Alphonso Mackenzie

"Like I told my man here, when you want something in life, you gotta grab it and walk out like you own it."

- Alphonso Mackenzie

Alphonso "Mack" Mackenzie is an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Despite the heavy casualties S.H.I.E.L.D. took during HYDRA's attack on it, he stayed loyal to his oath and continued his service in the remains of S.H.I.E.L.D. under Robert Gonzales. However, as another faction of S.H.I.E.L.D. led by Phil Coulson emerged, he was sent alongside Bobbi Morse and Isabelle Hartley to infiltrate it. Now working undercover, he pretended to be a simple mechanic while searching for Nick Fury's Toolbox. When the truth was revealed, Mack's colleagues quickly attacked and occupied the Playground, taking control over most of S.H.I.E.L.D. However, the two factions eventually managed to put aside their differences and work together against HYDRA. When S.H.I.E.L.D. was formally reunited with Coulson as its rightful director, Mackenzie decided to leave the organization, only to change his mind when the Inhumans killed Gonzales and attacked S.H.I.E.L.D. After the war against the Inhumans, during which he saved Coulson's life, Mackenzie became the head of the Alien Artifacts Department. A few months late, he became the partner of Daisy Johnson in recruiting Inhumans to the powered individuals team she was establishing. Mackenzie united the team when he was temporary the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Early Life and Career
"You're a big brother, but you're not MY big brother."

- Bobbi Morse

Alphonso Mackenzie has at least one younger sibling. Alphonso has a brother who, for years, wanted them to motorcycle down to Baja California, Mexico.

As a child, Mackenzie had an angry moment because he could not find his coin collection and punched a wall. A few days later, he noticed his hand was swollen and purple; he had broken his finger and had not noticed. This incident taught Mackenzie that the worst pain is the one unseen.

In 2002, Mackenzie became an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., an international military counter-terrorism and intelligence agency.

Mackenzie worked with Agent Bobbi Morse in a case in Dubai; there he met Lance Hunter for the first time. Mackenzie did not give Hunter much intelligence about the mission because Hunter was a mercenary.

Mackenzie worked as the chief engineer aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Aircraft Carrier Iliad.

Battle on the Iliad
"What about the agents we don't find? They're out there fighting, dying right now to take back the ship. You're just gonna blow them to kingdom come?" "Fury's orders are..." "Well, Fury's dead! He's not seeing what we're seeing."

- Alphonso Mackenzie and Bobbi Morse

During the HYDRA Uprising, Mackenzie and Tim Maguire were captured by HYDRA along with a group of other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. The leader of the assault demanded to know who the chief engineer was; when Maguire tried to insist it was him, Mackenzie told the HYDRA leader that he was lying to protect him. The HYDRA leader casually killed Maguire in front of Mackenzie to show his seriousness, and ordered him to obtain blueprints of the ship. Mackenzie and the other surviving agents, Case and Susanna, were rescued by Bobbi Morse and Isabelle Hartley who were able to kill the HYDRA agents. Searching the ship, the group found Robert Gonzales wounded in the conference room after surviving an assassination attempt where he was attacked by a HYDRA assassin with an axe. Mackenzie talked to Gonzales about when he broke his hand to prepare him for when Morse reset his damaged leg. As they prepared to escape the ship, Morse revealed that Nick Fury had given her a secret mission to destroy the ship, ensuring HYDRA never got their hands on its cargo. Gonzales however insisted that they all go with her to ensure she completed the mission. Mackenzie fought against the HYDRA attackers, defending his fellow agents with a shotgun, until they reached the control room. Once there Mackenzie again tried to convince Bobbi Morse not to destroy the ship as it would cause the deaths of not only the HYDRA soldiers, but all the other innocent S.H.I.E.L.D. agents still onboard. Although Gonzales tried to remind her that she had received a direct order from Fury himself, she sided with Mackenzie and they agreed to stand up against their attackers. Together they fought back against HYDRA, eventually killing them all and retaking control of the ship.

Gonzales' S.H.I.E.L.D.
"For a while there, it all went to hell. It was bad. But now Bobbi and I work for an organization, an outlier that came out of the wreckage from what Fury left."

- Alphonso Mackenzie

Agent Mackenzie joined the reorganized remains of S.H.I.E.L.D. led by Gonzales. However, soon they discovered the existence of another S.H.I.E.L.D. faction, led by Agent Phil Coulson. Mackenzie and his colleagues Bobbi Morse and Isabelle Hartley were sent by Gonzales to infiltrate Coulson's organization and retrieve the Toolbox.

Coulson's S.H.I.E.L.D.
When Skye, Melinda May, Antoine Triplett, Idaho, Lance Hunter, and Isabelle Hartley returned from unsuccessfully attempting to get a level ten file about an 0-8-4, Alphonso Mackenzie stopped watching a Glenn Talbot interview to greet them. Triplett explained to him that the mission did not go as planned and they did not get anything new.

Later, Director Coulson explained to him and Billy Koenig that he sent the six into a Government Storage Warehouse that housed S.H.I.E.L.D. paraphernalia despite the odds of success because they needed a Quinjet's cloaking technology to travel secretly. Coulson believed that in Fitz's state he was incapable of completing the job of making the Bus undetectable.

New Friendship
When Skye and Antoine Triplett returned to the Playground with a Quinjet, Mackenzie was tasked with reverse engineering its cloaking technology for the Bus. He went to Leo Fitz for advice, and during their interaction, he noticed that Fitz wanted to help against Carl Creel. Eventually, Mackenzie learned to understand what Fitz was trying to say and helped Fitz to modify the Overkill Device which allowed Phil Coulson to subdue Creel. This resulted in the forming of a friendship between the two, much to the pleasure of the rest of the team, who were happy that Fitz was opening up to somebody.

The Moroccan Mission
Mackenzie and Lance Hunter made a bet with each other about whether or not Skye had been trained at the S.H.I.E.L.D. academy. Mackenzie won his bet with Hunter, causing him to do inventory. He told Hunter not to put lines through his sevens; Billy Koenig hates that.

When Coulson returned from his debriefing with Jemma Simmons, he had a meeting with his agents, including Fitz and Mackenzie. When Fitz was asked for input on Donnie Gill, Mackenzie helped to translate Fitz's thoughts.

Gill froze the Maribel del Mar in a harbor in Casablanca, alerting both S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA to his location. As the field agents left, Mackenzie told Fitz that they could play Xbox. Fitz was upset because he wanted to go as well; Mackenzie tried to make him feel better. After Fitz interrogated Grant Ward, he unplugged Mackenzie's game and told Mackenzie to contact the field agents about Gill's brainwashing.

Bonding with Others
Mackenzie was the driver of a 1962 Rolls Royce that Phil Coulson and Melinda May used to get to a gala held to rebuild Santa Maria de las Flores. He told Coulson that he would wait patiently for him to give him permission to repair Lola. After they exited, Mackenzie went to South Beach to get Lance Hunter to take him to the Bus.

At the Bus, Mackenzie was bored with the stories Hunter told of his ex-wife and read a magazine.

Agent 33, disguised as Melinda May, put a virus in the electrical system of the plane that, if left unchecked, would cause it to explode. Mackenzie acted as Fitz's translator to convey his thoughts on what was happening. Hunter and Fitz ultimately stopped the virus. When Mackenzie and Hunter were drinking together and telling stories, Fitz chose to bond with Hunter and Mackenzie by talking about his unrequited feelings for Jemma Simmons; Mackenzie told him he was better off without her.

Mackenzie greeted Bobbi Morse with a hug when she came to the Playground after her undercover HYDRA security assignment. The two old friends laughed together as they talked about Morse's favorite drink when her ex-husband Lance Hunter interrupted their reunion.

After helping Fitz access the hard drive Jemma Simmons retrieved from HYDRA Laboratories, he helped to discover that Vincent Beckers was a scientist for the Red Skull and Julien Beckers' connection to HYDRA.

Later, Mackenzie was approached by Jemma Simmons, who had recently been undercover within HYDRA and had been rescued by Bobbi Morse. Simmons thanked Mackenzie for everything he had for Fitz in his recovery. Mackenzie made it clear that he was very fond of Fitz despite his disability. Their conversation eventually led them to the fact Simmons had left and the effect that had had on Fitz. Mackenzie told her that the only thing that made him struggle with his mind was her, and Simmons agreed.

Hating the Weirdness
"I like my bosses unjumbled at all times."

- Alphonso Mackenzie

Mackenzie and Leo Fitz retrieved the body of Janice Robbins so Jemma Simmons could perform an autopsy. She berated Mackenzie for the words of bravado he said as he turned over the body.

Mackenzie and Fitz were asked by Skye to come to the secret room containing the Theta Brain-Wave Frequency Machine; their strength might have been needed if Phil Coulson acted erratically during or after the session. As predicted, they had to hold Coulson down after the session ended. While playing video games with Leo Fitz, he complained about Coulson's brain being erased and how that affected his confidence in Coulson being the director. Fitz explained that memories are not truly erased because the brain creates back-up files and Coulson was using the machine to access them. He tried to convince Fitz to play the video game himself, as he believed it would help with his hand-eye coordination. During their conversation, Simmons arrived and showed them that Skye had been locked in Vault D by Coulson, who had escaped to track down his former agents. After freeing Skye, the two took an SUV to find the residence of Hank Thompson, where they believed Coulson would have gone. During the drive, Skye explained Project T.A.H.I.T.I. to Mackenzie. He highly disapproved with working with alien blood and being around aliens; Skye looked at him, ironically. Thompson flagged Mackenzie down and told them the situation which Mackenzie said he would handle. Mackenzie and Skye found Coulson engaged in a fierce fight with Sebastian Derik; Coulson was strangling him. Mackenzie and Skye held Coulson at gunpoint, begging him not to kill Derik. They learned that Coulson was not trying to kill Derik, only show him the train track erections that Thompson had built. Mackenzie was one of the senior agents that were assembled when Director Coulson gave the new mission: find the city that matched the City Blueprints before HYDRA can. Mackenzie stood next to Antoine Triplett and remained unconfident of Coulson's leadership.

Later, as they watched Bobbi Morse interrogate the recently captured HYDRA agent Sunil Bakshi in Vault D, Mackenzie and Lance Hunter discussed how a week earlier Mackenzie had to hold down the Director. Mackenzie made it clear that he felt that the director was out of his mind during the incident. Before they could discuss it further Jemma Simmons entered, interrupting the conversation.

Transformation
"That wasn't Mack."

- Phil Coulson

When the team discovered the entrance to the underground city beneath San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mackenzie, Bobbi Morse, Phil Coulson, Leo Fitz, and Jemma Simmons went to investigate. Aboard the Quinjet, Mackenzie asked Morse if Lance Hunter would replace Isabelle Hartley in their mission. She said that Hunter did not know and will not be involved. In San Juan, Mackenzie used a Mouse Hole to make an opening to the underground city, realizing that the shaft was a hundred feet down. Fitz first sent some D.W.A.R.F.s down, but they mysteriously lost their connection. Mackenzie was then lowered down and discovered the drones, before noticing a strange pattern in the floor. As he touched a section of the floor, the pattern began to glow before symbols similar to what was on the Diviner appeared on Mackenzie's palm, causing him extreme pain. The team quickly pulled him back up, unaware of how to treat him. Knowing that his body was being taken over, Mackenzie then told Coulson to run as his eyes suddenly turned red, before he knocked Coulson into a wall as if he were possessed by a powerful force. Mackenzie began to attack every member of the team; Morse went for the attack but her blows were ineffective. As Mackenzie was distracted, Fitz shot him in the back with an I.C.E.R., but his body absorbed the hits. As Mackenzie went to attack Simmons and Coulson, Morse stuck both of her staves against his neck, electrocuting him enough to stun him; his body fell down the entrance to the underground city and hit the ground hard. Coulson ordered the hole be sealed. When Morse asked if they could save Mackenzie, Coulson told her that was not Mackenzie.

While Mackenzie did fall very far, he survived, though still brainwashed and silent, in the Kree City. He aided Raina in finding the Temple due to her Inhuman heritage, and did not attack Skye for the same reason, but would not approach the temple further than a certain point. He did not move except to defend the temple, as was the case when Coulson came to him, and he reacted violently once more. Jemma Simmons theorized that the city co-opted Mackenzie to defend itself. Mackenzie reverted back to his normal self when the Diviner was activated in the chamber within the Temple in the Kree City, he and Coulson managed to escape as the Temple shook.

Chain of Command
"You got something to say, Mack?" "Plenty, but I'll keep it to myself."

- Phil Coulson and Alphonso Mackenzie

Mackenzie kept himself busy upon his return from the Kree City to the Playground. During a conversation with Leo Fitz, Fitz tried to help Mackenzie deal with what had happened to him and Antoine Triplett's death, but Mackenzie was not receptive. Looking at Skye who was in quarantine after her experiences, Mackenzie asked for blueprints to the Playground so that if Skye was contagious, it would not spread. When the senior agents got together to discuss what to do with Sunil Bakshi, Mackenzie disagreed with Coulson's plan. Originally, he did not want to voice it, but, as the conversation continued, Mackenzie became enraged that Coulson was asking them to lay down their lives if necessary. An argument ensued; Mackenzie believed that Coulson was asking for too much from them, especially without well thought-out plans and with an alien obsession. Coulson cut the conversation short; he let everyone, especially Mackenzie, know that Triplett knew his place and followed orders.

During their mission, Lance Hunter asked Bobbi Morse why, during the argument, she tried so hard to keep Mackenzie from talking; he wondered if she was trying to keep him from revealing the duet's secret mission. Morse told Hunter that she and Mackenzie did not have a secret mission; they were a part of a support group that catered to those who felt betrayed during the HYDRA Uprising. Later, at the vigil for Triplett, Mackenzie and Morse went to get a snack. He told her that using the blueprints of the Playground he had gotten earlier, as well as the camera in the miniature version of Lola that Coulson had, he determined that the Toolbox was in Coulson's office. They decided that everything was on schedule.

Muscle Man
"No Fitz, we're the ones who need protection from her."

- Alphonso Mackenzie

Phil Coulson decided to help with taking inventory; Mackenzie asked him if he was doing it because of their squabble earlier. Coulson told him that he had no ill feelings about that; he just wanted to do it to assure that it was complete. Coulson asked Mackenzie to become a field agent, citing his fighting skills and brute strength, but Mackenzie declined, feeling that hurting people was not within him. Coulson nonetheless sent him to Faro, Portugal to assist Leo Fitz and Lance Hunter in their investigation of who battled Sif on a beach there. While they worked, Hunter told them that he was going to take Coulson's offer to be a permanent member of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Upon returning to the Playground, Mackenzie approached Bobbi Morse about Hunter's promotion. She asked him if Hunter could join them in the duo's mission; Mackenzie adamantly refused, telling her that Hunter is no longer an option now that he has joined Coulson. Mackenzie recommended to Morse that the couple part ways.

When Hunter left Morse after a brief argument, he bumped into Mackenzie on his way out. Together, Mackenzie and Morse ran to see what was happening when an earthquake occurred. As they were approaching where Coulson was interviewing Vin-Tak, they saw Melinda May running with Skye and the Kree chasing them. Mackenzie challenged Vin-Tak by punching him in the jaw; Vin-Tak responded by knocking Mackenzie across the room and into unconsciousness.

While Coulson and May escorted Vin-Tak and Sif away from the Playground so the Kree could return to Hala, Mackenzie and others cleaned the mess that Skye's power display caused. Fitz was the only one who sided with Skye; Mackenzie and the others felt that she was dangerous and that they should be protected from her. Later, Mackenzie was doing mechanical work when Hunter demanded full disclosure about his mission with Morse, telling him that he knew the two were conspiring together and that she had a flash drive of his in her possession. The mechanic panicked, grabbed Hunter, and put him in a choke hold which put him to sleep. Laying Hunter beside the S.H.I.E.L.D. SUV, Mackenzie regretted his action.

Broken Cover
"Who the hell are you working for?" "S.H.I.E.L.D. The real S.H.I.E.L.D."

- Lance Hunter and Alphonso Mackenzie

Mackenzie took Lance Hunter to a S.H.I.E.L.D. Safe House and locked him in the bathroom; he then called Bobbi Morse, telling her that he did not like this situation and had no exit strategy. When Hunter heard the two talking, he began to shout insults; Morse told Mackenzie to get Hunter a beer to keep him calm.

Phil Coulson asked Morse about Hunter's absence; she told Coulson that Hunter ran off after she ended their relationship and Mackenzie went to find him.

Mackenzie brought Hunter a Hawaiian style pizza and beer. He then asked Hunter to trust him as they reminisced about the first mission he, Hunter, and Morse had together. Hunter said that the main point he remembered about that mission was that Mackenzie kept him in the dark since he was not a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Hours later, Mackenzie returned to the Iliad alongside the blindfolded Lance Hunter, saying their ride had arrived. With armed guards, Mackenzie removed Hunter's blindfold. When Hunter demanded to know what Mackenzie was up to and who he really worked for, Mackenzie told him that he and Bobbi Morse worked for "the real S.H.I.E.L.D.", showing Hunter its logo on the wall, much to Hunter's shock and confusion.

Return to the Playground
"I guess one boss wasn't enough for you and Bobbi." "Seems the road trip hasn't dampened your friend's spirits." "Gonzales. It's good to see you, sir."

- Lance Hunter, Robert Gonzales, and Alphonso Mackenzie

Mackenzie was greeted warmly by Robert Gonzales and then introduced him to Lance Hunter. Mackenzie sat as the leaders of Gonzales' faction of S.H.I.E.L.D. explained their disapproval of the leadership of Phil Coulson. Hunter could not believe that Mackenzie was allied with them; he had more issues when Bobbi Morse arrived.

Mackenzie was sent back to the Playground to gather further intelligence. When he came across Melinda May, she questioned him about the absence of Hunter and Morse. Mackenzie said that he found Hunter in Athens, Georgia drunk and he had not seen Morse. May said that she would tell Coulson. Mackenzie passed the laboratory and was eavesdropping on the argument between Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons about her treatment of those who have changed. He made sure that Simmons saw him as he left.

Meanwhile, May and Coulson decided that they needed to confront Mackenzie on his lies.

Confrontation
"What did you say when I asked if you were loyal to S.H.I.E.L.D.?" "I said I was because I am, and that's the truth, sir." "Look... you've always been brutally honest with me, and I value that. So I'm giving you a chance here. Just tell me who you're working for." "I work for S.H.I.E.L.D."

- Phil Coulson and Alphonso Mackenzie

Phil Coulson allowed Mackenzie to look under the hood of Lola, citing how he was impressed with the toy replica he had created and how it was so exact in its duplication. Coulson then told him that because of his own personal knowledge of the vehicle he knew that there was an extra mechanism in it. Mackenzie feigned ignorance, but Coulson told him to be honest and to tell him where his loyalty lied. Though Mackenzie told Coulson that he worked for S.H.I.E.L.D., Coulson had him surrounded by other armed agents. Mackenzie escaped when Bobbi Morse set off an EMP. Mackenzie found Leo Fitz in a maintenance closet; Fitz had discovered the bomb that Morse had set there. Mackenzie leapt upon Fitz and saved him from the explosion which allowed Robert Gonzales and his faction to enter the Playground.

Anne Weaver convinced Jemma Simmons to tend to Mackenzie's injuries.

Request to Stay
Mackenzie saw Bobbi Morse sitting aboard the Bus and asked her why she was practically hiding; Morse was watching video feed of Robert Gonzales interrogating Melinda May and felt uncomfortable being around other agents. She told Mackenzie that others feel that they are traitors, even Leo Fitz was planning to resign from S.H.I.E.L.D. Mackenzie told her to remain vigilant, because they were doing the right thing for the future of the organization.

Mackenzie then went to Fitz and asked him to stay; he wanted his friend to understand that everyone else was onboard with the new regime, citing that Jemma Simmons was helping in the decoding of the Toolbox. He watched as Fitz went to the Holocom to see what Simmons had accomplished. Mackenzie was present when Fitz confronted Simmons for her apparent betrayal and watched as Fitz left the Playground.

Theory
Mackenzie entered as Melinda May and Jemma Simmons were discussing recent revelations that Phil Coulson was spending a lot of money, was giving secret upgrades to Deathlok, and was having clandestine meeting with Andrew Garner. Mackenzie theorized that Coulson was gathering super-powered individuals, especially since Coulson has always been at the forefront of contacting those types of people for S.H.I.E.L.D.. This theory prompted May to order Simmons to open the Toolbox.

Finding Coulson
While fight training with Bobbi Morse, they discussed fighting styles, with Morse giving Mackenzie advice on how to avoid being knocked to the ground. They discussed Jemma Simmons' progress with the Toolbox, and Mackenzie told her that he believed that she was stalling. Morse expressed her displeasure at the fact that Gonzales had had Leo Fitz followed since he left the Playground, as she did not view Coulson's team as the enemy. They questioned whether or not Lance Hunter was right all along. Mackenzie told Morse that they were bringing in a special laser designed to cut through the Vibranium protecting the Toolbox. However, it was soon learned that Simmons was in fact working with a decoy that Fitz had switched for the original Toolbox, which Fitz had smuggled out. Shortly afterwards, Melinda May received a phone call from Skye; they choose not to tell her about Coulson's disappearance and claimed he was searching for her. She informed them that she was with Calvin Zabo who was going to turn very angry and dangerous very soon, so she called for S.H.I.E.L.D. to come and stop him. Mackenzie and Morse took a team to her location. By the time they arrived, they found the remains of a battle with many HYDRA casualties. As they explored the building, they found Phil Coulson waiting for them. Coulson raised his arms in surrender and asked them to bring him to Robert Gonzales.

Rebuilding Friendships
Phil Coulson and Robert Gonzales made a deal in which Gonzales would assist Coulson in a mission to rescue enhanced individuals being held hostage by HYDRA scientist Dr. List, and in exchange, Coulson would open the Toolbox for him. Mackenzie worked on a video system so the other agents could watch the mission unfold in real time. He was approached by Lance Hunter, and Mackenzie tried to explain his actions and Hunter forgave him. Mackenzie promised to buy him a round of drinks; Hunter jokingly made it clear that he expected more than just a round of drinks to repay for Mackenzie's actions. Mackenzie joined Gonzales and Bobbi Morse as Coulson's Team attacked the HYDRA base and successfully rescued the hostages before Gonzales ordered the base to be destroyed.

Quitting S.H.I.E.L.D.
"As much as I like and respect you sir, if you're the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. I don't want any part in it."

- Alphonso Mackenzie to Phil Coulson

Learning that S.H.I.E.L.D. would continue with Phil Coulson as director, Mackenzie made the choice to leave the organization, telling only Bobbi Morse. Mackenzie continued working out at the Playground, despite Morse turning up late to be his spotter. Morse told him that she was preparing her speech to convince him to stay. Mackenzie asked her if she had spoken to Lance Hunter yet and she explained he had not even looked her in the eye yet; he explained to her that Hunter was rekindling his friendship with him to annoy her. Morse explained that she and Hunter were very different people emotionally. Mackenzie met with Phil Coulson in his office as Coulson was preparing for a mission to speak to the leader of the Inhumans. Mackenzie told him that he would not mince his words and informed him that he was leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. as he felt he could not trust Coulson as leader after learning of his experiences with being brought back from the dead with the use of alien blood. Coulson offered to reassign him to the Iliad under Robert Gonzales' leadership but Mackenzie told him he wanted no part of Coulson's S.H.I.E.L.D. Mackenzie handed over his S.H.I.E.L.D. badge, and Coulson told him he was sorry to lose him. They shook hands before Mackenzie left the base.

Inhuman Attack
"Mack, I thought you'd left." "I did, but with Gonzales dead I need to see this settled first." "So you agree we need to attack?" "No, I agree it needs to be settled."

- Phil Coulson, Alphonso Mackenzie and Anne Weaver

Mackenzie returned to the Iliad to collect his belongings; while there he spoke to Agent Oliver about his plans after leaving, which included a motorcycling holiday with his brother. As they were talking, the alarms on the ship were set off. Mackenzie asked Agent Harris what had happened, and they were informed that Robert Gonzales had been killed at the peace meeting and they were now waiting for orders. Mackenzie arrived in the control room as Anne Weaver and Oliver were speaking to Phil Coulson about their next move, insisting that they should prepare to attack the Inhumans. Coulson asked Mackenzie why he was still at S.H.I.E.L.D., and he explained that with Robert Gonzales dead he needed to see this matter finished, he then agreed with Coulson that they should not attack yet. He then spoke to Weaver, who explained they had increased the guards around the Monolith and ordered Mackenzie to get the Iliad battle-ready before the Inhumans attacked. Once Mackenzie had completed his work, he was in one of the rooms of the ship when he witnessed a team of Inhumans walking through the Iliad, carrying the unconscious Skye. As Mackenzie made his way through the ship, armed with only an axe, he encountered Alisha who duplicated her body into four before attacking Mackenzie who managed to escape. He managed to find an armored jacket and gathered equipment to fight back against the Inhumans' army. Mackenzie eventually found and freed Skye, requesting that she use her hacking abilities to help him take over the ship again and stop an emergency beacon from calling in all other S.H.I.E.L.D. teams into Jiaying's trap. As they made their way through the ship, Mackenzie spoke to Skye about her mother's betrayal; Mackenzie comforted her by assuring her that it was not her fault. He sent Skye to hack into the computer systems to shut down the emergency signal while he went in search of equipment. When he returned, he found Skye speaking to Lincoln Campbell; Mackenzie knocked out Campbell. He gave Skye a power saw and ordered her to shut down the beacon while he went to protect the Terrigen Crystals to ensure they did not kill anyone else.

Showdown with Gordon
"It's Gordon, right?" "And you are?" "I'm the guy who kills Gordon."

- Alphonso Mackenzie and Gordon

Mackenzie found the Terrigen Crystals and stayed with them until Gordon arrived to take them away. They began fighting, with Gordon's teleporting ability making it nearly impossible for Mackenzie to hit him with his axe. Gordon noted that Mackenzie had clearly encountered something Kree before. As they fought Gordon kept attempting to steal a Crystal while Mackenzie used all his skills and strength to prevent him from doing so. Phil Coulson and Leo Fitz soon arrived to assist, and Fitz used a device to trap Gordon inside the room so he could no longer teleport away. They continued fighting Gordon, until he made a fatal mistake and teleported behind Fitz, causing the iron pole Fitz was holding to be embedded in Gordon's chest. As Gordon fell down dying, he dropped the Terrigen Crystal he was holding. Coulson caught it at the last second, but touching the crystal caused Coulson's hand to turn to stone. Before Coulson could be killed, Mackenzie used his axe to cut off his arm.

Working with S.H.I.E.L.D. Again
"You know we could get better readings if we dropped a probe into the glass enclosure." "We're never opening that damn box in a thousand years."

- Jemma Simmons and Alphonso Mackenzie

With the threat over, Mackenzie was convinced to rejoin S.H.I.E.L.D. by Phil Coulson, who claimed it was because Mackenzie owed him for cutting off his arm. Mackenzie was put in charge of dealing with all alien artifacts that S.H.I.E.L.D. came into contact with, allowing him to ensure that the world was safe from the dangers they posed. When Jemma Simmons hinted she wanted to inspect the Monolith, Mackenzie told her there was no way they were ever opening its box as it was far too dangerous.

Rescue of Joey Gutierrez
"I'm not afraid of you." "You should be."

- Alphonso Mackenzie and Lincoln Campbell

Mackenzie, Daisy Johnson, and Lance Hunter went to Seattle, Washington to get Joey Gutierrez before the Advanced Threat Containment Unit could. After Gutierrez was contained, Mackenzie and Johnson made sure that he was safe while Johnson explained to Gutierrez that he was an Inhuman.

He, Hunter, and Phil Coulson researched Rosalind Price, discovering that, under different aliases, Price worked for different organizations, including MI6 and the CIA. Seeing Bobbi Morse, Mackenzie was her sounding board as she analysed the technology of the ATCU. He asked her about her relationship with Hunter and hoped she knew what she was doing.

Lash Attacks
"We'll hit this thing with everything we've got." "Then I need a bigger gun I guess, or my axe, or maybe a shotgun axe combination of some sort. Or we're going in here? Yeh that makes sense."

- Daisy Johnson and Alphonso Mackenzie

Mackenzie accompanied Johnson to the hospital where Lincoln Campbell worked; they wanted Campbell to act as Gutierrez's transitioner. Campbell refused, walking away from Johnson mid-conversation; Mackenzie confronted him, secretly placing a subcutaneous Tracker on him, telling him that even though Campbell had powers, Mackenzie did not fear him.

As tension grew high between the two, the lights of the hospital began to flicker. Mackenzie, Johnson, and Campbell went to the front desk where they saw a monstrous man blast a hole into the chest of the security guard. The man fought Campbell; Johnson hit him with a concussive wave while Mackenzie fired his sidearm. Surprised by the resistance, the man cut a hole into a wall and fled.

Mackenzie commented that he wanted a bigger gun or an axe as they gave chase. While checking a room, the monstrous man ripped through a wall and hit Mackenzie, throwing him backwards and removing him from the fight. Daisy Johnson and Lincoln Campbell were able to outwit the creature and forced it to flee. When Mackenzie caught up with them, Campbell made the decision to run away on his own and Mackenzie ordered Johnson to return to S.H.I.E.L.D. before they were arrested by the incoming forces. Back at the Playground, Mackenzie gave an artist a description of his combatant which he recreated on a computer, noting that the only change needed to the image of the terrifying blue skinned creature was that it needed to be drawn bigger. He then alerted Morse and Hunter that the President of the United States was having a press conference where he announced to the world of the creation of the Advanced Threat Containment Unit to deal with the dangers of the Inhumans.

Bringing Simmons Back
"You did good, Tremors. You did good."

- Alphonso Mackenzie to Daisy Johnson

Mackenzie and Daisy Johnson spoke about recruiting Joey Gutierrez to the team of powered individuals she sought, but Mackenzie did not think he was fitting. She also said that Coulson's team would be soon with only three people as the rest were gone, left or injured. Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter suddenly entered, rushing to the Monolith room where Leo Fitz opened the containment of the Monolith.

They found him facing it, screaming. They managed to close the containment before it transformed to liquid form and then returned to solid form. Fitz said that he could not give up on Jemma Simmons. He noticed that on Morse's finger were sand grains. He then explained in Phil Coulson's office that it came from another world, far from Earth and that it was proof that Simmons was out there. Johnson asked him if the Monolith was a portal, and he responded that when it had taken Simmons, it had sent the sand from the other planet. Everyone agreed they have to find out what happened with Simmons. Coulson ordered Mackenzie and Johnson to stay in the Playground and help Andrew Garner's assessment as the building of the team was still the priority; he, Fitz and Morse went to ask Elliot Randolph's help in the case. As Garner came to the base, Mackenzie greeted him warmly. He then gave him Gutierrez's file; when he asked how the two were doing, Johnson quickly stopped him, saying that their only conversation would be friendly. Garner said that that was what he meant to do. She asked him how was Melinda May and if she ever planned to return from her vacation; Garner responded that she should ask her herself. Mackenzie got a call from Coulson that he needed the Monolith to be brought to a room in an English castle where they could transform it into a portal. Johnson came with Mackenzie on the Zephyr One and then to the room. As he entered the room, he saw ancient technology, and he said to Coulson that it remained him of his office. He helped Leo Fitz to activate the machines of the room that caused the Monolith, in a hole in the floor, to transform into its liquid state; however, a problem with the machines caused them to break up and the Monolith returned to its solid state. Fitz then said they needed to fix them, to which Mackenzie asked how they were going to fix them if they did not know how it worked.

Fitz then realized that a high frequency that came from the machines caused the Monolith to transform to liquid state, so they could use Johnson's power to do that. Mackenzie helped Elliot Randolph to install a device that a probe they planned to send through the portal will send them a picture of the other planet. As Johnson activated her powers and the Monolith returned to a liquid state, Fitz, tied to a line, jumped through it. Mackenzie, Coulson and Morse struggled to keep the device stable as Fitz looked for Simmons. Coulson then ordered them to retrieve him. Johnson then shut down her powers and the Monolith exploded, but Fitz returned with Simmons back to Earth. Johnson fell, but Mackenzie held her and complimented her action.

Protecting Lincoln Campbell
"What's the range on these powers of yours? How good are they?" "I'd say pretty damn good."

- Luther Banks and Alphonso Mackenzie Mackenzie spoke with the team in Phil Coulson's office about Jemma Simmons as Daisy Johnson entered to inform Coulson that the Advanced Threat Containment Unit was pursuing Lincoln Campbell. Mackenzie and Coulson informed her about the Tracker Mackenzie had planted on him. Johnson then called Campbell and tried to convince him to let them help him, but he hung up the call and destroyed the Tracker. Mackenzie and Johnson argued of what they had should done with him, but Coulson calmed them and said they will figure out what to do. Coulson then asked Johnson to locate Campbell's last location and asked for Mackenzie to find Rosalind Price's phone number. Johnson then got a call from Campbell and he asked for help after he had accidentally killed his friend. Johnson accompanied Mackenzie to retrieve Campbell while Coulson went to meet Price. The two manged to escape the ATCU and Johnson entered the apartment where Campbell was hiding. Mackenzie heard how Johnson succeeded in convincing Campbell to come with her and the two even kissed, but Mackenzie got new orders from Coulson, saying to to help the ATCU enter the apartment and let them take Campbell, as Coulson had no choice but to let them as that was the only way to keep Johnson safe. Johnson was surprised to hear that from Mackenzie, but Campbell managed to escape.Luther Banks then ordered his soldiers to take Johnson, but Mackenzie pulled out his gun and aimed it at his head. However, Banks got a call from Price and he left without Johnson. Back in the Playground, Mackenzie did not inform Coulson about the relationship between Johnson and Campbell. As he played a video game, Johnson came to thank him, and the two played together.

Hunting Lash
When Alisha assisted S.H.I.E.L.D. with a recruitment mission for an Inhumancouple, the monstrous man came and killed the couple and one of Alisha's duplicates. Mackenzie and Daisy Johnson searched for him on Phil Coulson's order. They followed the trail to a dark industrial place, where they were surprised by the Advanced Threat Containment Unit and Rosalind Price. Coulson joined them and said that they were helping the ATCU to find the monstrous killer. Johnson argued with Coulson about the deal he had made with the ATCU, but Coulson replied that it was a means to an end. Johnson asked if it was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s or the ATCU's means, but Coulson did not respond. Johnson suspected the Inhuman Dwight Frye to be the Inhuman killer. Mackenzie, Coulson and Johnson went to his house where Price and Luther Banks were waiting for him. They entered the house, and they found him hiding. Coulson and Price interrogated him, and he told them that the killer was called Lash and that Lash had brought the Inhumans' name he had wanted to kill and Frye had found them. The ATCU arrested Frye. Coulson ordered Mackenzie to go with them. Johnson also came with him, although Mackenzie did not like the idea. During their way to the ATCU facility, the track was attacked by Lash. Mackenzie fought him, but Lash knocked him out.

Mackenzie woke up in a hospital. Johnson told him that the ATCU had brought them to there. He asked her if everybody were safe, but Johnson said that Frye had been killed by Lash. Johnson told him that she had seen Lash transformed into a regular person. Price then visited them and asked him how he felt, to which Mackenzie responded that he felt like a track had fallen on him.

Exposing the Truth
Mackenzie had noted that Luther Banks had exited before the Attack on Dwight Frye and theorized that Banks could be Lash. He prepared a vehicle with surveillance equipment; as he told his theory to Daisy Johnson, who was wondering why Lash had never attacked her though he had opportunity, Lance Hunter abruptly entered, begging to drive. As the three watched Banks, Mackenzie became annoyed that Hunter was giving constant updates with no new information. Hunter asked how they planned to interrogate Banks when the discussion turned to Hunter's actions during his Attack on Grant Ward and how it directly affected Grant Ward's Attack on Andrew Garner. They noticed Banks was moving, so he advised Hunter to follow discreetly.

They followed Banks to his house. While Mackenzie and Johnson discussed what to do if Banks went inside, they heard the van door open; Hunter, in a bandana, proceeded to shoot Banks with an I.C.E.R. and bring him to the van. Johnson and Mackenzie berated Hunter for kidnapping Banks, second-in-command of the ATCU because Phil Coulson was trying to get Rosalind Price's trust; plus, doing this did not definitely tell them that Banks was not Lash. Hunter told them that since Inhumans had DNA markers, they could get a blood sample to prove Banks' species; Mackenzie watched as Hunter made Banks bleed and Johnson sent a blood sample to Jemma Simmons.The three investigated Banks' wallet and phone when he received a text message telling him to go to Endotex Labs; the three left Banks unconscious in his car and proceeded there.

At the ATCU facility, Johnson sent one of the new D.W.A.R.F.s Leo Fitz had adapted with cloaking technology into the building. They saw through the D.W.A.R.F.'s camera, they saw an Inhuman in a coma inside a gel cage. But Johnson was surprised to see Coulson with Price and just looking on the cage. Mackenzie told her to bring the D.W.A.R.F. before they would be caught.

Lash's Identity
Alphonso Mackenzie met Lincoln Campbell and inadvertently found out that Lash was the psychologist Andrew Garner. The two reported this to S.H.I.E.L.D. once on board Zephyr One. The aircraft turned around to Colorado at Culver University, where they found Melinda May chained to a water tank, having been kidnapped by Garner. Garner transformed into Lash after he was angered by Campbell's presence and began a killing spree through the many agents commanded by Coulson and Rosalind Price. Mackenzie was among the first to confront Lash, attempting to hold him off and defeat him. However, Lash threw Mackenzie and knocked him out, leaving him alive while he continued his rampage.

Operation Spotlight
"What exactly is going on over there?" "Well, multiple agency servers have been attacked in the last few minutes, and the traffic traces back to your IPs. We've already, uh, dispatched a rapid-response unit to your location. Please, just cooperate fully. Should be fine."

- Steve Wilson and Alphonso Mackenzie

Mackenzie, worried about Phil Coulson's apparent closeness to Rosalind Price, confronted him in his office and questioning Coulson's motives. Coulson told Mackenzie that it was not his business.

Mackenzie attended the S.H.I.E.L.D. meeting where Coulson outlined Operation Spotlight, where while Price visited the Playground, a team of agents would be infiltrating Endotex Labs. Mackenzie was assigned to overseeing the mission with Daisy Johnson. When the meeting was over, Coulson asked if the meeting had answered Mackenzie's questions; Mackenzie muttered that it had raised all new ones.

Infiltration at Endotex Labs
During the Endotex Labs infiltration, Mackenzie assisted Lance Hunter in his cover as an expert computer hacker who broke his way into the Pentagon servers. He covered S.H.I.E.L.D.'s role to Steve Wilson saying that he was part of an FBI task force. After the infiltration, Mackenzie and the others attended a meeting where Jemma Simmons and Leo Fitz revealed the actual origins of HYDRA and the organization's involvement in a NASA project known as Distant Star Return.

Temporary Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Mackenzie received a call from Phil Coulson notifying him that he was in trouble and required extraction. Mackenzie drove to Rosalind Price's apartment and discovered Coulson in the middle of a firefight with HYDRA agents. When Coulson reached the car, Mackenzie asked about Price; Coulson told Mackenzie to just drive.

Back at the Playground, Mackenzie watched as Coulson collected files in his office. Asking him what he was going to do, Mackenzie listened as Coulson explained that he was about to cross lines a director should not cross, and therefore was making him acting director until he returned from a revenge mission against Grant Ward. Mackenzie asked if Coulson was going to tell him his plan, but Coulson refused to reveal it.

Mackenzie learned that HYDRA had kidnapped Jemma Simmons and Leo Fitz. He called Coulson to inform him of the fact and to ask what to do, but Coulson, angered, threw the phone against the wall. In need of advice, Mackenzie called Melinda May to the office and asked her if she agreed with Andrew Garner's assessment of Lincoln Campbell. Mackenzie told May that Coulson was heading towards the HYDRA base in England, and had told Ward that he was coming. Knowing that HYDRA would shoot the Quinjet down, May asked Mackenzie if he was sending any back-up. Mackenzie told May that he had asked Coulson if he wanted it, and Coulson had not answered. May told Mackenzie to make the decision for Coulson, and that he already knew what to do.

Mackenzie prepared for an attack on HYDRA, greenlighting the Caterpillars program and assembling a team of agents, along with Campbell and Joey Gutierrez. He and Daisy Johnson entered the Quinjet as it was being loaded; he explained to Campbell and Gutierrez that HYDRA had kidnapped Fitz and Simmons and he needed their help to defeat them. Gutierrez and Campbell agreed to help, and Johnson fist-bumped Mackenzie in celebration.

Personality
Despite being a large and intimidating figure, Mackenzie will often avoid violence and attempt to find a peaceful solution to dangerous situations, waiting to get all the facts straight. When Robert Gonzales was seemingly assassinated by Jiaying, Mackenzie advised Coulson to settle the situation as peacefully as possible rather than go to war with the Inhumans. However, when his friends are endangered, Mackenzie is more than willing to risk his life and kill those who threaten the people around him. When the Inhumans attacked and killed his fellow S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Mackenzie went out of his way to protect them by fighting Gordon to the death, and when the Advanced Threat Containment Unit attempted to arrest Daisy Johnson, Mackenzie threatened the life of Luther Banks by pointing a gun to his head.

Mackenzie is also a very compassionate man, being the only person to truly listen to Leo Fitz as he suffered the effects of brain damage, becoming a key part of his recovery. Daisy Johnson described Mackenzie as a big teddy bear to Joey Gutierrez to assure him that he was not as threatening as he appeared. Mackenzie also put a lot of effort into repairing his friendship with Lance Hunter after the pair fell out due to differing loyalties.

Abilities
"You know how some guys can play a tune by ear? Well, I need sheet music."

- Alphonso Mackenzie


 * Expert Engineer: Mackenzie was the chief engineer of one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s aircraft carriers, the Iliad. However, as part of his cover to infiltrate Phil Coulson's faction of S.H.I.E.L.D., Mackenzie posed as a simple mechanic, spending time checking on the gears of the Bus or Quinjet, even on his spare time. When Leo Fitz was unable to create a cloaking device for the Bus, Mackenzie was tasked to recreate the technology after a Quinjet was stolen. He had a desire to work on Lola to get close to Coulson and gain his trust, reconstructing a 1962 limousine in hopes of impressing him enough to get the chance, and later creating a RC model of Lola as a gift for Coulson.
 * Martial Artist: Mackenzie has some skill in hand-to-hand combat, sparring with Bobbi Morse during training.
 * Expert Marksman: As the rest of field agents were busy chasing a fugitive Grant Ward, Mackenzie had to accompany Skye to stop Phil Coulson, who went alone to pursue serial killer and former Project T.A.H.I.T.I. patient Sebastian Derik. Upon arriving, Mackenzie had to threaten Coulson with his handgun, though Coulson released Derik before having to do so. Once he became Daisy Johnson's partner, Mackenzie carried a handgun as his sidearm, resorting to use it against Lash, hitting him many times, but to no avail.
 * Combatant: Mackenzie trains with Bobbi Morse to improve his fighting skills. He tends to use his strength as a weapon as when he put Lance Hunter in a sleeper hold. During his battles with Gordon and Lash, Mackenzie resorted to weapons against his foes.

Weapons
"I need a bigger gun, I guess. Or my ax. Or maybe a shotgun-ax combination of some sort."

- Alphonso Mackenzie


 * : Mackenzie used the compact version of the Smith & Wesson M&P pistol when he accompanied Skye to stop Phil Coulson, who was acting erratically due to having unlocked the memories from Project T.A.H.I.T.I. Mackenzie threatened to shoot Coulson if he did not release Sebastian Derik, though he did, having realized the true meaning of the Words of Creation.
 * : Mackenzie was handed both a Remington 870 shotgun and a M4A1 carbine taken from deceased HYDRA operatives that were attempting to take over the Iliad, in order to help Bobbi Morse and Isabelle Hartley with their mission at the ship. Mackenzie chose to stay within the Iliad and retake it when HYDRA revealed its presence within S.H.I.E.L.D.. He used the shotgun to defend their position and take back the ship.
 * : Mackenzie was handed both a Remington 870 shotgun and a M4A1 carbine taken from deceased HYDRA operatives that were attempting to take over the Iliad, in order to help Bobbi Morse and Isabelle Hartley with their mission at the ship. He used the assault rifle against the operatives that he encountered inside the ship while looking for Commander Robert Gonzales.
 * : An emergency handaxe that Mackenzie took at the Iliad when it was attacked by a group of Inhumans led by Jiaying. Mackenzie used it to attack Gordon and protect a case with Terrigen Crystals, having to use it to cut Phil Coulson's hand when he prevented one of the crystals from breaking and his hand began to turn into stone.

Family

 * Mother
 * Brother

Allies

 * S.H.I.E.L.D. (First Incarnation)
 * Nick Fury - Director
 * Maria Hill - Deputy Director
 * Robert Gonzales † - Commander
 * Bobbi Morse - Colleague and Friend
 * Isabelle Hartley † - Colleague and Friend
 * Tim Maguire † - Subordinate and Friend
 * Case - Subordinate
 * Susanna - Subordinate
 * S.H.I.E.L.D. (Second Incarnation)
 * Phil Coulson - Director
 * Melinda May - Colleague
 * Antoine Triplett † - Colleague and Friend
 * Daisy Johnson - Colleague, Friend and Partner
 * Leo Fitz - Colleague and Best Friend
 * Jemma Simmons - Colleague and Friend
 * Lance Hunter - Colleague and Friend
 * Bobbi Morse - Colleague and Friend
 * Isabelle Hartley † - Colleague and Friend
 * Idaho † - Colleague
 * Billy Koenig - Colleague
 * Sam Koenig - Colleague
 * Robert Gonzales † - Former Leader
 * Anne Weaver - Colleague
 * Tomas Calderon - Colleague
 * Oliver † - Colleague
 * Harris - Colleague
 * Secret Warriors
 * Lincoln Campbell
 * Joey Gutierrez
 * Sif
 * Elliot Randolph
 * Advanced Threat Containment Unit - Situational Allies
 * Rosalind Price †
 * Luther Banks †
 * Alisha - Enemy and Attempted Killer turned Ally

Enemies

 * HYDRA
 * Lead HYDRA Agent †
 * Sebastian Derik
 * Vin-Tak
 * Afterlife Inhumans
 * Jiaying †
 * Gordon †
 * Andrew Garner/Lash - Ally turned Enemy
 * Dwight Frye †

Trivia

 * In the comics, Alphonso Mackenzie is a veteran S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and former CIA liaison to S.H.I.E.L.D.
 * Mackenzie likes singing in the shower. He also admits to being afraid of the dark and appears to be afraid of ghosts, but refuses to admit it.
 * Mackenzie has seized any opportunity to express his desire to work his mechanic skills on Lola.
 * Mackenzie is the third character in the MCU shown to hold the title of the director or SHIELD. In chronological order, first being Nick Fury, and then Phil Coulson, who was given the title at the end of Season 1. Though Mackenzie only held the title while Coulson went after Ward, this is an accomplishment to be noted.