As Pamela controlled the plants, Tim explained the current situation to her in greater detail.
"There is a very delicate balance between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, S.H.I.E.L.D., and Hydra. On the surface, both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and S.H.I.E.L.D. are obligated to fight Hydra. These two righteous organizations ought to stand together against evil."
"But the reality is not so simple. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and S.H.I.E.L.D. are in fierce competition for funding. Their responsibilities overlap, and when it comes to cases that fall somewhere between superpowered and ordinary crimes, there are far too many gray areas to argue over."
"This means neither side can hit Hydra too hard, but neither can they leave them alone."
"They cannot hit too hard because if the rats in their own territory disappear, the cats will have no purpose. But they cannot do nothing either, because if the rats overrun the place and climb onto the dinner table, the cats will look useless."
"Both sides only take a taste. They cultivate the enemy for their own benefit while making token moves to pad their records. Whoever controls things more skillfully, using limited Hydra resources to showcase greater achievements, gets more funding."
"Some of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's previous actions cost S.H.I.E.L.D. funding. To get even, S.H.I.E.L.D. joined forces with Hydra. First, they drove the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which could also act against Hydra, out of Los Angeles. Then they caused havoc in Los Angeles, before S.H.I.E.L.D. stepped in to clean it up."
"The West Coast is Federal Bureau of Investigation territory. That way, they could embarrass the Federal Bureau of Investigation while highlighting S.H.I.E.L.D.'s accomplishments."
"Not to mention that by taking advantage of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's weakened defenses to cause trouble at a gathering attended by