The three arrived at the scene, and Skye immediately started searching on her computer, while Fitz launched his drone to scan the victim's body.
As the drone scanned, a sudden surge of static electricity shot from the victim's forehead, knocking the drone out of the air, and the body also fell from its floating position.
Bang!
The body hit the ground heavily, and Fitz caught his drone, smiling, "Gotcha."
Then, turning to Simmons, he remarked, "Notice all the scattered metal around the body? It's like there was an electromagnetic field here before."
"The question is, what created it?"
Simmons examined the corpse on the ground and said, "We need to get this body back to the lab quickly. These injuries..."
At that moment, Coulson's voice came through the earpiece, "Skye, what did you find out about the fire department?"
Skye responded, "After the Chitauri invasion, the fire department sent a fire truck along with twelve volunteer firefighters to New York, including Cross and Velen."
"Maybe that's why they're being targeted."
Meanwhile, Coulson, May, Killer Bee, and Ward were driving to the fire department to investigate further.
Killer Bee asked, "And how exactly were they killed?"
Skye, looking at the body, replied, "Are you suggesting… alien weapons?"
Coulson added, "Let's make sure we find the rest of those firefighters before anyone else does."
"May, you might want to step on it," he said.
May nodded and pressed harder on the gas pedal.
Suddenly, Coulson's phone buzzed with a message from Sitwell. It read: "Cloud Village team returning. After the mission, bring Killer Bee back to the S.H.I.E.L.D. base."
Coulson glanced at the message and then turned to look at Killer Bee in the backseat.
Killer Bee noticed Coulson's gaze and asked, "What's up?"
Coulson explained, "Your teammates, C and Karui, have returned. After this mission, we'll head back to the S.H.I.E.L.D. base, and they'll meet you there."
Hearing that he'd soon see people from his village, Killer Bee smiled but then remembered something, "What about the 11 concerts you owe me?"
Coulson laughed, "Don't worry, I'll make sure it happens. But you'll need to meet with your teammates first."
"As for the concerts, once you have time, I'll set them up."
Killer Bee nodded, "Just don't forget."
May raised an eyebrow at the conversation. With Killer Bee's fellow ninjas coming, the serum project might be progressing.
Meanwhile, Ward was contemplating whether he could use the trip to headquarters as a chance to visit San Francisco and meet Kabuto.
…
Elsewhere-
Sitwell, Barton, and the Cloud Village ninjas, C and Karui, were already on a plane heading to New York.
Karui looked out the window at the clouds, still amazed by the sight, since she didn't have the ability to fly.
C, meanwhile, was seated on the sofa, reviewing some documents. Sitwell walked over and placed a tablet in front of C.
"There are three properties here that match your requirements, and their values are quite similar. You can take your pick."
C began scrolling through the photos of the homes on the tablet. Karui, overhearing, moved over to take a look as well.
Each villa came with a sizable yard and around 1,000 square meters of living space.
Karui pointed at one of the them and said, "C, this one looks nice. The interior design is great."
The house Karui pointed to was the most well-decorated of the three, though its location wasn't as close to the city center as the others.
C considered for a moment and then said, "Sitwell, we'll take this one."
"Could you make sure the books and documents are placed in the study room?"
Sitwell nodded, "No problem. I'll have S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in New York set up the study with everything you need."
…
Meanwhile-
May pulled up to the fire station, and Coulson stepped out of the car. He saw several firefighters sitting around a table, playing cards. He greeted them, "Good evening, gentlemen."
"I'm Agent Phil Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D. We were on the front lines in the Battle of New York, just like you."
One of the firefighters looked confused and asked, "S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"That's right," Coulson replied.
"What brings you here?" the firefighter asked.
"We'd like to ask you some questions," Coulson responded, then turned to Killer Bee, Ward, and May, saying, "Look around."
The three agents quickly began searching the area.
At that moment, the fire chief walked out and asked, "What's going on here, fellas?"
…
Back on the aircraft-
In the lab-
Skye looked over at Simmons and asked, "What are you looking for?"
Simmons glanced up from the body and said, "This wound... it looks strange."
"At first, I thought it was an entry wound, like from a gunshot."
"But it's not—it's an exit wound."
…
At the fire station-
A firefighter asked, "What did you say?"
"Frank is dead?"
Coulson, with a somber expression, said, "I'm sorry to inform you, but yes."
The fire chief looked at Coulson and asked, "Do you know how he died?"
Coulson replied, "In the same way your other friend, Mr. Cross, died the day before."
The fire chief was puzzled. "What exactly does that mean?"
Coulson turned to the man and asked, "I'm sorry, and you are?"
The fire chief replied, "I'm Tony—Tony Diaz, their captain."
Coulson noticed the sweat forming on Diaz's forehead and asked, "Are you alright, Mr. Diaz?"
Diaz hesitated for a moment, then slowly backed toward his office, saying, "Actually... not really."
Coulson tapped his earpiece and ordered, "Ward, cover the back entrance. Make sure no one leaves."
…
Back on the aircraft-
Fitz voiced his theory, "What if this weapon causes the brain to overload, making the electrical capacity exceed the limit?"
"That would cause the brain to discharge, like an electromagnetic pulse."
Simmons disagreed, "You think it's an external cause, but I believe something inside his body is responsible."
Just then, an alarm went off on the nearby tablet. Skye walked over, picked it up, and said, "Something's happened—the satellite detected another energy reading. It's coming from the fire station."
Simmons and Fitz exchanged worried glances, realizing that their team was now at the fire station.