he who hesitates is toast

"Thank you, sister."

He sighs, but he has put off this other call long enough. "I will alert you when we are close."

She nods and he finds a small, tired smile for her, then waves his hand and looks at the others. Nakia's expression is full of worried compassion, and he shakes his head minutely at her. "Deputy Commander," he says, looking at the other man. "Please be patient a few more moments, and I will explain all I can."

He doesn't wait for an answer, just moves away from the table where Sharon Carter lies, pale and still, and to a part of the flyer where he can raise a small privacy bubble.

That done, he takes a breath and sends a signal through his Kimoyo beads to Sergeant Barnes's tablet.