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]

[May throws her hands up and exaggerates a shrug. She isn't intimidated by Ward, and even if she were intimidated, she still wouldn't have an answer for him. For all she knows? Their stuff really did pick itself up and walk off.]

What reason could I possibly have for moving your guns?

[Jumping down each other's throats isn't helping. She looks up at him, resolute. It isn't worth arguing. She's not going to lose her temper at a time like this.]

You need to back off.

[Not just her, but Coulson too. She'll deal with him.]

[zephyrmorph]

[No thanks to Coulson—who, it should be mentioned, made a weak token effort to remove one of the facehugger's knuckled digits from around Kara's skull—the alien is all hugged out. Its tail loosens from around Kara's neck and the creature detaches itself, its proboscis limply extracting from her throat. It's the... miracle of life? No, wait. That's supposed to be a surprise. Ignore that. Nothing to see here. Show's over. Kara's fine.

The "unidentified lifeform", however, rapidly scuttles away from its victim and launches itself off the table. It's going to do a victory lap of the room before finding a cozy place to die.

Coulson either doesn't know about the death part, or he's feigning ignorance. As soon as the facehugger moves off Kara, he shouts for everyone to evacuate the room. On the bright side, Kara should be regaining consciousness any second now.]