Coulson's Invitation

Beyond the main doors, large numbers of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were at work inside.

Coulson said as he walked, "If you got stabbed by Loki of Asgard, you can say whatever you want."

"I saw that white light. Felt like way more than eight seconds."

Coulson and Ward reached the workstations, picked up their badges, and clipped them to their chests.

Ward looked at the two of them. "Do they know?"

"Do the Avengers know Fury lied to them?"

Hill said calmly, "They don't have Level Seven clearance."

Coulson kept walking as he said, "The moment I got out of intensive care, Fury locked me in a glass room on Tahiti."

He turned to look at Ward beside him and said, "It was awful."

"Mai Tais, Mackie Detective Novels, and a physical therapist."

"That man's English was really... all over the place."

Before long, Coulson had brought the two of them into a command room. Ward, off to the side, asked, "But what brought you back to work?"

Hill opened the screen in the command room, and a video immediately began playing of a hooded man descending from the sky to save a girl.

Ward said in surprise, "What's going on? A superhuman?"

Coulson stood to the side with his arms folded and said, "A superhero, Agent Ward."

Ward asked in confusion, "Charlotte wouldn't sell Physical Enhancement Serum to a Black man, and besides, would he even have the resources to trade for it?"

Hill said, "Unregistered. Gifted. Identity unknown."

The video continued to play, and Skye's voice came from it. "The secret is out. For decades, your organization..."

Several short videos played, some about ninjas, some about Thor...

Coulson said, "Another little gift from Rising Tide."

Ward asked, puzzled, "How did they get this intel before we did?"

Coulson replied,