clue as to their intentions, and dead silence through the usual channels instead of reassurance. The only thing that anyone could tell about SHIELD was that they were allying themselves with, if not outright recruiting, the "people" calling themselves Inhumans. What was their endgame?
As soon as the meeting started, 2 hours late, everyone knew that something was up. All of them knew a stall when they saw it.
Glenn Talbot was stalling like hell.
Until SHIELD Agent Daisy Johnson walked in and shot him in cold blood,that is.
But even with the Inhuman finally showing her true colours, it wasn't until much later that the real shock was even remotely recognized. And it only truly registered with a select few who had a chance to think back to Talbot's last words before his coma. Then watched the tape...the full tape...not the one "leaked" to the press.
"Daisy, thank God. Is Coulson with you?"
While admittedly there are many people named Coulson in the world, there is only one man with that face and unflappable nature, the man at Nick Fury's right hand for years. The legendary Agent who could not be bribed, bought or seduced. The man who just came rushing into the conference room, cutting down the Russian delegation, taking aim at the American MPs and then running out the back door with the strange book the Russians brought with them.
The trouble was that Phil Coulson had been dead for 5 years, KIA in the Battle of New York.
Yes, spies are used to gunshots. What they aren't used to is a dead man firing them.
Someone had a lot of explaining to do. Unfortunately, with Talbot in a bloody coma, and SHIELD literally blown to bits, there didn't seem to be anyone left to do the explaining.
Fortunately, for Phil Coulson at least, more than just a select group of spies were watching.
Wakanda
King T'Challa looked at his band of powered refugees. They stayed out of the way, mostly, sparring in the gym, practicing against each other with their powers and equipment, watching the outside world unfurl without their intervention on CNN and the BBC.
Speaking of which...
"Captain Rogers, you may want to see this."
Steve Rogers looked up. "Yes, sir. Is it serious?"
T'Challa sighed. Over a year now, and he still couldn't convince Steve to call him anything but sir.
"I'm not sure, but it does concern the new SHIELD organization and the powered people you are monitoring."
Clint Barton came over.
"I really don't like that they've resurrected SHIELD as a wishy washy political tool, Steve. Too many of us have died defending those hacks in Washington. Seems like a slap in the goddammed face."
"Language, Barton." Clint rolled his eyes.
"Steve, we destroyed SHIELD for a reason." Sam Wilson put his hand on Steve's shoulder. "Too many secrets and lies, corrupted from the beginning."
Steve scowled at Sam. "Not quite the beginning."
Sam held up his hands. "No, not with Peggy and Howard Stark. But shortly afterwards, you have to admit it."
Steve nodded sadly. "The dream never quite matched the reality, did it?"
Wanda Maximoff said softly, "The registration of...enhanced...people, the enforcement of the Sokavia Accords, continued under SHIELD's watch. That's more than enough reason to stay away from them."
T'Challa grimaced. He didn't care to think of what Wanda had endured on The Raft, but by the way her teammates moved to protect her when she faltered at times, he wasn't sure he wanted to know.
T'Challa said, "If you will come this way, I believe Ms. Carter has it queued up in the screening room."
Steve sketched a salute, and the rest of the team moved to follow their leader. Entering the screening room, T'Challa closed the doors behind them and activated the security protocols against any eavesdroppers, foreign or domestic.
Steve said, blushing a little, "Sharon, good to see you."
Sharon smiled back, "And you too Steve. It's good to see all of you. Let's get to it?"
The others took their seats, as Sharon continued, "The following was taken off CNN 6 hours ago. I'm trying to determine its authenticity, but no one seems to be talking much. We have several dead, and one in intensive care - General Glenn Talbot, head of the ATCU."
"The agency dealing with Inhumans?" asked Sam
"Yep. It seems that one of them may have snapped. Daisy Johnson."
"No, not Quake?" sighed Wanda. "She was actually doing some good for the Inhuman cause. I wonder what happened?"
The team watched the footage, mentally tuning out the CNN talking head. There was no sound on the tape, just the visual of the woman entering the room, lifting her gun, and taking Talbot in the head.
"It's too bad, Talbot seemed to be one of the good ones. A bit straight laced, but good." said Sharon. "He was responsible for taking out the Hydra installations last year."
"The woman, Johnson, has she been apprehended?" asked Steve.
"No, not yet," replied Sharon.
Wanda bristled. "Why are we accusing her? We do not know her side of the story!"
Sam replied, "Wanda, she SHOT a high ranking official in cold blood! I can understand you can sympathize, but"
"Maybe she is forced to work with SHIELD, Sam, maybe they put her in chains in between missions, maybe they...." Wanda's hands began to glow ominously.
"Wanda, please...it's OK..."
"It's not OK, Sam.."
"Wait."
Everyone's eyes turned to Clint. He had been so quiet, most had forgotten he was there.
Which was unusual in itself.
"Sharon, play that first bit again. Right before Talbot is shot. He says something. Zoom in as much as you can on that reflection of him."
Sharon flipped back and zoomed in. Clint leaned forward, concentrating. He watched as Talbot's lips moved, and then rocked back in his seat, his face paler than the others had ever seen before.
"Fuck me...No, it can't be..." he whispered
Wanda put a hand on his arm.
"Clint, what's wrong?"
Clint turned to Steve.
"Talbot asked for Phil Coulson."