Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The secret is out.

For decades, your organization stayed in the shadows, hiding the truth.

But now we know. They're among us.

Heroes.

And monsters.

The world is full of wonders.

- Thanks, Bernie. - You bet.

Ace, come and get it.

What do you say we go out to your Aunt Mindy's this weekend?

You and Keisha can swim in the pond.

Sure.

You know, you got a birthday coming up in a couple of months.

Who's your favorite?

I'm okay.

Hey.

Things are tight right now, but I'm gonna find something.

Not back at the factory, but I got prospects.

- You and me, what are we? - We're a team.

That's right. So, who do you...

Are you okay? All right, Ace, look at me. I need you to stay here with Bernie.

Okay, people might be hurt, and I'm gonna see if they need my help.

Stay with Bernie. Watch my boy!

Help me! Help me!

Help me! Help me!

We can't explain everything we see,

but our eyes are open.

So what now?

There are no more shadows for you to hide in.

Something impossible just happened. What are you going to do about it?

Agent Ward, there's been a development.

It's the Rising Tide.

They've pinned down the location of the package. We need to abort.

I'm five minutes away from retrieving it.

So is everyone else. They posted the coordinates online.

If the job was easy...

Yeah, it wouldn't be any fun. Watch your 6.

Red tie, by the window.

Your fireplace is broken.

Ward, just a heads up.

We've got possible hostiles in your vicinity.

Really?

What does S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for, Agent Ward?

Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.

And what does that mean to you?

It means someone really wanted our initials to spell out "shield."

It means we're the line between the world

and the much weirder world.

We protect people from news they aren't ready to hear.

And when we can't do that, we keep them safe.

Something turns up,

like this Chitauri neural link,

we get to it before someone bad does.

Any idea who Vanchat was planning to sell it to?

I'm more interested in how this Rising Tide group found out about it.

I thought they were just hackers. What changed?

Everything's changing.

A little while ago, most people went to bed thinking

that the craziest thing in the world was a billionaire in a flying metal suit.

Then aliens invaded New York and were beaten back by, among others,

a giant green monster, a costumed hero from the '40s,

and a god.

I don't think Thor is technically a god.

Well, you haven't been near his arms.

The Battle of New York was the end of the world.

This, now, is the new world.

People are different.

They have access to tech, to formulas, secrets they're not ready for.

Why was I pulled out of Paris?

That you'll have to ask Agent Coulson.

Yeah. I'm clearance Level 6.

I know that Agent Coulson was killed in action before the Battle of New York.

Got the full report.

Welcome to Level 7.

Sorry, that corner was really dark and I couldn't help myself.

I think there's a bulb out.

Director Fury faked your death, to motivate the Avengers.

Well, the death of a common ally is a particularly effective team builder.

Say "cheese."

Plus, it wasn't that much of a stretch.

I stopped breathing for about 40 seconds.

Eight. It gets longer every time you tell it.

Yeah, well, you get shanked by the Asgardian Mussolini,

you can tell it your way.

I was looking at the big white light,

And it felt like a lot longer than eight seconds.

Do they know'? The Avengers? That Fury played them?

They're not Level 7.

Got out of the ICU, Fury stuck me in a grass shack in Tahiti.

Rough gig. Mai Tais, Travis McGee novels,

and a physical therapist whose command of English was irrelevant.

But something put you back in the game.

What is that?

That's a superhero, Agent Ward.

An unregistered Gifted. Identity unknown.

The secret's out. For decades, your organization.-.

Another little present from the Rising Tide.

How are they getting this stuff before us?

Same way they cracked our RSA implementation.

They're good.

So I need better.

Agent Coulson has requisitioned a mobile command unit,

to which you are assigned.

Rising Tide is trying to draw us out.

I think it's time they succeeded.

You want me to cross them off?

Wow. No.

I wanna use them to get to him.

This man's world is about to get very weird.

He's gonna need some help.

I'm sorry. I was trained from day one as a specialist.

I go in alone, I get it done.

Defusing a nuclear bomb, I'm your guy.

A welcoming committee? Not my speed.

I know it's not what you want.

Agent Hill did a very detailed assessment of your last three missions.

Combat, top grades.

Espionage, she gave you the highest marks since Romanoff.

Under "people skills," she drew a...

I think it's a little poop with knives sticking out of it.

- What? - I'[...

That's bad, right?

And given your family history, I'm surprised it's not worse.

But I think you're the guy for this.

If I'm wrong, you go straight back to your bombs.

Team's approved. Physicals are all fine.

Fitz-Simmons is not cleared for combat. I'm told that won't be an issue.

Agent Ward here, he's almost too fit.

That's an issue.

That should be an issue. Maybe I can't join the team because...

God, are you dismissed.

It was a porcupine. It was not a poop.

It just means that you need...

No, I'm pretty sure.

And it's not just Ward. Your whole roster is sketchy.

Well, they're cleared.

I would've been very happy not to clear you, Phil.

I'd love for you to rest up some more.

I've had plenty of that, thanks.

You sure?

You should go sometime.

Where?

Tahiti. It's a magical place.

Three days in, I'd be begging for an assignment.

Exactly.

Tahiti.

He really doesn't know, does he?

He can never know.

Is there any way I can thank him?

Are you sure nobody saw him?

So, the identity of the Hooded Hero still remains unknown.

Researchers at UCLA Medical Center released a study today, which shows...

- Just act natural. - What?

Just pretend that we're talking.

- We are. - Good.

'Cause you never know who's listening.

I don't even know who's talking.

I'm Skye. And you're the Hooded Hero.

Please tell me that you're not staying with that name.

Wait, what? I'm not... I'm a factory worker.

Sure, by day. I saw you. You're a hero.

Like, a for real superhero, which is...

I'm not like a groupie-stalker type, but...

Oh, my God! That is so cool!

Okay, okay, chill. Just don't... Don't draw attention.

You're in danger.

You got the wrong guy, lady.

No, you've got the wrong approach.

The cute girl from the hospital is dying to thank you,

and possibly "thank" you, and you're hiding!

The clip of you rescuing her has had the most hits

since that puppy with vertigo, and you can't even find a job.

What do you mean about danger?

S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Shield" what? I should carry a shield?

S.H.I.E.L.D. Government.

Scary men in dark suits who come after guys like you.

They knew about the Battle of New York before it even happened.

And then cleaned it up before anyone could ask any real questions.

Overnight. How long do you think it'll take for them to clean you up?

And you wanna know why I'm hiding?

What if you didn't hide?

What if you got in front of this and let people know that you're a hero?

I'm just a guy.

Well, a guy like that gets work, gets perks.

I can help. I'm great with computers. Like, weirdly great.

I mean, I could help you create a whole new identity, or...

A mask!

Okay!

Also, we could just stick with the hood.

Listen. You cannot walk away from this.

With great power comes

a ton of weird crap that you are not prepared to deal with.

Now, my office is...

You have an office?

Yes, I have an office. It's a mobile office.

It's a van. I live in a van. By choice!

But it's always in the alley around the corner, free Wi-Fi,

and you can come by any time.

Thank you.

They're coming for you...