John Garrett

"I've seen the future. I've glimpsed it through the eyes of every creature dead, living, or yet to be. This is the beginning." "The beginning of what, John?" "The end!"

- John Garrett and Grant Ward

John Garrett was a turncoat S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who joined HYDRA. When he was injured during a mission in Sarajevo, he survived by becoming the first Deathlok. As an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. he used his high clearance to become the Clairvoyant, the mastermind behind the Centipede Project. During his time as an agent, he recruited Grant Ward to HYDRA and became a fatherly figure to him. During the S.H.I.E.L.D. Civil War, he broke cover and fled S.H.I.E.L.D. and restarted the Centipede Project with the goal to recreate the life-saving drug GH.325, which he desperately needed to heal his failing organs. He attempted to use the knowledge given to him by the drug to take over the world, but was stopped by Phil Coulson, Deathlok and Nick Fury in the Battle at Cybertek.

Early Life
"I was a pyro as a kid, too. Ended up making a pretty good living at it."

- John Garrett to Grant Ward

John Garrett joined S.H.I.E.L.D., where he was assigned to serve under a young Nick Fury as his Supervising Officer. Over the years, Garrett was partnered with Phil Coulson in many missions, had a mission with Victoria Hand in Lisbon, and later acted as Supervising Officer of Agents Grant Ward and Antoine Triplett. In 1990, he stepped on an IED in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The blast left him in a mortally-wounded state, and his calls for extraction were met with excuses. Realizing that he was more loyal to S.H.I.E.L.D. than S.H.I.E.L.D. was to him, Garrett swore that if he survived he would treat S.H.I.E.L.D. in the same manner in which they treated him. Garrett moved his intestines back into place, duct-taped his wounds shut and made his own way to safety.

Garrett survived those wounds, and would soon be recruited into HYDRA, while maintaining his cover as a loyal S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. With the help of the Cybertek corporation, he became the first test subject in Project Deathlok, a project carried out by Garrett's new allies in HYDRA and Cybertek to build a super soldier via cybernetic prostheses. Decades later, Garrett's organs would start failing, and his biomechanical parts would be the only thing that kept him alive.

HYDRA and Centipede
"I work for a secret organization that's always looking to recruit young men like you."

- John Garrett to Grant Ward

As a member of HYDRA, Garrett became the mastermind behind the Centipede Project, a science group dedicated to the creation of Super-Soldiers. Garrett, however, saw it as a means of finding a way to reverse his failing health. Garrett was also a mutual friend of fellow HYDRA agent Alexander Pierce and frequently contacted him for orders. Garrett recruited Edison Po into Centipede, and for a time, Po was the project's only means of contact with Garrett, even while Po was in Havenworth Federal Penitentiary. Garrett also recruited billionaire Ian Quinn to his cause.

Using his access to personal files, psych evaluations and other classified information, Garrett almost seemed to be able to read minds and foretell the future. Using this seeming ability, Garrett took on the alias of "The Clairvoyant" to those within Centipede.

Garrett also recruited Carl Creel who was on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s gifted Index. Garrett was assigned to take him off the Index and terminate him. However, in reality, Garrett faked Creel's termination and recruited him into HYDRA as one of their assassins.

Meeting Grant Ward
"Why should I trust you?" "You shouldn't; don't trust anyone, ever, especially me."

- Grant Ward and John Garrett

In 1999, Garrett met a young Grant Ward in a juvenile detention facility in Massachusetts, where he was serving time for burning down his family home with his brother still inside. He informed him that his brother was planning on having Ward tried as an adult to get the maximum penalty for his crime. Garrett told Ward that he worked for a secret organization that were looking to recruit young men like him, and if he joined, no one would ever screw with him again. He made him a one-time offer to join HYDRA, when Ward agreed, Garrett's soldiers broke him out of prison. Garrett trained Ward by leaving him to fend for himself in the Wyoming wilderness for six months. When Garrett returned he was impressed to find that Ward had made a camp for himself. For five years, Garrett taught Ward how to survive at all costs and trust in nobody. At the end of his training, before leaving for S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, Garrett ordered Ward to kill his dog Buddy. Despite the toughness of the training, especially during the first few months, Ward developed an almost blind loyalty towards Garrett, and Garrett always voiced his pleasure with Ward to other members of HYDRA, like Sunil Bakshi.

When several of Garrett's officers, including Agent Dan Monroe, began to ask the wrong questions or get too close to the truth during Garrett's "investigations" of Ian Quinn, Garrett had them eliminated.

One secret Garrett did not know was the truth of the mysterious resurrection of Phil Coulson after the Battle of New York, as that Level 10 file was beyond his access. Garrett arranged for Coulson's capture by Centipede and his interrogations by Edison Po and Raina and the painful use of a Theta Brain-Wave Frequency Machine, a device designed to bring out hidden or lost memories.

Deathlok
After Centipede Project delivered the latest Deathlok model, Garrett sought to have enslaved S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Michael Peterson outfitted with the latest technology. Arranging through Ian Quinn the purchase of a Cybertek Prosthetic Leg for Peterson through Cybertech Inc., Garrett lured Coulson and his team to Italy.

When Skye, a member of Coulson's Team, infiltrated Quinn's Italian mansion, Garrett ordered Quinn to shoot Skye twice in the stomach, forcing Coulson to seek out his own answers about his return in order to save Skye.

The Guest House
"How was the drive from Istanbul?" "Pretty please, it is."

- Alpha and John Garrett

Once Phil Coulson had Ian Quinn in custody, Garrett, and his new S.H.I.E.L.D. protege Antoine Triplett, rendezvoused with Coulson under the pretense of being under orders to bring in Quinn, thus putting himself in the center of Coulson's search. He ordered Triplett to collect Quinn, knowing that Grant Ward would keep Triplett away. Garrett spoke to Coulson, where Coulson told Garrett about Quinn shooting Skye, unaware that Garrett ordered the shooting. Garrett told Coulson he would allow him to keep Quinn until Skye could be saved. Garrett questioned Ian Quinn, Quinn spoke about the Clairvoyant. When Quinn tried to mock Garrett, he grabbed his tongue and threatened to rip it out. Garrett assisted Coulson on his raid of the Guest House in order to obtain the mysterious miracle drug GH.325 as a part of Coulson's effort to save Skye's life, hoping to gain the answers he sought.

Garrett, unbeknownst to either Coulson or Leo Fitz, had also taken the other drugs in hopes of finding the one that brought Coulson back from the dead and hid as many of them as he could in his vest. He later left the Bus and took Ian Quinn into custody.

Deflecting Suspicion
Skye managed to recover from her wounds; she informed them of everything she saw in Ian Quinn's Italian villa, especially the survival of Michael Peterson and the Cybertek Prosthetic Leg acquired by Quinn. Every S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in the United States was later informed about Peterson, and Agent Garrett and his team were appointed as running point in his search.

Hoping to throw off Coulson's search for the Clairvoyant, Garrett arranged for himself and Agent Antoine Triplett to be attacked by Deathlok in a S.H.I.E.L.D. Safe House, Deathlok escaped after the attack. Then Garrett gave Coulson several false leads from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Index of gifted individuals. Garrett, Victoria Hand, Jasper Sitwell, and Felix Blake arrived on the Bus to discuss what should be done about the Clairvoyant's attacks. Unaware that the leads they had were in fact false ones that Garrett had leaked, Coulson's team formulated a plan to investigate each suspect in teams of two to try to deceive the Clairvoyant. While the plan was being worked out, Garrett spoke to Skye, who had just been made an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., for the first time since her recovery. He showed her his own battle scars, included a third degree burn. Garrett and Phil Coulson were teamed up together and they drove to investigate one Index member believed to be the Clairvoyant. While arriving along Garrett told the story of a previous mission. Coulson laughed when he realized that Garrett was telling a story about a mission had been on together, when Coulson told him that he had been making up sections, Garrett smiled and said that it made it a better story. As they approached the suspect's location, they were diverted down an alleyway and followed by another car. When they heard that another team had been attacked by Deathlok, Garrett and Coulson made their escape. Garrett had arranged for Deathlok to attack Agents Melinda May and Felix Blake while they investigated Thomas Nash, resulting in Blake nearly being killed. After the attack the team were able to track down Deathlok to an abandoned race track in Pensacola, Florida. Garrett was present with Coulson when he and his team raided the race track. During this raid a decoy Clairvoyant arranged by Garrett named Thomas Nash was found and killed by Agent Grant Ward.

Conflict with S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Phil, this is a battle for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s soul, and we're on the front lines. History will remember us this day." "That's right. It's for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s soul, and murder without consideration isn't..."

- John Garrett and Phil Coulson

Concurrent to the launch of Project Insight and HYDRA's subsequent exposure to the world, two UAVs were sent to attack Garrett's Jump Jet through orders of Agent Victoria Hand. Garrett survived this incident however with the help from Coulson and the Bus as it was being rerouted to the Hub. Garrett returned once again to the Bus and Coulson's Team after being saved from the UAVs. While being forced to the Hub, the team made the discovery that S.H.I.E.L.D. had been infiltrated by HYDRA, and theorized that Agent Hand is the Clairvoyant.

Once landed at the Hub, Garrett aided Coulson and his team into successfully sneaking past Hand's men, who had been ordered to open fire on the Bus's crew. Using technology designed by Leo Fitz, the team was able to successfully escape the plane without detection.

Betrayal, Arrest and Escape
"Hail HYDRA!"

- John Garrett

When Phil Coulson came to believe that Victoria Hand was the Clairvoyant, Garrett encouraged the notion and attempted to convince Coulson that she should be executed. This however backfired on Garrett when Coulson noted that he mentioned Raina being subjected to the same machine used on him during his capture; something Coulson never told anyone or wrote on reports. Coulson suddenly realized the reason behind Garrett's coincidental appearance: he had led the Clairvoyant straight to the GH.325 drug. This revelation was also met with the confirmation that Garrett was the Clairvoyant and an agent of HYDRA, after ordering four of Hand's guards, recruited by HYDRA agent Jasper Sitwell, to kill their colleagues, he captured Coulson and his team. With thanks to Grant Ward and Skye however, the power was cut out in the room and Coulson attacked Garrett while Melinda May fought the other HYDRA agents. Coulson was able to use a Thunderstick to knock out Garrett. Garrett was arrested by Hand and her loyal Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D... It was confirmed by Hand afterwards that Garrett would be taken to the Fridge, Ward asked to personally ensure he is locked away along with Hand. While being transported to the Fridge however, Garrett stayed silent. Agent Hand mocked the fact that he was no longer telling his trademark stories. Hand then turned to Ward and asked him if he would like to kill the real Clairvoyant, instead of the fake Thomas Nash. Ward stood up and loaded his gun, and immediately shot and killed two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents guarding Garrett. Ward then turned his gun on Hand and shot her three times, killing her. Ward and Garrett then made their escape, while Garrett happily told one of his old war stories.

S.H.I.E.L.D. Civil War
"Once we hit the Fridge and grab all the fun toys tucked away inside we'll be able to take any base we want."

- John Garrett

After successfully escaping arrest from S.H.I.E.L.D., Garrett's next plan of action was to strengthen his HYDRA arsenal. After establishing a base of operations at the Barbershop Headquarters in Havana, Cuba, Garrett successfully had Raina released from prison with aid from Ward and had her brought to the base. He introduced himself to Raina, who still believed he was a Clairvoyant, he told her that he was not and welcomed her into HYDRA. Garrett posed as a prisoner and flew to the Fridge. He was escorted to the door by Grant Ward who demanded entry, claiming to be delivering Garrett to his cell. When the guards refused to let them in as Victoria Hand was not present, a S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicopter was called to shoot at them until the guards were forced to open the doors to save their lives. Once they were safe inside, Ward shot the guards and Garrett unleashed gas into the base to knock out the other S.H.I.E.L.D. guards. Garrett personally oversaw the HYDRA infiltration mission to retrieve secret S.H.I.E.L.D. weaponry from the Fridge. His previous experience in the facility and great knowledge of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secrets helped them uncover many hidden weapons. As they explored the facility Garrett told Ward of the first time he came to the facility escorting a prisoner who had transformed his hands into bear paws. Garrett was able to obtain weapons such as the 0-8-4 found in Peru, the Berserker Staff and Gravitonium. Garrett also released the Fridge's population of prisoners, including Marcus Daniels, as a means of keeping Phil Coulson busy. After discovering that Coulson and his team had fled to the S.H.I.E.L.D. base Providence, Garrett ordered Ward to return to his old team to once again pose as an ally to Coulson and to obtain pass codes from Skye, who encrypted data pertaining to the GH drugs on a hard drive. He knew that Coulson would learn that the Fridge had been raided, so he ensured that Ward's cover was believable. He punched Ward repeatedly to give him accurate battle wounds, repeatedly asking him who he was, to which Ward said he was an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Coulson's team believed that Garrett was dead from a false report given by Ward.

However, due to a message left by Skye and an autopsy on Agent Eric Koenig by Jemma Simmons, Coulson and Antoine Triplett figured out that Ward lied and that Garrett was alive. Meanwhile, Garrett sent Deathlok to tail Ward to assure that he completed his mission. As Garrett attempted to escape on the Bus, Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons were captured by Grant Ward. Garrett mocked the pair, reminding Fitz that he had already given Fitz an opportunity to join HYDRA. He began to walk away until Fitz employed an EMP Joy Buzzer which short-circuited Garrett's mechanical enhancements. Grant Ward ran over and tried to help his mentor, but Garrett, believing he was dying, gave Ward the order to execute Fitz and Simmons. When Ward hesitated, Garrett asked if it was a weakness, reminding Ward of his training. Ward left and threw Fitz and Simmons out of the plane to their supposed deaths. The GH.325 was synthesized by fellow HYDRA soldiers. Garrett revealed that he wanted the drug because his organs were failing and he had not gained strength because his own body was too close to death; the Extremis was just barely keeping him alive. Raina ultimately injected the drug into Garrett's Extremis. At first it appeared to have no effect, until suddenly Garrett's entire body began to spasm and his skin began to glow gold. When it stopped, Garrett stared into the air feeling his body getting stronger and his mind expanding. Ward asked him how he felt, Garrett answered by claimed that he feels "the universe".

Death
"There's a reason they say cut off the head. Now I'll be unstoppa-"

- John Garrett's last words before being disintegrated

Garrett later received a call from Cybertek that the Barbershop Headquarters had been attacked by S.H.I.E.L.D. and many of their soldiers had been buried under the rubble. Now changed by the drug Garrett ignored the call and used his increased strength to rip off a door of the Bus and began writing the Words of Creation on the door with a nail. He had his sanity questioned by Grant Ward, but Garrett told him that he was fine; he had just had too many ideas in his head which he needed to write down. He then took some time to stare at the Gravitonium, which had once reminded him of a lazy lamp; now he claimed to be able to see its true potential. While he was there, Raina entered to speak to him. She claimed to have been disappointed that he was not truly a "clairvoyant", but now he claimed that the truth was written on the back of his eyes. He began to rant about not only having been given a stronger body by the GH.325 drug, but now being able to see visions of the future and being able to read Raina's mind. Raina took the opportunity to ask him the question she needed answered, what would she become. Coulson's team attacked Cybertek Manufacturing Facility where Garrett's team was based. Garrett then interrupted the tour that Ian Quinn was giving to members of the United States Armed Forces where Quinn was trying to pitch the Deathlok soldiers as the future of the miltary. Quinn tried to introduce Garrett as their strategy consultant, but Garrett instead continued to mock and threaten the generals. When General Jacobs demanded to know why he heard gunfire, Garrett threatened him again and eventually killed General Jacobs by punching through his stomach and ripping out one of his ribs, stabbing Jacobs in the neck with his own rib. Garrett claimed this to be the beginning of the end. As the facility came under attack, Grant Ward became more and more frustrated at Garrett's seemingly lost sense of reality; Ward demanded orders but only got riddles and jokes. Garrett received a phone call from Skye, who informed him that S.H.I.E.L.D. had taken over Cybertek. Garrett responded by cruelly mocking her about Leo Fitz's and Jemma Simmons' deaths, to which Skye immediately hung up the phone. Garrett ordered Ward to collect Skye and bring her to him. Garrett then turned to Deathlok, reminding him that his orders were to never leave his side; Garrett mocked his bodyguard by claiming that he loved him too. Phil Coulson was eventually able to make it to Garrett and attacked him; Garrett however fought back with his incredible new strength. Coulson was able to gain the upper hand however when he re-emerged from cover armed with the Destroyer Armor Prototype Gun, given to him by Nick Fury and promptly shot all of the Centipede Soldiers. Fury then shot Garrett multiple times in the chest with little effect. Garrett continued to rant about his new greater understanding of the universe, leading Coulson and Fury to comment on how crazy Garrett had become. When Garrett tried to quote back one of Fury's speeches, Fury informed him that he had been getting it wrong the entire time. Garrett ordered his personal bodyguard, Deathlok, to aim his weapons at Fury and Coulson; he was not aware that Deathlok was receiving messages from Skye who she had freed his son, Ace, enabling him to switch sides. Garrett was incapacitated by Deathlok using his Forearm Rocket Launcher. As Garrett lay injured on the floor, he attempted to crawl towards his gun and ordered Deathlok to stand down, calling on Coulson for help. Coulson did nothing and Garrett was crushed with Deathlok's prosthetic leg, seemingly killing him, as Deathlok started acting on his own orders. S.H.I.E.L.D. believed Garrett had been killed in the attack; however, he had survived despite major injuries including terrible burns to his face and body. Garrett used the machine to replace his body parts with prosthetic parts, similar to Deathlok's armor. He stood up with his new armor, believing himself to now be unstoppable, but before he could escape, he was instantly atomized by Coulson who killed him with the Peruvian 0-8-4.

Powers
John Garrett had to use the Centipede Device to keep himself alive, and despite its properties, he was unable to gain the powers the Centipede Serum granted until he was injected with GH.325, that managed to heal all the internal injuries he sustained and improve a condition that had been worsening over the years.
 * Superhuman Strength: Through the Centipede Serum, Garrett gained a considerable amount of strength, enough to throw a man across a room with a single punch, or to carve a hole in the chest of another.
 * Superhuman Durability: Once injected with the GH.325 and mixed with the Centipede Serum, Garrett was able to withstand a full magazine of handgun shots, and even the direct explosion of a rocket in his chest, something that, though left him badly wounded, would have killed any ordinary human being.
 * Regenerative Healing Factor: The GH.325 not only healed the internal injuries that Garrett had sustained years before. Its use through the Centipede Serum allowed him to permanently benefit from the healing properties of the drug. Garrett almost instantly healed from more than a dozen gunshots, and despite Deathlok seemingly killed him stomping Garrett's chest with his cybernetic leg, Garrett was able to heal enough to survive until his ultimate death.

Abilities

 * Master Marksman: John Garrett was a highly trained marksman skilled in sharpshooting, and one of the best marksmen in the agency. He had such accuracy that he almost did not need to aim in order to shoot an immobile target. Garrett had also become an expert in gunfights, managing to overcome opponents using a diversion and approach them to shoot at point blank range.
 * Expert Martial Artist: Garrett was skilled enough in hand-to-hand combat to best Phil Coulson once his true allegiance to HYDRA was revealed, who only defeated him using a Thunderstick.
 * Master Spy: Garrett spent years pretending to be a loyal agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. despite being a HYDRA operative. No one knew that he was the Clairvoyant; Ian Quinn predicted that shooting Skye would bring the Clairvoyant, but no one was suspicious of Garrett's subsequent arrival. Garrett also had Thomas Nash in place to deflect suspicion from himself.

Weapons
As an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and a HYDRA operative, Garrett was highly skilled with all types of firearms.
 * : John Garrett carried a Glock 17 pistol as his sidearm grabbing it in anticipation of an ambush when he was tasked to investigate some candidates for the identity of the Clairvoyant
 * : Garrett carried this revolver to a young Grant Ward during his time in Wyoming, promising to teach him to shoot even better than himself.
 * : Both Grant Ward and John Garrett used these submachine guns during the infiltration into the Guest House.
 * : Garrett used these shotgun in the forest of Wyoming to hunt some ducks in 1999, during the same day he abandoned Ward in the forests.
 * : The standard weapon used by S.H.I.E.L.D. Strike Team members, that Garrett also used while tracking Deathlok and the Clairvoyant in Florida.
 * : Garrett grabbed a a FN SCAR-H with an Enhanced Grenade Launching Module attached to it to defend himself from Deathlok when he attacked the S.H.I.E.L.D. Safe House in Sydney, though he did not fire a single shot.
 * I.C.E.R. (Pistol Carbine): Garrett was handed one of Leo Fitz's improved non-lethal weapons to infiltrate the Hub and deal with Victoria Hand.

Cybernetic Enhancements

 * Biomechanics:
 * Centipede Device: Garrett was outfitted with an internal device that injected him a serum based on Abraham Erskine's Super Soldier Serum mixed with Gamma Radiation and the Extremis formula. Given his condition, the serum was not as effective on Garrett as it was on other subjects, and it simply helped him to stay alive until he was cured by the GH.325
 * Cybertek Prosthetic Leg: Garrett's damaged legs were replaced with a cybernetic prosthesis designed by Cybertek, able to enhance his speed.
 * Forearm Rocket Launcher: Garrett was also installed with two rocket launchers on to his forearms, allowing him to fire guided mini-rockets at his targets.

Other Equipment

 * Pick-Lock Device: A little explosive that Garrett used to enter a secure room inside the Fridge, where the items that supposedly had been sent to space through the Slingshot were being kept.

Allies

 * HYDRA
 * Alexander Pierce †
 * Jasper Sitwell †
 * Carl Creel/Absorbing Man
 * Sunil Bakshi
 * Centipede Project
 * Grant Ward - Son Figure and Trainee
 * Ian Quinn
 * Raina
 * Englishman † - Thrall
 * Edison Po †
 * Debbie † - Subordinate
 * Kaminsky - Subordinate
 * Ernesto
 * Marcus Daniels/Blackout †

Enemies

 * S.H.I.E.L.D. (First Incarnation)
 * Nick Fury - Former Director
 * Maria Hill - Former Deputy Director
 * Victoria Hand † - Former Colleague
 * Felix Blake - Former Colleague
 * Anne Weaver - Former Colleague
 * Dan Monroe † - Former Colleague and Trainee
 * Coulson's Team
 * Phil Coulson - Former Colleague and Friend turned Enemy and Killer
 * Melinda May - Former Colleague
 * Leo Fitz - Former Colleague
 * Jemma Simmons - Former Colleague
 * Skye - Former Colleague
 * Antoine Triplett † - Former Colleague and Trainee
 * Alpha †
 * Beta †
 * Michael Peterson/Deathlok - Former Thrall
 * Thomas Nash †

Trivia

 * In the comics, Garrett is a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent that was later transformed into a cyborg to save his life as he sustained serious injuries in the line of duty. His cybernetic-enhanced body in Beginning of the End is very similar to his appearance as cyborg in the comics.
 * John Garrett was the first of two main Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. antagonists (with Daniel Whitehall) to be killed by Phil Coulson.
 * Both John Garrett and Daniel Whitehall were members of the Great Wheel of the Zodiac, a collection of eleven of the most experienced espionage leaders in the Marvel Comics main continuity. Other prominent members that already appeared in the MCU were Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan and Wolfgang von Strucker.