- "HYDRA's taken Fitz and Simmons."
"How is that possible?"
"There was an ambush at the Distant Star Facility." - ―Alphonso Mackenzie and Daisy Johnson[src]
The Ambush at the Distant Star Facility was a successful kidnapping orchestrated by HYDRA on S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons, whom they believed could help HYDRA achieve their goal of retrieving Hive from his exile on Maveth.
Background[]
- "I was gonna check out the Distant Star Facility with Fitz and Simmons."
"They've already gone. I sent them and a team with Agent Banks twenty minutes ago." - ―Alphonso Mackenzie and Phil Coulson[src]
Hive's followers, later known as HYDRA, tried through the years to bring him back by sending several operatives through the Kree Monolith to Maveth.[4] As a part of this goal, in 2001, Gideon Malick led NASA into starting the Project Distant Star Return where they sent four astronauts to Maveth using the Monolith.[5] Several years later, HYDRA discovered S.H.I.E.L.D. had managed to bring someone back from Maveth and decided to kidnap Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons.[4][6]
Banks discusses Gideon Malick's work
Phil Coulson made S.H.I.E.L.D.'s first priority to finish Grant Ward, who was responsible for the death of Rosalind Price, and HYDRA once and for all. Luther Banks met with S.H.I.E.L.D. at the Playground where he was introduced to Fitz and Simmons. Banks told them of the project Distant Star, while Fitz and Simmons told him of the ancient origin of HYDRA. Thinking both were connected, Fitz, Simmons, and Banks decided to go search the Distant Star Facility.[6]
Ambush[]
- "Fitz and Simmons have been kidnapped."
"What? By who?"
"By HYDRA, by the looks of it. Seems they knew we were coming." - ―Alphonso Mackenzie and Phil Coulson[src]
Phil Coulson, acting on a clue he believed Grant Ward had accidentally given him, ordered Leo Fitz, Jemma Simmons, Luther Banks, and two agents to investigate an abandoned Distant Star Facility. Coulson hoped that the team could discover more about HYDRA's grand plan to bring back their leader. The team reached the facility, and while Banks and the two agents explored ahead, Fitz and Simmons discussed the Monolith. Simmons expressed her belief that they could not rescue Will Daniels from Maveth as there was a chance that in doing so, they would give HYDRA's leader a chance to escape as well.
Luther Banks is killed by R. Giyera
As Fitz was about to answer, a shot rang out. Banks had killed the two other agents and swiveled to point the gun at Fitz and Simmons. Fitz begged him not to kill them, but Banks managed to say that he was not controlling the gun before it floated out of his hand, turned, and shot Banks in the forehead. R. Giyera revealed himself as the cause of the deaths and emerged from a pipe. Giyera explained that Gideon Malick needed Fitz and Simmons, and ordered the two to follow him to HYDRA.[6]
Torture[]
R. Giyera tortures Jemma Simmons
- "I can't decide which is worse for you, those moments when Simmons screams, or is it the long pauses when she doesn't?"
- ―Grant Ward to Leo Fitz[src]
Once at the HYDRA base, Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons were placed in two different rooms. Grant Ward entered the room where Fitz was being held and told him that HYDRA needed him to lead their team through the portal to Maveth. Ward told Fitz that if he refused, Simmons would be tortured. Fitz remained silent, and Ward ordered R. Giyera to torture Simmons, which he complied with by using his power to beat her with metal implements. Fitz sat in distress as he listened to the sounds of anguish and pain coming from Simmons' room.[6]
Aftermath[]
Fitz arrives on Maveth
- "Looks like they're getting ready."
"They're gonna take Fitz or Simmons."
"It's the smart play. Whatever they want over there, they'll take one to guide the team back, keep the other one here for insurance." - ―Phil Coulson and Bobbi Morse[src]
Leo Fitz finally gave in to helping HYDRA after hearing Jemma Simmons scream from being tortured. He went through the portal to Maveth to help HYDRA bring the dark Inhuman back to Earth but secretly he was hoping to bring back Will Daniels. When S.H.I.E.L.D. learned that Fitz and Simmons had been kidnapped, they went to the HYDRA Castle which led to the Attack on the HYDRA Castle.[6]