4569/Leviathan: Lag

Leviathan: Lag
Date of Scene:	03 June 2018
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Clint and Skye question Lag. Thanks to the Benefactor's poison running through Lag's veins they hatch either the best or the worst plan in history. Tune in next time to find out which!
Cast of Characters:	Hawkeye (Barton), Quake, Lag
Tinyplot:	Leviathan

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Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Much as it was with the other Rising Tide types taken by SHIELD Lag was flown to the Helicarrier, though this time he wasn't shoved in a hole in lockup like Skye was, but taken to medical and handcuffed to a bed until someone cleared him. There were still a lot of questions to be answered, why all the extra security, what was up with the trap, what did he see at the base and what was Hydra's plans, oh and are you working for Hydra?

That was a big one.

So, when the nurse said Lag's seditives were wearing off, Clint nods, to her, "Thanks, give us the room?" he says, which would sound more professional if he didn't have both index fingers in one of those Chinese finger traps he'd picked up on their aborted vacation.

Pushing his hands together he frees himself as he says, "What? We can get Wade more when we go back to our vacation."

Quake has posed:
Skye just rolls her eyes at Clint. She's exhausted and strung out on post-adrenaline rush. "Kinda not really the point." But she relents enough to offer him a weak smile. "We might want to buy him a bagfull. But really I'm more worried about what we do with Lag. That back there was a lot more organized than I expected, even knowing it was probably a trap."

She'd reviewed what footage they'd gotten. "I gotta say, it looks like he might be on our side?" Except she looked like she was on Rising Tide's side, too. Right up to, and including shooting Clint. "I guess I follow your lead?"

Lag has posed:
Lag's eyes flutter open and he coughs. He starts to sit up and then suddenly looks dazed and far away for a moment before shaking his head as if to clear it. He looks around the room and sees Skye and the man she was with in the CCTV footage from China.

"I'm... Yo, what *is* this place? Skye?" he says in a confused rush. He sits up more fully and notices the shackle to the bed. He tugs on it and then looks at the two in the room with some alarm.

"What's going on? How long was I out?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint tucks the finger trap in one of his fatigue pockets, and nods, growing serious. The goofiness was a coping mechanism. Eaiser to dick around with a finger trap than go over the mission again and again in his head wondering what went wrong. Not that it wasn't happening in the back of his mind. He gives his forehead a scratch "Yeah, probably a good idea," he says of the traps before getting down to business, "And you're not wrong they were way more organized than we expected. We're lucky we had the team we had or, " he lets that thought trail off, along with the idea of Skye back in the hands of the Benefactor. He looks over at her, before he nods, "And yeah, looked like he was on our side, and I'm thinking we can tag team, you know him better than me, so when you see an opening to get him talking do it. Most of the battle is getting him going, and if he's really on our side it shouldn't be too hard."

The cough brings the conversation to an abrupt halt, and Clint sneaks a hand over to squeeze Skye's before he turns and heads over to the bed, "Hey, I'm Clint, and you can relax, we got you out of there," he says before he checks his watch, "About eight hours."

Quake has posed:
Skye makes a small snort of derision. "Hey, they didn't get me. You can stop acting like someone stole your security blanket." She tiptoes up and gives Clint's cheek a kiss. "Seriously. I'm a big girl. It's the job, right? We can do this." Because if they couldn't...

Lag is waking up, then and she slaps a trademark grin on her face. "Long enough." Clint is a lot more precise than she is, though, leaving her to shrug. "What he said. And uh, yeah, this is Clint. You know me, DarkSky. But they call me Skye here. And uh.. yeah. Care to tell us what the fuck that was back there?"

She's crossed the room by now, and perches on the edge of Lag's bed. He's still handcuffed.

Lag has posed:
Lag exhales slowly at the mention of eight hours, obviously stressed by that news. "It's the Benefactor, he got me right after the raid, brought me there. They ain't stopped, they're setting up new data centres. The plan ain't over... Skye. Not by a long shot," Lag says and swears.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know who else to reach out to. I saw you were out, I knew you had to know somebody heavy. But I swear I didn't know they had an army in there, or gas. They musta been expectin' me to try an' get out. Your guys all got out... right?" Lag says and looks between Clint and Skye.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint lets out a little chuckle and kisses her cheek in return. "Heh, really? Security blanket?" he shakes his head as he pulls away. "And yeah, you did fine, more than fine, with rebooting their system like that, but, still going to worry." He gives a little shrug then a hip check..

By the bed, Clint crosses his arms and frowns, "Wait? What plan? The take down the net plan? Or something else?"

As for their guys, "Yeah, we all got out," he confirms.

Quake has posed:
Skye's grin fades to something more serious. "You really had no clue who I'm with?" Her glance strays to Clint and back. "I work for SHIELD, Lag."

She doesn't go into the sordid details of it all.

"I guess you could say they're someone heavy. I was in Tide then as a plant. That whole takedown was because of me." All easily findable information if he had acess. She's slightly concerned he didn't know. But then again, his access could have been heavily filtered. She nods. "Yeah, our team got out okay. How about you?"

Lag has posed:
Lag's jaw drops open when Skye says she is with SHIELD. "SHIELD?! But you were right up there... Oh snap," he says, stunned and his eyes narrow at Clint for a moment then widen in recognition. "Oh yo, you're Hawkeye, man... Damn."

Lag takes a breath and coughs again. "Sorry, that gas," he says and clears his throat. "The Benefactor scooped me and a bunch of others right out of the takedown. I was just trying to get away from the feds then his goons came outta nowhere. They kept me on serious lock down after that, except doing jobs," he says and looks to Clint. "Takin' down the 'Net was just a thing. They ain't tryin' to destroy it, they're shapin' it. Forcin' traffic through nodes they compromised, sniffin' it all like you got no idea. Makes the NSA look like a buncha fools, man. It's crazy."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint grins when he's recognized, "Yep, that's me," he says. "I can do autographs later," he jokes lightly channeling a bit of Tony there. He does share the grin with Skye when Lag puts the pieces together and realizes she was the one to bring it all down.

The plan as it's laid out makes Clint frown, "Jesus, well that makes more sense than destroying the net outright. Hell of a trojan horse though."

Quake has posed:
Skye just makes a face when he's recognized. "I swear, I can't take you anywhere," she complains lightly, grinning. She almost misses when Lag puts the pieces of the puzzle together. "Yeah, I did that. Was kinda fun, too. I'd say sorry about it all, but I didn't know who was die hard and who wasn't. I knew that last job was a trap for us - not meaning SHIELD stepping in, I mean, I knew K - the Benefactor was grabbing folks up once it was over. Didn't actually think much about the face you'd escaped. I mean, I should have realized he had folks in place to grab the runners. It fit his MO."

She shrugs, the shrug turning into a nod. "Yeah, that's what I figured. That it wasn't just taking down the net. I mean, I kind of bought he was trying to destroy it at the end, but when it didn't fall, I knew he'd likely had a failsafe in place."

She'd told Fury her thoughts on it all - that Karl had used the instability of the net to put back doors in places and spy on everything that he could get his hands on. She'd not thought about it too much further, given her own personal crisis going on, but now that she was thinking about it, even she could see all sorts of applications to that kind of access. From security, to stock interests.

It wasn't pretty.

Lag has posed:
Lag nods to Skye. "It's... Well it's SHIELD-level. They had me in all kinds of networks, all over the world. They're in real deep, and whatever you're thinkin' they might be able to do, they can do it," he says.

Lag looks between Clint and Skye. "I had no idea what I was into, I was just doing the Tide thing, anti-corporate stuff, you know," he says to Skye. "I didn't know what was really going on until it was too late, and by then I couldn't get out. None of us could, we were trapped like rats, and then after the takedown, there was nowhere to go. You gotta believe me, man, I only did what they told me cause I had to. They straight up killed some of the Tide. Remember TR4CK5? Killed him, just to prove a point."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint shoots Skye a faint smirk at the recognition. "What can I say, I'm famous," he says. Which is why he was more of a lurk and shoot sort of spy than an infiltrator, James Bond may tell everyone who he is up front, but that was the movies, in SHEILD it tends to get you shot.

"So, um you guys'll know better than me, just how bad are we talking here and is there anyway to undo what was done?"

As for what happened to the Tide and Lag being under duress, he nods, but doesn't comment, though he does frown, and say, "Sounds like hell, what about the others at the base? Where would they be taken?"

Quake has posed:
"What he's talking about," Skye says carefully, "Is a finger on any transaction that uses the internet or satellites. All those back doors? There are probably more than I know of. SHIELD used them too. It was a smart move. But SHIELD isn't about to compromise security nets, or start manipulating stock prices. And those are just the biggest most obvious applications. Rerouting things. Skirting customs and tarriffs. Sneaking things in over borders. It's endless, Clint."

"And yeah, you're famous. I had my five minutes and now I'm nothing. You're cute, though. It makes up for a lot."

Her attention returns to Lag. "TR4CK5? Really? Fuck. I thought he'd got out before the last job. Jesus, Karl was nabbing people even before? Probably just for that kind of shit, too." It only went to confirm her suspicions that he'd been behind the deaths that had been splattered all over the net and used to justify the extra security and the amped up measures he put in place for their final jobs.

Lag has posed:
Lag nods in agreement with Skye as she explains the severity. "It was messed up. They injected us all with, I don't know, something. If we don't get these shots every 24 hours, we die. They didn't give TR4CK5 his shot and made us watch, just we knew they were serious. Like we needed convincing," Luke says and shakes his head.

"I don't know where they're keepin' the others," Lag says.

"They kept me apart 'cause I'm..." (A freak), he doesn't say. Even after all these years, he has hard time making sense of what he is, how he is. "...a technopath."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
"So basically he's got these backdoors all over the place and his own little private army of hackers to exploit them," he says and curses. "That's not good. Going to have to ask Fury to beef up security on the Rising Tide people we do have," he says, knowing whatever prison they're in while the world sorts out the myriad jurisdictional disputes would be a tempting target for the Benefactor. "And how long before we grabbed you was your last shot?" he asks.

That holds his focus until the end when he blinks, "What?" he asks resisting the urge to glance back at his gear. Trying not to show just how dangerous a spot they're all in. "Like you can control tech with your mind?"

Quake has posed:
"Oooof," Skye murmurs, "I didn't even think of that." And after living through a Hydra attack on the Trisk, she knows it's entirely possible for their security toh ave been bypassed and folks be working on the inside.

There were worse than Rising Tide folks holed up in security. Much worse.

She lets Clint go all country cousin on the technomancer stuff. It gives her time to think.

Lag has posed:
"Like a few hours," Lag says to Clint's question about his last shot.

Then Lag nods to Clint when he asks about controlling tech, avoiding eye contact. "Yeah; computers, cars, whatever. It's why I was able to get into some of the really hardened systems, you know? But I'm not touching anything in this place right now, I don't want to mess with SHIELD and end up in a ditch somewhere."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint nods slowly, "Sure thing, but we'll verify that all the same," he asks about Lag touching things. He shoots a quick look to Skye, could they verify that sort of thing?

"As for your shot so that puts it at around ten hours, let's make it elven to be safe," he asks, and moves to the com-panel in the wall. "Can we get someone up here to draw blood?" he asks. "Also, someone page Simmons at the Trisk, we're probably going to need a consult." He lets go of the intercom button and moves back over to the bed. "Any idea what they dosed you guys with?"

Quake has posed:
"Touch only, or line of sight as well," Skye wants to know. And much as she wants to believe Lag about 'not touching anything here', she also knows therein lies the road to danger.

To Clint, "That gives us thirteen hours at the most. Including travel time. Unless putting him under will buy us time." Simmons will confirm that.

Lag has posed:
Lag swallows hard. "Line of sight, for some things," he admits. "Easy things, like switches or HVAC. Not computers though, need a real link, touch... the Net," he says and swallows again. He very obviously does not want to be having this conersation, but sees no choice.

"Thirteen hours... but, you're SHIELD, you can guys can help... right?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint relaxes a little as Lag explains his powers, not so much the words but the way they come across as though dragged out of him. Still, he gives Skye another look, seeking her take. This was a bit out of his depth.

He does put a hand on Lag's shoulder about the whatever it was that he'd been injected with. "SHEILD's people are some of the top in the world and they have the phone numbers to all the rest if there is a solution, we'll be able to find it," he says which was true enough, he didn't doubt they'd find it, the question was could they find it in 13 hours.

"So where'd the keep the stuff they dosed you with?" he asks, as the med team comes in to do the blood work. Clint caually checks ID tags to make sure all the personnel have clearance to overhear what's being said. The one that doesn't he ushers out the door and closes it behind them.

Quake has posed:
"He doesnt' touch anything electronic without myself around. WE can't help things like light switches and such. Anyone on security should be equiped with retraint weapons that don't require electronics, and quite possibly mechanics." Skye isn't sure about that last one, but she's not taking chances. "Sorry, Lag. At least until we're 100% certain you haven't been compromised."

At this point she's fairly certain Lag isn't a purposeful plant - he reminds her of Genus in so many ways it hurts. However, Karl was a sneaky bastard, and she wasn't convinced he hadn't done something to Lag to make him dangerous in spit of himself.

Lag has posed:
Lag opens his mouth to say something then closes it and his shoulders round in. "I understand," he says. "And thanks. I mean, it was pretty heavy coming in after me like that. I do appreciate it."

Lag offers up his arm so the lab technicians can take their samples. They are efficient and to the point, which is comforting. They really do seem to know what they are doing.

"Can I ask a favour? If I might only have 13 hours to live, can I at least have a pen and paper? I wanna right down as many of the jobs I did for the Benefactor as I can so you can fuck with his plans no matter what happens to me."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Like Clint said, tag team, when Skye lays out the security requirements, he moves over to the comms panel and relays them to get the gears moving. Non-electric, non-mechanical weapons, somehow he figured he was going to end up taking a few shifts himself with those requirements.

"And Skye's calling the shots with that stuff," he says about the notepad and pen. Glancing to Skye. When it came to paranoia he knew who the expert was.

Quake has posed:
"Paper and pencil are fine." Pencil, not pen. Yes, Skye is a paranoid sort. She's made that clear more than once. A thing that should have gotten more attention when she said Karl made her look like a walk in the park.

It's also why she /is/ so paranoid now. She's met Karl. She's seen some of how his mind works.

"So, we find hte quickest route back there? What, Madripoor and across?" She thinks that might cut down travel time. Meanwhile Research and Development under Fitz and Simmons can tackle from this end.

Lag has posed:
"Wait, you want to go back in there? You're not serious... Are you?" Lag asks, incredulously.

Lag had expected Skye was into some heavy people, but he had never expected SHIELD. Or this level of help. He is genuinely taken aback by the amount of effort on his behalf.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint nods, and as the med team wraps up with the samples, he asks one of them to bring a pad and a pencil.

"Yeah, going to need one of those holomask things for Madripoor, still wanted for that thing," he says, "But yeah, quickest way by far. The doors to St. Molly's cut a good eight hours of their time at SHIELD speeds and half-a-day at commercial ones.

"We can have a quinjet out of the Hong Kong station pick us up covertly and fly us back to the site," he confirms. "That'll put us at around two hours, to arrive, two more to get back. Not bad."

Clint nods, over at Lag about the question, "Yeah, we're going back in, so you better not be a spy, or I swear I'll get the Hulk to eat you," Clint promises. Right to the point as always. "That's what we do at SHEILD, beyond all the spy stuff, we help."

It was mostly true, and besides if SHIELD hadn't signed off on this he'd have gone through the Avengers, where that was absolutely true.

Quake has posed:
Skye gives a shrug to Clint's figurings and nods. "Sounds about right. We need a plan to get in. The probably whereabouts of the antidote. And then some good luck on our side."

She's almsot forgotten about Lag in the planning, until he makes the sounds of protest, and grabs her attention again. She gives him an odd look, then a suddenly shy and crooked smile. "That's right, isn't it? You really don't know, huh." Skye nods to herself. "Funny thing about SHIELD, Lag. It isn't like the Tide. We don't leave people behind. And this is kinda what we do."

It sounds funny, and simple, fallng from her lips 'this is what we do', but it's the truth.

"We give a shit. We give a shit when nobody else will. Or can. You're here. We got you out, so now we make you safe. That's how it works. So, yeah. We're going back in. Anything you can give us to help is appreciated."

Lag has posed:
Lag reddens, chastened by Clint and Skye's example. "I'm pretty sure they keep it in the kitchens. It was always cold, and I know for a fact the walk-in freezers were the only refrigerated spaces. I got a look at the whole HVAC layout.," he explains. "I can draw out what I remember of the base for you, too."

Lag rubs the back of his neck wtih one hand. "I feel like an ass, just sitting safe in here if you're going back. Let me come with you. I ain't much good in a fight, but I can open their systems, no problem."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint nods and when the nurse comes back with the pad and pencil he carries it Lag and hands it to him.

He smiles at Lag's suggestion, and looks to Skye, "Is it bad that his dumb idea is the same as my dumb idea?" he asks.

"On one hand, we'd be walking you and him right back into their base, on the other if he can take care of their systems it might make this a hell of a lot easier," he says looking for Skye's opinion.

Quake has posed:
Skye is quiet when Lag suggests coming along. It had it's merits. It also had it's faults. That Clint was on board with the idea did weigh things in her mind, and she grows thoughtful. "Totally bad that his dumb idea is the same as yours."

But she'd already accepted that she didn't think Lag was a betrayer at heart. Not unless someone had him under mind control. It did present some solutions for things, and might buy them time to boot. Time that was already in short and precious supply.

"totally a stupid idea," she agrees. "But it would work. Just.." And here Lag is fixed with a solemn stare, "You gotta know it's dangerous. And stupid. And likely to get you killed. You'd be safer sitting back here where they've got great odds of getting you an antidote. And nobody is going to be firing guns at you, or throwing gas cannisters."

She waits until she's sure she's got Lag's attention. And that he understands, and then she hits him with, "Your choice. You come with us, you're part of the team. You stay here, you're someone we saved and are trying to help. We'll do our job either way. Coming isn't necessary. So you decide. Team. Or just some joe we got out of hot water."

Fury, Skye decided, was going to kill her for this. She has exactly zero authority to suggest someone was now part of SHIELD if the came with.. and yet? That's exactly what she has just done.

Lag has posed:
Lag swallows hard again. He had the distinct feeling his entire life hinged on this moment, but now that it came to it, there was not much of a choice. Not if his life was going to be worth saving.

"Look, I ain't proud of what I've done, but when it all started, I was just trying to help make things better. It's all fucked up now, but let me do this; I'm in," he says and then adds. "But yo, can I borrow a vest or somethin'?

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
"Thought so," Clint says with an easy grin.

Then he sits back and let's Skye do her thing, he grins the whole way through trying to weigh in his head if Fury was going to kill Skye or be proud of her, by the time she was done he figured on both.

"Well, man, your call," he says to Lag before he makes up his mind, and when he does, Clint chuckles, "Good news, you just passed the psych exam, you're crazy enough to work here," he says as he fishes the key out of the pocket he'd put it in and undoes the handcuffs from around Lag's wrist. "And sure thing, we'll get you kitted out properly, got any skills that will help you stay alive, besides talking to machines?" he asks hopefully.

Quake has posed:
Skye can't argue with the 'crazy enough' portion of Clint's observation. He really had a point, and looking at the bulk of the main operatives in SHIELD, it really was a common theme. Batshit crazy in numerous ways, all of them, but you wanted them on your side when the brown stuff hit the whirly thing.

Lag gets a lopsided grin. "Welcome aboard, Agent in Training.. uh.. say, what's your actual name, anyway? I'd kinda like to know who it is I'm getting my own ass handed to me over."

Lag has posed:
Lag shakes his head to Clint. "Not unless Fortnite and Battlefield count as training," he says. "But I can make their guns stop working, if that helps."

He smiles a little wryly at Skye's welcome. "Martin Perkes. Everyone just calls me Marty."

Quake has posed:
Skye inclines her head to Lag. "Welcome aboard, Agent in Training Marty Perkes. It's one hell of a ride."