3808/Tidepool: Before the Storm

Tidepool: Before the Storm
Date of Scene:	05 February 2018
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Rising Tide meets. Plans are made for Skye to take over and truths about her past are revealed.
Cast of Characters:	Arnim Zola, Quake
Tinyplot:	Rising Tide

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Arnim Zola has posed:
The meeting Miles had summoned Skye to the night she met Genus at the diner had been cancelled when Saffron's video hit the net. The Tide was in mourning, their chats became sparse and tense, mostly concerned with sharing details of Saffron's assassination. One of them had gotten the official report and soon it was passed around the whole of the Tide. It wasn't an act, Saffron was dead, killed by .300 Winchester round at long range. So, the report read and for any of those brave, or morbid enough to look there were pictures. SHIELD had struck back and struck back hard. People were scared and angry.

After a couple of days the meeting was back on, tiny little basement club in Madripoor that had been bought out for the night and the bar handed over to the hackers in attendance. Booze was pretty much a universal coping mechanism for them, and before the formal meeting began they were given a little time to indulge and get loose.

Among the crowd, was Miles, the Inner Circle, and some members of lesser repute, including Genus. The young hacker looked as broken as Clint had been pretending to be, with the same stubble on his cheeks and dark circles under his eyes, his eyes though were different, he had a thousand-yard stare while he sipped his local beer by the bar.

Quake has posed:
Skye had kept her head down low after shooting that SHIELD Agent. All she'd gotten from Genus was a ping he'd gotten out safely... And then all hell broke loose with the release of Saffron's video and subsequent assassination.

At least that's what it looked like.

She'd tried to pull information from May and Clint, but they'd not had definitive answers for her. Just that it wasn't on the radar at their clearance, which meant /if/ SHIELD had ordered it, it had come from Fury's level and went no further.

It didn't add up, and the answers she had weren't saftisfactory. If it wasn't SHIELD, there weren't a lot of people who it could be otherwise, and the next best guess didn't sit well with her: If Rising Tide had killed one of her own, shit had just gotten real in ways they hadn't been before.

She'd sent her reports and her concerns on to Fury, and Clint, and May, and had been waiting. The meeting being cancelled didn't help settle her nerves on the matter much.

Once at the club, Skye had hoped to keep to herself, and really, she would have, except for Genus. Genus who looked like death warmed over, and made Clint as she'd met him that first time after her defection look positively dressed for one of Tony's parties in comparison. She nodded to the bartended and held up a finger for a beer of her own, and sat beside Genus at the bar.

"Hey. Glad you made it. I was worried. Even with the ping. Some bad shits been going down. And you look like hell." She bit her lower lip. "Uh.. fuck. I'm sorry. Should led with that. Total bitch about Saffron, G. I know she meant a lot to you."

Arnim Zola has posed:
As Skye enters the bar a few of those gathered there that know her give her nods of greeting, before breaking into hushed whispers with their neighbours. She'd have seen SHIELD agents do the same with May, nodding a quick greeting, before whispering to each other about the Cavalry. After shooting not one but two SHIELD agents, the name DarkSky was earning the same cache with the Tide. As she crosses the club floor, Miles makes an effort to catch her eye, but seeing Skye heading in Genus' direction he leaves off giving them space.

Genus looks up from his beer when Skye joins him. He looks worse off close up and smells like he hasn't showered in a couple of days. "It's fine everyone else has already said that shit," he says of the condolences. He turns to Skye more fully, his blue eyes looking right through her. "What I need is answers. Was it them?" he asks. "SHIELD. You know them right? Was this them?" he says looking at her without blinking even as the bartender drops off a beer then quickly steps away.

Quake has posed:
In truth, Skye had seen Miles out of the corner of her eye, but had refused to make eye contact, honing in, instead on Genus at the bar. That, and the fact that she couldn't help but notice the wide, hushed berth of respect she was being given by the others. She'd been right, she hadn't made it out of the parkinglot before the video of her shooting that agent had hit the net. She choose to take the respect in stride. Before this was over, she was going to need that reputation working for her.

Her beer is taken with a nod of thanks to the bartender, and sipped. When Genus asks her that question, she shakes her head. It wasn't SHIELD.

Arnim Zola has posed:
The shake of Skye's head has Genus' eyes widening. SHIELD made sense, they'd been the ones after him after the Stark Hack, so it made sense they'd have been after Saff too. He'd been sure it was them. "Are you guessing, or do you know?" he asks in a quiet whisper as he leans in close to Skye so their voices wouldn't carry. "And who then? That Pennyworth guy Momento's been poking?" Though Momento had been doing most of that after the Saffron video had dropped.

Quake has posed:
Skye has to sit and think for a few before answering Genus. Really, what could she say about it all? Well, a number of things, actually, but some threw her into dangerous territory where the others were concerned. Especially if Genus was toeing the party line. And given he thought SHIELD had done this...

Then again, that look on his face when she shook her head told her a lot. He hadn't bought in that it could only have been SHIELD. That he asked, rather than protested it had been them, spoke volumes.

"I've got sources. They say no." She shrugs, and sips her beer, looking at her hands as she speaks. "No. Not that guy. If he'd done it, he wouldn't be playing games with Momento."

Arnim Zola has posed:
Genus goes pale and when he lifts his beer to his lips his hand is shaking. Those answers the didn't leave a lot of other options. When he lowers it, he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. "I guess I need to check if anyone else had it in for her," he says. The other answer left the blame with the people in this room. "Are you really sure it wasn't SHIELD?" he asks, looking Skye's way again.

Quake has posed:
Was she sure? Was she absolutely sure?

Skey thought about all she knew of SHIELD and the people there, and how this act didn't make any sense. They already had someone on the inside. They were already making tracks to take Rising Tide down (a fact that gave her some small moments of guilt sitting here beside Genus). They didn't need to kill Saffron. Saffron didn't have anything of import to spill. Saffron wasn't a threat to SHIELD or their image.

But Saffron dying? Oh, there was a hacktivist martyr tale right there.

"Positive," she murmurs, looking first his way, and then turning to look out over the room.

"Guess this is it, huh? We find out what all the noise is about."

Arnim Zola has posed:
Genus looks like he's about to be sick when Skye confirms it's not SHIELD. The list of suspects was pretty short if that was the case and that they were in the room with most of them didn't help matters. He takes a long swallow of his beer. "Yeah," he says about the thing they were all here to be briefed about. "Any idea what it is we're-"

"Hey, guys, hope I'm not interrupting," says Miles as he makes his way over with a scotch and soda in hand. "Just wanted to give my condolences to you Genus, I know Saff thought the world of you and I want to let you know we're not going to let SHIELD get away with it." He claps his free hand on Genus' shoulder and the other hacker jumps, muttering a quick, "Sorry, been tense since, you know, thanks H. Seriously," he says before lifting his beer to his lips.

Miles smiles and his eyes cut to Skye. "And I don't want to tear you away from our boy here, but someone wants to meet you, think you're up to it?" he asks.

Quake has posed:
Skye's lips press around rueful moue. She hadn't wanted to break him of the last of his illusions, but in the end she figured it was going to be better. Or hoped it would be. It might, she hoped, help with an idea she had. Which reminded her, she needed to talk to the rest of her team about that small matter..

Before she can reply, though, Miles has joined them. "Yeah. Was just saying to Genus who the hell does something like that anyway. Like fuck." She nods, then. "Meet someone? Huh. Sure. Let me guess, the bucks behind all this?"

Arnim Zola has posed:
Genus falls quiet with Miles nearby, suddenly seeming to be very interested in his beer bottle, digging at the corner of its label with a thumb. Miles pays him no mind except to give him another pat on the shoulder. "Get another round on the house man, I promise I won't keep Skye for long."

Then he nods to Skye, "Something like that, he was impressed with what you did on the Stark hack. C'mon, let's go see the wizard." He nods towards the back of the bar where the VIP lounge awaits.

Quake has posed:
"Bringing my beer with me," Skye grins, slipping from her seat. "No worries, G. I'll be back shortly. I mean, how long can it take to tell me how awesome I am?"

Skye chuckles, and nods to Miles. "Lead on. But call me Dorothy and I will hit you."

Arnim Zola has posed:
Genus manages a weak smile. "Have fun," he says to Skye before he returns to mangling the label of his empty beer bottle.

Miles laughs a little too loudly at the Skye's joke, that and the red tinge of his cheeks makes it clear the scotch and soda in his hand is not his first. "Fine," he says with a nod. "The Wicked Witch of the West it is," he says before pressing on ahead to the VIP cutting through the lesser hackers until they are safely through the doors and into the dimly room lit beyond.

Inside, in the neon gloom of the room's mood lighting sits a lone dark skinned man working on a laptop. He looks, up, his young face lit by the laptop screen in a moment before he gets to his feet and slipping out of his booth makes his way over towards Miles and Skye.

"Ah, DarkSky, I've been looking forward to meeting you," he says as he extends a hand. He's dressed hip, slightly rumpled jeans, an old t-shirt, a leather jacket, it's all fitted to him, and yet seems not to at the same time. As though he was a nerdy kid trying on his cool older brother's clothes.

Quake has posed:
Genus gets a pat on his shoulder before she follows Miles. "Elphaba, huh?"

That Miles isn't on his first drink, and quite likely not his second or third either is noted. Skye isn't sure if that will work in her favour or not, but it's something to pay attention to.

The man is.. odd. Not at all what she expected. Younger than she'd thought. And more.. something. Or was it less something. That look he had was weird. Nothing about it was wrong, but it just didn't suit him. It was like he was trying too hard. That, too, Skye noted, though she wasn't sure what the implications of that were yet.

"Uh, hey. And DS works. We don't toss names around here. At least not often." She grins back. "I've been looking forward to meeting you, too. Figured there had to be someone snazzy behind the Tide's reworking. I have to say I'm impressed. That's if you're the brains behind it all and not just a wannabe figurehead."

Arnim Zola has posed:
Genus looks back when Skye gives him that reassuring pat, he offers a nod in return. Silently saying.

~Good luck~

"Who?" Miles asks as he walks with Skye. Clearly, the man has neither read nor seen Wicked. Though yes, he is wicked buzzed, or perhaps even drunk at this point.

"DS, this is Karl," Miles supplies of the man. "And he and I we're sort of the co brains of the new Rising Tide," Miles says.

Karl's lack of reaction to Miles assertion speaks volumes as to what he thinks about Miles' claim of their shared leadership. Eventually though, he does put on a smile and gives Miles a nod. "Yes, something like that, but if you don't mind H, I'd like to speak to DS alone."

Miles frowns, a furrow forming in his brow as he looks at Karl with surprise as if to ask 'dude what the hell?', he looks to Skye. "You cool with that?" he asks, expecting her to weigh in on his side.

Quake has posed:
Skye doesn't even bother to try and educate Miles on the cultural point. It's just not worth it in her books. Besides, if the man is as far gone into his cups as he seems, he's not going to follow anyway.

That Karl doesn't rise to Miles' assertion speaks volumes, and confirms what she'd been thinking all along. Miles was nothing more than a figurehead at this point, being led along by his ego. An ego she was about to shatter..

"cool with? Actually, I was about to suggest it myself," Skye tells Miles with a dry smile. "Have a drink on me at the bar." Totally taking his words to Genus and throwing them back at him. "I'm sure I won't be too long."

Arnim Zola has posed:
Yeah, Miles definitely wouldn't have followed along much, or cared. He had a very limited curiosity about things that didn't have to do with him or things he wanted.

Miles gapes slightly at Skye's words. Karl turns his dark eyes on Miles and says, "We won't be long," he confirms, then offering his arm to Skye he leads her back to his table and leaves Miles to show himself out.

"You were very mean to Miles there," Karl remarks the smile coming through in his voice if not in his features. "While he has always spoken of you in glowing terms. I hope all is well between you," he remarks. "He was so very glad to welcome you back into the fold."

Once he reaches the table, Karl moves his laptop bag then slides into the booth to sit and gestures for Skye to do the same, turning to face her, one foot pulled up on the bench as he leans back into the plush fabric. "Myself, I was skeptical about you, given your past employers, but, the skill you showed in the Stark Hack, that was impressive and you handled yourself well."

Quake has posed:
Skye declines the arm. Not out of any disrespect for the man, but she's not buying into this fawning female bullshit and would prefer he didn't think she was going to at any point. "You wouldn't offer your arm to Miles, so how about you treat me with a little more respect than that. I'm not tits and ass here, I'm one of your best hackers on the team, so how about we start there, huh?"

She does, however, following him to the table, and taking seat across from him in the booth.

"Miles served his purpose long ago. We were a thing. I made it clear I wasn't going to be his thing when I came back. I needed him then. I don't now - or you wouldn't be sitting here in private talking to me, now, would you?"

She gives him a small shrug and a thin smile.

"I'd have been sskeptical too. Miles was thinking with his crotch. I mean, he was right, I'm good, but he liked me because in his head I'm still the same DS who was fucking him on a regular basis. I wasn't trying to impress him. Took me less than thirty to figure out he wasn't the brains behind any of this anymore. Person I've been working for since I fled SHIELD was you. So, we done with the bullshit portion of this talk?"

Arnim Zola has posed:
Karl arches an eyebrow "Tits and ass?" he says as if the words didn't quite register. "Ah, forgive me, I did not mean to suggest anything by the offer, I am I suppose, traditional. I have no interest in your physical assets, only your mind and your skills, I apologize if my attempt as politeness suggested otherwise," he says as he takes a seat at the booth. "And you are not one of the best hackers on my team, you are /the/ best. This is not an attempt at flattery, this is fact. So, please do sit we have much to discuss."

The rest is met with a cocked head and a slightly bemused expression before Karl's head is righted and he gives Skye a nod. "Fine, we'll dispense with the bullshit. I have two things to discuss with you, first, I found something in researching your background that may be of interest to you, and two, we, that is to say the Rising Tide, is about to undertake an operation to change the world and I would like your assistance in that endeavor, seeing as Miles is not as reliable as I would like. In return I could assure you a place in the Rising Tide's inner circle and whatever resources you might need to pursue your own projects or follow up on the information I discovered about you."

The bullshit dispensed with, Karl seems at home, dealing purely in facts and details rather than the dross of emotions and politeness.

Quake has posed:
Skye shrugs. "Tits and ass. Yeah. Like I'm a girl, so you pander? Guys treat us like we should get pats on the head. Figured you were passing that bullshit trying to flatter me by treating me like I was some girl wanting to be told I was pretty. I don't need that crap."

When he pegs her as his best, she nods without false modesty. From what she could see, she was their best. Momentoe wasn't shabby, but she wasn't Skye. Skye had really come up in the world since leaving Rising Tide.

"What could you have found of interest to me?" There was a sudden prickling along the back of her neck, warning her of danger. Unknown danger, to be certain, but she coudl feel it, the pit of her stomach clenching already.

"Miles is an idiot. He's smart, but he's come to believe his owh rhetoric. And he's easily flattered. Way too easily moved by his ego. If you're going to peg someone in the chain to go below me, take Momento. She's a lot steadier. He'll shit bricks, but too bad, so sad. Unless you're already using her that was and he just doesn't know it yet, in which case, kudos."

She nods, then, waiting for him to go on. "I'm listening."

Arnim Zola has posed:
Karl continues to stare blankly at Skye as she goes on about the dynamics between men and women. "I see. It does seem rather tiresome I admit, and truthfully something I assumed we were past in this day and age. None the less, again, that sort of thing did not cross my mind."

Skye's reaction to his discovery does draw interest out of those blank features, he doesn't speak immediately though. "So, you think Momento would make a suitable second in command? She's done well under Miles, but we were not sure if she would work as well with you. I believe she had her eyes on the top spot as well. Do you think you could work that out with her?

Its then he turns to dig in his laptop bag and produces a tablet, he turns it on and lays it on the table infront of Skye. Most of what is on the screen is the jibberish of a file not fully encrypted but Skye's picture is clear enough as is the format of an Index file and the notification that it is locked to Level 8 clearance and above. From there snatches of text are readable. Something about an operation in the Hunan province of China in 2003 and an order to the Children Services Department to keep her moving through the system. At the bottom of the file is a tag to an after actions report in Asia for the same year as the one mentioned.

Karl looks up from the file to Skye. "I hope I am not wrong about this being of interest to you," he says.

Quake has posed:
"For what we do, it's tiresome," Skye agrees. Especially as she's spent the goodly portion of her last several months at SHIELD being considered nothing more than the "IT" girl.

"Momento wants power. She'll think she can get it under me, if only by bumping me. Make it clear she can't have anything unless she plays nice. Then ask her how much longer she wants to kiss Miles' ass. She'll do what you say."

It's a pointed observation that doesn't answer his question.

What he shows her on the computer screen, however, explains the dread she'd felt. It was...

Skye just keeps shaking her head as she scrolls back and forth along it. The entire redacted length of it. Along with the notation to keep her moving. To never let her settle in a home with a family.

"How do I know you didn't make this up?" Skye's lips purse into a thin, angry line. It's thin and angry because she can't afford hurt right now, but inside, there's a well of hurt that's growing deeper with every passing second. Lvl 8 - Just enough that neither May nor Clint would be able to check.

And Fury knew all along... the fucker knew.

Arnim Zola has posed:
"I obviously do not share your experiences but I know something of being looked down upon and limited by others. It is not an enjoyable experience, but it is not something you will need to concern yourself with where we are concerned. Your skills speak for you, the rest? It does not matter."

Karl notes the remarks about Momento a faint upwards quirk of his lips. "Astute. Would you prefer we make that plain to her or shall I leave that to you?"

Karl watches her scroll through the document sipping from a drink next to his computer as he does. When she asks her question, "You don't. We are more than capable of replicating this file, but check the encryption, it is legitimate, and if you'd like I am more than willing to help you recover the original documents to prove their veracity."

Karl sits back, giving Skye time to think while he sips his drink.

Quake has posed:
Skye's answer to the first takes a moment of thought, "I'll tell her. Coming from you she'll think she has a choice and can worm around me. From me we start where we're going to finish."

It's the other though that she knows the truth of, answering only with a tight, "I want the originals."

Arnim Zola has posed:
Karl nods his agreement with the assessment. "I'll leave it to you then," he says about Momento. "I will inform Miles of the bad news. Though I suggest we wait until this current project is complete a change of leadership now would cause delays."

Again Karl nods, "Then we'll get them for you."

Quake has posed:
Skye has no argument for the chnge of leadership. "After the project, then." He's givena nod of thanks, still with that tight-lipped look. "I'd appreciate that." Even if in the interim she's going to move what hell and high water she can to find out just what went on in her past, and how the hell she ended up working for SHIELD. She and Fury were going to have a long talk. But before then, she needed to talk to Clint and May.

Arnim Zola has posed:
"Excellent," Karl says before casting a look at the tablet. "Feel free to take that with you. We'll speak after the meeting to discuss what we'll do next," he says. "For now, we should go find Miles and make sure he is sober enough to brief the others on what's coming," he says as he moves to close the laptop and put it away.