A short, handwritten note was delivered to the Science department desk, waiting for Kristi. It was signed by Nick Fury. Compromised.
Nothing else beyond the signature and a detention cell number. It came along with an old ID, named 'Erebus', but very clearly a 20-something year old Marco. His old HYDRA ID, with trigger words written on the back.
-fieldagentellis
She got the message on her department chat that something had been dropped off while she was delivering a report to R&D, so she stopped at the main desk when she returned. The note made her stop physically and mentally for a long moment, perhaps her heart as well.
Compromised?
She turned the note over for more context. Nothing. Then she looked at the worn badge and the blood rushed again. She turned back and jogged out into the corridor, gaining speed as she headed to the detention level with a sick feeling in her gut. Most just got out of her way when they heard the footfalls coming up fast or saw the look on her face
Compromised. Fuck. Marco, sweetheart, what happened?!
The guard station attendant looked over the note she'd offered and told her to wait there. When he turned his back and opened the detention block door, she shifted form to a dissipated shimmer of water vapor and followed him silently, reforming behind him at arm's length when he called out the Director's name at the noted cell.
They could write her up later.
She looked again into the room, the hand holding the badge and note dropping to her side. "I know he didn't want to hurt Ray. And frustrating as you can be, he doesn't want to hurt you. Although it sounds like you're off the hook for the moment." But she was a SHIELD agent. That kind of conditioning wasn't going to be forgiving for anyone who wore the title, whether he wanted to avoid it or not. There's the real danger.
"Listen. I'm going to go in there, and I don't want or need anyone in there with me. If you can please have Hazel send down something light for him. Pot of tea, some fruit, whatever she'd send to the medical ward." She took a breath and eyed the former Director.
"You find out who did this, Nick. I want to know, and I'll be sure to recite their sins to them before I rip them apart," she growled. "I mean it. Fucking cowards, not even getting their own hands dirty. No one messes with him, or any of us like this." She opened the door to the inner room and walked through, letting it shut behind her as she slowly approached the figure on the bed.
"I'm sure he didn't," Fury said evenly. He was very aware that if Marco wasn't actively fighting the conditioning, either himself, Hartell or the other unfortunate agent wouldn't still be around. "Just a heads up, Agent Sterling has been appointed as Ellis' handler until we're able to clear him."
He had no idea how well the two knew each other, but thought it was better to give some sort of warning so it wasn't a surprise, should they cross paths (which was likely to happen at some point).
He sighed. "I'm not going to stop you," we both know I can't anyway. "Perhaps you want to start by helping question the 'bait' agent later? He's a fire hazard and might need a little cooling down-" he called after Kristi.
Marco knew who was there. He knew the voice, the footsteps. He didn't immediately turn though, instead remaining facing the wall as he listened.
Part of him wanted to, wanting the familiar comfort. The other part was scared Erebus would push him to lash out and harm her. She was an agent after all.
No guards? He certainly didn't hear any follow her footsteps in, at least.
Marco shifted, being careful not to make any sudden movements as he turned and sat facing Kristi, back leaning against the wall. No need to spook whoever was likely outside watching.
"...bit risky, isn't that?" he asked. There was a hint of a smirk to show he was still Marco, friendly teasing and all. Although clearly exhausted, but that was hardly new when he was focused on work.
Technically, they were at work. At least in the building. However, Marco himself was not on the clock. There was a brief moment of guilt when he realised Kristi had probably just left her work to come down to see him, but he quickly put it aside.
Don't focus on that part.
Instead, Marco chose to put aside his usual, distant work personality. It was both to show Kristi he was currently still the Marco she knew and because it felt easier to focus on their personal relationship when Erebus was a running commentary in the back of his mind, trying to remind him of the old orders.
"It doesn't feel right," he admitted quietly, glancing down at the inhibitor bracelet on his wrist. "I've spent... so long with the shadows, it just feels... wrong. Too bright."
Not that the lights were at their full intensity, but after decades of being used to lower lighting he could change at will, it was.
She had stopped just inside the doorway, watching him as he held steady and then moved cautiously. It could be Erebus, remember. Oh, hush up. If that entity dared to show out, she'd deal with it somehow. The familiar grin, the light teasing, all of it let her relax just a fraction after a moment. "Oh you know me, love. Risky is just a part of the day around here, right?" She smiled and approached, noting the one table sitting upright with an untouched tray, the rest of the room in disarray. She knelt down and rested back on her heels, watching his face and glancing to the bracelet with ...a very bitter understanding. A watery hand formed at the light switch by the door, turning the overhead lights off. Let those outside dare to argue with her about it. The softer light panel over the spot where the bed should be was dimmable at least. "Yeah. When you're used to living with it. Living in it. It's part of you, it's stressful to be cut off from it."
She eased into a cross-legged full sit, slightly closer to him. He could touch her if he reached out, she was fully aware. The watery hand went to the other controls and turned the light there down to a lower glow, the room much darker. "So tell me what's going on, sweetheart. What happened, mm?"
