BUT WHAT IF...it was aliens.

[directorofhydra]

[It's supposed to be an easy mission. Escort company cargo to Whedon station. The company pays well, this is routine. Under commander Garrett, they've co-opted (rented, as Ward is fond of saying) Captain Melinda May's ship. There's Jemma and Fitz, a pair of techs, Coulson, a science officer, Palamas, Piper, Wong, and Reaper - something that Grant gives him no end of shit for. Besides, they're going to be in hypersleep for a good month at least - possibly two, so while he salutes Skye - May's co-pilot and wonders what it would be like to share a tube with her, his mind is half on that and half on the crate that commander Garrett says is "essential" to survival. The back half of the trip'll end up being surprisingly boring. Sign in and out.

Ours is not to wonder why kid. Ours is but to do or fucking die. Just like your dad would want huh?

He'd never tell Garrett he considers him far more of a father then James Ward - board of directors member and personal friend of Weyland's ...lineage - but it looks good for HYDRA company having a son of the board of directors onboard. Thankfully the old man keeps it to himself. Palamas gives him a sympathetic look though as the ship shuts itself down, auto piloting out to the stars...

When he wakes up it's like no time has passed but something is clearly off. The place is quiet a few tubes are empty, and while he's puking his guts out and unaware of any of the other active pods there's no chance or opportunity to look up and see anything or anyone quite yet. He's just curled over trying to come back to his senses - senses that haven't alerted him to the lack of Garrett - overseeing his hypersleep as always - or Palamas and Piper playfully flirting.]

simple mission they said. go home on leave they said...

Comments

[busdriver]

[She's under contract to haul cargo for the company, and this cargo happens to come with a military escort. On paper, the Zephyr and her captain are a good fit for the job. She was honorably discharged a few years back. Thing is, she's changed a lot since then. She's still precise and no-nonsense, but Skye's influence has done a lot to relax her. She's set in her own routine. It wasn't easy to give Commander Garrett the run of her ship, even temporarily. She hates him already. The sound of his voice makes her shoulders tighten and a muscle twitch in her jaw.

She considered refusing the job, but the company threatened her with a performance review and a safety inspection, and the last thing she needs is a bunch of corporate suits inspecting her ship from top to bottom. She has an immaculate record, and she'd like to keep it that way. Inspectors from the company have a way of manifesting technicalities and violations. In the end, it just wasn't worth pushing back on this one. The money's good, especially for a short trip.

Her pod activated not long before Ward's. She's on her feet now, barely, with her stomach still churning and a weak lethargic tremor in her limbs. The pods immediately around hers were already vacant when she opened her eyes. Skye should've been on her right and the science officer, Coulson, on her left. She'll have to talk to the computer about why they weren't all brought out of hypersleep at once.

One of Garrett's guys is still here. He's wisecracking about the stasis hangover. He's still underdressed, and so's she. Worst case scenario, he'll see the outline of her nipples peaking against her tank top, big fucking deal. It's routine and desexualized and most people wake up feeling too crappy to care about modesty. She's not the one she saw him checking out earlier. He's got eyes for Skye—not gonna happen.

Anyway, she'd swear the airflow on the Zephyr is different right now, circulating less than usual. She makes a mental note to check the filtration system. It could be nothing, or it could be indicative of any number of problems. She wouldn't put it past the Commander to wake himself up early so his troops wouldn't see him all bare-assed and sickly. And if he'd do that, he'd probably also adjust the thermostat. He seems like the macho type. She can't wait to get the escort unloaded and put everything back the way she likes it.]

Ugh... This has Garrett written all over it.

[zephyrmorph]

[Sooo, remember that mystery box? The super important mystery box that just so happens to be the whole point of this doomed expedition? That was a really great financial investment, taking on that job. I'm sure no one will come to regret taking on that job.

Anyway, the box. Yeah, it's exactly where they left it. Don't even worry about it. Nothing to see here. Still just sitting in the cargo hold, right where it's supposed to be.

It's open, though. It is wide open. The lid is totally off the thing. Is that going to be a problem? Probably not, right?

It's only eggs inside. A cluster of slimey, veiny eggs, pulsing ominously with life. And one of those eggs is already hatched, opened up at the top, like the flowers of a petal. Isn't that nice? The miracle of life.

It's a precious newborn baby something, and it's hugging your friend. Hugging your friend in the face.]

[busdriver]

[On a wall somewhere, possibly enroute to the cargo bay or even inside it, an antiquated speaker system crackles to life with May's voice.] Hey, guys. [Boy Scout and Garrett Junior.]

I spoke to Mother. She said our mission parameters have changed, details classified. [Whatever that means.]

Good news on the air, at least. I'm looking at the problem now. It's an easy fix. The O-2 filters act up sometimes... And, for what it's worth, I checked the logs. Garrett didn't change the settings on the sleeping pods. Coulson did.

[What's new with the boys? Push button to talk, because this is the future as imagined in the 1980s.]