With Whitehall dead, the Hydra forces under his command collapsed like a defeated army. S.H.I.E.L.D. had taken full control of the abandoned cinema. According to the original plan, the next step should have been to set explosives, destroy the key tunnels of the underground city, and demolish a temple at its core.
Of course, that had been the original plan. Now it had to be put on hold, because one of their own—S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Skye—had chased a woman named Raina into the city.
Raina was also a carrier of the Inhuman gene. Ever since childhood, she had believed she was destined to be different. She had willingly cooperated with Hydra, helping them find this alien city. Then, while S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra were locked in a vicious fight, she had secretly taken the Obelisk deep into the city. Once Skye discovered it, she had followed her underground.
If Fury had been here, he might have put the bigger picture first and ordered the detonation without hesitation. But Agent Coulson clearly was not Fury. He could not accept leaving his favorite agent behind to be buried with this alien city, so he decided to go down and bring Skye back himself.
"I take back what I said about you being crazy," Agent May said as she watched Coulson fasten his harness, preparing to jump into the bottomless hole drilled by the Ion Drill. "This is crazy."
"Skye is one of us. One of the most important ones. I have to bring her back," Coulson said stubbornly.
"Damn it, but you're the director. You can't."
"If I don't come back, you'll be the director." Coulson cut her off in a tone that allowed no argument. "Hold this position, May. If we're not back in ten minutes, seal the entrance and forbid anyone from