Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico
Continent	North America
Location	Earth
Capital	San Juan
Flag
Coat of Arms
Notable inhabitants	Hernán Álvarez (formerly) Diego
Population	Puerto Ricans
Appearances
TV Series	Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Luke Cage (mentioned) Runaways (mentioned)

"There are three million people on this island, and I won't let HYDRA turn them into collateral damage."

―Phil Coulson to Bobbi Morse^[src]

Puerto Rico, officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic.

History

Search for the Kree City

Arrival to San Juan

"Atlantis?"
"Try Puerto Rico."

―Antoine Triplett and Phil Coulson^[src]

Phil Coulson decided to separate his senior S.H.I.E.L.D. agents into two groups, one to protect Raina in Vancouver and the other to accompany him to San Juan and destroy the hidden city underneath. Coulson took took a Quinjet with Bobbi Morse, Leo Fitz, Jemma Simmons, and Alphonso Mackenzie to travel to Puerto Rico.

Coulson and Morse went to San Juan while the other agents waited for them in the Quinjet. Morse checked that they had not been followed since arriving to the country, and Coulson seized the opportunity to ask her about local food, specifically Tostones, fried plantains typical of Puerto Rico, that he wished to try once their mission would be completed.

Morse received a message from Diego, her contact in Puerto Rico, telling her he was going to be late, as he always was. Coulson asked if they trust him, and Morse answered that given he was a politician, he could never be trusted, but in practice, they could trust him to some degree, given Diego liked her. At least, Diego would provide them with architectural plans and would keep the local police department away from them.

Coulson's attitude, who stopped at a post to try on some hats, shocked Morse, given they were about to destroy an ancient extraterrestrial city, and explained that she wanted to make sure that Coulson's intentions were to destroy the weapon that was supposed to lie within its temple, instead of recovering like Nick Fury would do.

Bobbi Morse and Phil Coulson in San Juan.

Coulson said that he was not Fury, and when asked the reason Fury appointed him as Director. Coulson explained the reason for that, even the reason for the existence of S.H.I.E.L.D. was to protect people, and he would not let HYDRA kill the inhabitants of Puerto Rico as collateral damage.

Morse and Coulson walked towards the Castillo San Cristóbal, where Morse pointed that Fury would have a number of acceptable losses, a phrase that Coulson hated, so his number of "acceptable losses" was zero. Coulson's reason to bring Fitz and Simmons to Puerto Rico was to assess the structural integrity of the temple and minimize collateral destruction. Morse was surprised to hear that, especially comparing it with what Fury would say.

Morse acknowledged that while dealing with HYDRA, maybe Coulson needed to use something stronger, and Coulson revealed that was precisely the reason he brought Morse with him. Morse then noticed Diego coming towards them, and went to speak to him.

Breaking a Silence

Alphonso Mackenzie, Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons waited in the Quinjet in the outskirts of San Juan, preparing the equipment needed to locate, access and evaluate the hidden city. Mackenzie grew tired of the awkward silence between Fitz and Simmons, and leave them alone to check the landing gear, despite Fitz's attempt to make him stay.

Fitz and Simmons realized they needed to talk to each other, Simmons tried to explain that despite their relationship had been uneasy since her return from her undercover mission, the reason for leaving was not Fitz's current status. Fitz then asked her to let him speak, because he needed to say many things and he still had difficulty with the words.

Fitz reveal his plan to leave the laboratory and let Simmons run the Science division alone, instead working inside the Bus with Mackenzie. Simmons asked him the reason, and despite Fitz said that she was more capable than he was, he also explained that it was uneasy to work with her, and instead preferred to work for her in the garage.

Infiltration into Castillo San Cristóbal

"The Fort of San Cristóbal. Held off the Dutch, the English, the Americans."
"But apparently, not the aliens. Looks like your buddy Diego drew those plans."
"He got them from the city archives. They're older than San Juan itself."

―Bobbi Morse and Phil Coulson^[src]

Bobbi Morse and Phil Coulson discussed how to enter the Castillo San Cristóbal, to the only access point to the hidden city that was not under the sea. Morse and Coulson consulted a series of plans that Diego obtained from the city archives, that were older than the city of San Juan itself.

Coulson and Morse went to one of highest points of the fort to compare the map with the satellite spectrometry of the hidden city, and figured out that the vertical shaft that would serve as an access point was located in the deepest part of the fort, just below a garrison in a sentry tower inaccessible to the public.

Coulson ordered Morse to contact Diego again, in order to help them get their equipment to the garrison. Morse asked Coulson about his theory of how HYDRA planned to release the true power inside the Obelisk, given that nobody could even touch the artifact, but Coulson acknowledged that maybe somebody was able to touch it.

Extraction Briefing

"See if Skye can get me any recon on that temple."

―Phil Coulson to Melinda May^[src]

Phil Coulson received a call from Melinda May at the Bus, who informed him that the extraction mission to retrieve Raina from Vancouver was successful, as HYDRA did not send a big contingent to kidnap Raina, despite Agent 33 took point of their operation.

May revealed their theory for HYDRA's attempt to kidnap Raina, as according to her, she could touch the Obelisk without being harmed, and would lead its holder to the temple. Skye believed Raina, and was open to reveal her many details, just as Coulson had predicted. Coulson asked May to make sure that Skye continued to talk to Raina, in order to obtain any valuable information about the temple, and ended the conversation.

While Coulson was talking to May, Bobbi Morse tried to make Diego help them, but he refused to descend to the garrison, as he was afraid of a local legend about it, that had named the place as "La Garita del Diablo" or The Devil's Sentry.

La Garita del Diablo

"The fort was built in the 18th century and helped repel some of our British ancestors when they tried to invade the island. But this particular guard tower was built in 1634 and is well known for being haunted."

―Jemma Simmons^[src]

Alphonso Mackenzie, Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons descended to the garrison of the Castillo San Cristóbal in order to open an access point to the hidden city; Simmons began commenting about the legend of "La Garita del Diablo" or The Devil's Sentry. Simmons explained that while the whole fort was built in the 18th Century, that tower was built in 1634, and since then it had the fame of being haunted.

Mackenzie used a Mouse Hole to open an entrance to the hidden city, revealing a deep hole to the surface. Mackenzie exclaimed he was not scared of ghosts, but asked Simmons for clarification about the legend. Simmons told that, according to the legend, several of the guards in the sentry tower went missing never to be seen again. Simmons claimed the legend seemed ridiculous, though Mackenzie compared it to an extraterrestrial city.

Phil Coulson and Bobbi Morse arrived at the garrison to check their progress. Fitz and Simmons were unable to decide which of them should answer, making Coulson tell them to start talking, no matter which one of them. Fitz said that they were ready to deploy the D.W.A.R.F.s, and activated three of them to descend through the hole.

Coulson asked about the time it would take to fully survey the tunnel and locate the temple inside the city; Fitz tried to explain that it would depend on several factors, but was unable to find the appropriate words. Mackenzie, who usually helped him in these cases, turned a blind eye to make Fitz request Simmons' help.

Simmons helped Fitz, asking if he wanted to speak about the tectonic stress levels, and then again about the structural integrity of the tunnels. Mackenzie guessed the temple would be distinctive enough to recognize it upon seeing it, but Simmons explained they depended on the data sent by the D.W.A.R.F.s.

Suddenly, the D.W.A.R.F.s got disconnected inside the city, and Fitz determined that since the tablet still worked, the D.W.A.R.F.s were the ones that were disconnected upon arriving.

Sentry of the City

"Please, Mack, wake up. Don't make me do this."
"I got you! Shoot him, Fitz!"
"This isn't an I.C.E.R., these are real bullets."
"Damn it, Fitz! Shoot!"

―Leo Fitz and Phil Coulson^[src]

Alphonso Mackenzie prepared to descend towards the Kree City under Castillo San Cristóbal, through the hole of an estimated height of 100 feet. Mackenzie was not scared of heights, though he could not say the same about the dark.

Phil Coulson handed Mackenzie a handgun, just in case, and asked them to fix the D.W.A.R.F.s, that were previously sent through the hole and went offline. Leo Fitz theorized that all electronics could have been jammed inside the city. Coulson told Mackenzie to make three pulls on the cable if he needed help, and Fitz started to send Mackenzie down the hole.

The city activates and possesses Mackenzie

Mackenzie reached the bottom of the hole, and though he could not use the radio to contact, he yelled at the hole, obtaining an answer. Mackenzie noticed the D.W.A.R.F.s were on the ground, and touched the symbols at the entrance. This triggered a reaction that slowly transformed Mackenzie into a guardian for the city, starting with displaying the Words of Creation in his hand.

Hearing Mackenzie's screams of pain, Coulson ordered to lift him. Worried, Jemma Simmons explained that the D.W.A.R.F.s did not read any sign of life in the city. Once he was finally lifted, Mackenzie was removed from the harness while he continued to scream and tremble.

Bobbi Morse, extremely worried, tried to make Mackenzie talk to her, while Simmons quickly examined him searching for wounds or signs of blood, to no avail. Coulson approached Mackenzie once he stopped screaming who, with his last remaining strength, told him to run before succumbing to the transformation.

Mackenzie's eyes turned red and he started attacking his friends with superhuman strength. Morse tried to reason with Mackenzie while dodging his blows. Morse retaliated, but her attacks were ineffective, so she dodged Mackenzie again to retrieve her battle staves.

Mackenzie grabbed Morse and began to strangle her. Meanwhile, Fitz threw an I.C.E.R. to Coulson, who promptly shot Mackenzie, but the bullets did not affect him. Morse tried to reason with him, but he was only distracted as Coulson grabbed his own neck.

Simmons then attacked him with a suitcase, and Mackenzie's blow almost made her fall through the hole to a certain death. Coulson was able to catch her, while Fitz retrieved a handgun and pointed at him. Fitz tried to reason with him again, as his handgun was real and would kill him. Coulson ordered Fitz to shoot, but Morse used her battle staves to electrocute Mackenzie, seemingly knocking him out.

Mackenzie fell through the hole, and Coulson ordered to seal the tunnel. Morse, in tears, asked what would happen to Mackenzie, but Coulson replied that was not Mackenzie anymore.

Regrouping

Arrival of the Bus

"Redirect us to San Juan. I'm gonna have to let Coulson know that HYDRA has Skye."

―Melinda May to Antoine Triplett^[src]

Melinda May, Antoine Triplett, Lance Hunter, Billy Koenig and Sam Koenig arrive to Puerto Rico in the Bus, having successfully tricked HYDRA into thinking they had destroyed the plane after Grant Ward took Raina and Skye from it.

Phil Coulson, Bobbi Morse, Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons returned to the Bus following their unsuccessful incursion into the hidden city underneath San Juan. Coulson tasked Fitz and Simmons to devise a way into descending to the tunnels safely.

May went to talk to Coulson about Skye's kidnapping, clarifying that Daniel Whitehall only demanded to hand Raina over. May guessed that Ward had his own plans for Skye, given that he said he was keeping his promise, so Coulson deduced he was taking Skye to meet her father, so there was a possibility that she was still alive.

Coulson informed Morse that HYDRA had discovered the location of the city, so it was likely that their ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agents would contact Diego, so Coulson ordered her to contact him again and make sure he would not reveal the entrance below Castillo San Cristóbal.

Coulson assured Morse they would do everything possible to help Alphonso Mackenzie, who infiltrated the hidden city and then fell through the entrance, but he needed her to focus on stopping HYDRA from entering the city with the Obelisk.

Mechanical Detonators

"Cutting edge Howling Commando technology, circa 1945."
"Oh, ten would be better. Without the D.W.A.R.F.s scanning the tunnels, we don't know what's down there."
"We know electronics don't work."
"Yeah, I know. That's why we need mechanical detonators for the bombs."
"Look, I'm sorry. These are awesome. Dum Dum Dugan would be proud. I don't want to sound ungrateful."

―Antoine Triplett and Sam Koenig^[src]

Antoine Triplett retrieved four mechanical detonators developed for the Howling Commandos in order to trigger an explosion and destroy the temple inside the hidden city, and presented them to Sam Koenig.

Koenig regretted not having more detonators, as without the D.W.A.R.F.s, surveillance of the tunnel was unavailable. Triplett pointed that at least they knew electronics did not work. Koenig did not wanted to sound ungrateful, as he knew that they needed the mechanical detonators, and even Dum Dum Dugan would be proud of them.

Triplett said that the detonators were immune to electromagnetic pulses or electronic jamming, but they could not be remotely triggered, so they needed to start them manually and run. Koenig chose four spots surrounding the temple, to plant the explosives and make the city collapse around it.

Guardian of the City

"After Puerto Rico, we need to take stock. What happened out there was..."
"Yeah, I don't like thinking about that."

―Phil Coulson and Alphonso Mackenzie^[src]

Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons started to discuss ways of infiltrating the hidden city safely, especially after Alphonso Mackenzie's attempt, where he acted like having being possessed. Simmons said that devising a way to enter may be easier than learning how to help Mackenzie.

Fitz mistook her comment as a way of cheering him up due to his friendship with Mackenzie, but Simmons explained that with extraterrestrial technology and biology in play, anything could have happened to Mackenzie. Fitz apologized, acknowledging Simmons was right, and said he had been thinking self-defense.

This time it was Simmons who mistook Fitz's comment as a way to remind her about his own hurt feelings, and Fitz explained that maybe the city had felt that Mackenzie's initial incursion was a threat, and it could have reacted the same way the Obelisk did when a person touched it.

Simmons theorized there were other possibilities besides the city having killed Mackenzie, such as having controlled him to do its own its bidding, becoming some sort of guardian. If that was the case, there was a possibility to save him.

Trust Tested

"Good enough to know you're keeping a thumb drive from him. I want to trust you, Bob. I really do. So I'm gonna assume that whatever's on that drive has nothing to do with you and me."

―Lance Hunter to Bobbi Morse^[src]

Bobbi Morse entered the garage of the Bus looking for a thumb drive containing critical information, as Alphonso Mackenzie would have surely hid it there. Lance Hunter arrived looking for Morse, and noticed the thumb drive despite she tried to conceal it.

Hunter had already heard what happened to Mackenzie inside the hidden city. Morse blamed herself for not being able to save her friend, but Hunter assured her it was not her fault, given that Mackenzie was not himself once he emerged from the hole, and she did what needed to be done.

Morse believed Mackenzie was dead, as he was infected inside the city, and then fell off a hundred-foot drop, so she would cry mourn her friend for over a week once they completed their mission. Hunter embraced Morse to cheer her up, saying that Mackenzie was one of the best people he knew, and one of the few he trusted, of more specifically, one of the few he did not fully mistrust.

Morse received a message from Diego to set a meeting, and ask Hunter to accompany her. Hunter, speaking of himself in third person, seized the opportunity to reveal he noticed the thumb drive despite her efforts to hide it. However, given that he wanted to trust her, Hunter said he was assuming that the information it contained had nothing to do with him, and went to retrieve his weapons before going to the meeting in San Juan.

Right Decision

"The right call would have been to put two of these in Ward's head."
"Then HYDRA would've blown the Bus out of the air."
"Yeah but then they wouldn't have Skye or Raina or the map or the location–"
"Six members of our team are still alive because of what you did. That needs to count for something. Skye can take care of herself. You've transformed her into an agent who's smart and tough and capable. If there's a chance for her to turn the tables, she'll take it."

―Melinda May and Phil Coulson^[src]

Phil Coulson and Melinda May talked about the boarding of the Bus and the kidnapping of Skye. Coulson was convinced that May did the right thing, despite she wanted to kill Grant Ward as soon as she saw him. May said that killing Ward would have prevented HYDRA from knowing the location of the hidden city, or to have taken Skye or Raina in. However, her actions saved six agents.

Besides, Coulson was sure that Skye could take care of herself, as thanks to May, she was now a full-fledged field agent, smart, tough and capable, who would take any chance to survive and escape.

Arrival at the Theater

"Checking exits, numbers of men, weapons inventory. I'm impressed. How's your marksmanship?"
"I don't know, hand me your sidearm, let's find out."
"Cool under pressure. I see May's teaching you control."
"That's one of our differences; in S.H.I.E.L.D. they train you to control yourself, HYDRA wants to control everyone else."
"I'm not loyal to HYDRA. My orders were to collect Raina. Bringing you along was my idea."

―Grant Ward and Skye^[src]

Grant Ward took Skye to the Ponce de León Theater in San Juan, that had been established as the base of operations for HYDRA in Puerto Rico. Upon arriving, Skye started to check exits, numbers of men, their weapons, assessing all the tactical needs for a potential escape route.

Ward noticed Skye doing it, and was impressed on how much she improved as an agent, asking about her marksmanship. Skye told him to hand her his weapon, and she would show it to him. This capacity of self-control under pressure was recognized as Melinda May's teaching.

Skye pointed that as one of the differences between S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA, while S.H.I.E.L.D. agents trained for self control, HYDRA members wanted to control everyone else. Ward claimed his lack of loyalty to HYDRA again, saying that his orders were just to bring Raina, and taking Skye with him was his own idea.

Skye reminded him that the last time he tried to kidnap her, things did not end well for him, as he spent months imprisoned after that, but Ward was only concerned about keeping her promise. Ward opened the door to a room where her father was waiting for her, and Ward left them alone to speak in private.

Father-Daughter Reunion

"I know I'm a terrible disappointment, but I'm here now. And everything that's about to happen is supposed to happen. I'm gonna take care of you."
"Then get me out of here."
"What? Oh. Maybe I haven't been clear. You're exactly where you're supposed to be. This is your destiny."

―Calvin Zabo and Skye^[src]

Skye and her father met for the first time since she was a baby, and he was too nervous for finally being reunited with his daughter. Zabo noticed how Skye tilted her head, similar to how her mother did, and got emotional despite having promised himself he would not.

He started the reunion again greeting his daughter and introducing himself as Cal, offering Skye to sit down with him. Skye refused, and he did not want to sit down at the moment due to his nervousness. Zabo thanked her for meeting with him, and Skye confronted him saying she was kidnapped at gunpoint.

Zabo apologized and confessed his nervousness, due to being a long desired moment for him, finally reunited with his daughter. Zabo also explained that he had always thought about that reunion as something more familiar, even with cookies and flowers, but not there.

Zabo also remarked Skye's beauty, and asked her about what she knew about him. Skye coldly told him he was a monster and a murderer, and Zabo, despite admitting those facts, wanted her to understand his motives, as he lost her, his daughter, and his whole world fell apart.

However, Zabo lost control of himself while explaining that she was taking from him, frightening Skye. Realizing he frightened his daughter, Zabo calmed down and explained that he had not always been a monster. He started telling about his past when Skye was born in China, as her mother was Chinese. He worked in a clinic where people liked him, and both him and his wife were so happy for the birth of their daughter.

Skye asked what happened then, and he emotionally apologized for not being there for her, to protect her, to teach her or to sing her until she fell asleep. However, he assured Skye that he was there now for her, and would take care of her. Skye asked her father to get her out of the theater, but he clarified that he wanted her to stay, as what would happen in the hidden city was her destiny.

Skye got angry for that words, as it was contradictory to apologize and then kidnap her and forcing her to be there with HYDRA. She attempted to leave, but there were soldiers at the entrance. Skye asked her father to tell them to allow her to exit, but he approached them and told them to continue with their guard as if never had happened, saying it was just a misunderstanding.

She then confronted her father for working for HYDRA and Daniel Whitehall, making him to be one of the "bad guys". Zabo got angry, yelling that he did not work for Whitehall and he could never do it. He calmed himself, and explained that he just needed Whitehall to find her and put "all the pieces" together.

Zabo started to reveal what happened to her mother, explaining that she was special, but not in the way used to describe a beloved one, she was actually special, being a "gifted", descending from a line of people with gifts, so Skye also had one too, and Zabo intended to bring her to the hidden so she could receive it.

According to Zabo, the gift was her birthright, and would involve a transformation, but Skye wanted to know what happened to her mother. He started saying how they met, helping him with his work in the clinic, especially with the translations from Chinese. One day, a group of men identifying themselves as S.H.I.E.L.D., who were actually members of HYDRA, took her, despite Zabo's attempts to fight, saying that she was dangerous due to her gift.

Zabo continued telling how he left Skye with people he trusted to search for his wife in Europe, but once he found her, Whitehall had already vivisected her, taking her blood and organs, and dumping her corpse into a ditch like garbage. Both father and daughter were saddened with the story, and Zabo touched his daughter for the first time to comfort her, humming a song that Skye recognized, as it was the song her mother used to sing to her when she was a baby.

Skye asked what happened to her them, but they were interrupted by a HYDRA operative, who announced that Whitehall demanded to see Zabo. He asked for a moment with a gesture, and once left alone again, Zabo promised his daughter that he would answer all her questions later, but first he had to kill Whitehall, the man who destroyed his life, claiming that was his best day ever. Skye burst in tears as her father left.

Diego's Signal

"So, it was a signal."
"It's an address, here in San Juan."

―Lance Hunter and Bobbi Morse^[src]

Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter went to San Juan for a meeting with Diego, Morse's contact in Puerto Rico. Morse saw Diego from afar and realized that something was wrong, given that Diego had arrived early to their appointment, and he was wearing a suit, things that he never did.

Hunter did not understand why that meant anything, but they saw how two HYDRA operatives met with Diego. Morse believed that Diego was selling the HYDRA operatives out, being his presence and appearance a signal for Morse.

Diego approached their location, and despite Hunter was worried that they had been compromised, Morse trusted Diego enough to stay at that point. She kissed Hunter to pose as a couple when the HYDRA operatives passed by their side, and Diego handed Morse a piece of paper with an address in San Juan for HYDRA's base of operations.

Change of Plans

"Change of plans. HYDRA's trying to shortcut into the chamber. May and I need to help Hunter and Morse stop them."

―Phil Coulson^[src]

All the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents aboard of the Bus prepared the gear needed to destroy the temple inside the hidden city underneath San Juan. Jemma Simmons informed that Leo Fitz and herself thought that protective Hazmat suits would hinder the city's ability to sense intruders.

Melinda May explained that she would place the bombs with Phil Coulson and Antoine Triplett, while Fitz and Simmons coordinated their efforts from the entrance of the city inside Castillo San Cristóbal. Triplett asked Sam Koenig about his brother Billy, and Koenig joked about his brother, fooling Triplett into thinking he was a robot, and had to recharge his batteries due to his circuits having been fried. Triplett, not seeing what was funny about that, said he knew what he was trying to do.

Coulson approached Koenig, and ordered both him and his brother to return to the Playground, in order to implement the Theta Protocol if their mission in Puerto Rico did not go as planned. Koenig tried to reply, but Coulson asserted it was an order.

Bobbi Morse called Coulson, in order to inform him that she and Lance Hunter discovered that HYDRA was already in Puerto Rico, having established a large number of operatives in the Ponce de León Theater. Coulson wondered why HYDRA chose that place, but as Koenig superimposed the map of the hidden city over San Juan, they realized the theater was practically over the temple. Fitz and Simmons explained that S.H.I.E.L.D. had a Plasma Drill that could easily drill the rock over the city, so HYDRA surely had it too.

Coulson asked if Skye or Grant Ward were in the theater, but she had no evidence of their presence, though there were at least twelve HYDRA soldiers inside. Coulson told Morse to wait for them, as May and him would go to assist them.

Coulson then informed the rest of the agents in the Bus about HYDRA's plan to reach the temple, so he and May would go to San Juan and assist Morse and Hunter.

True Allegiances

"We're here today in part because of the three of you. You delivered Raina as you promised. And I had my initial doubts about you, young lady, but you are slowly earning my trust. And your knowledge of the Diviner has led us to this... historic moment. For that, I offer my gratitude. I just have one question – how does she fit in?"

―Daniel Whitehall^[src]

Grant Ward, Calvin Zabo and Raina were called to Daniel Whitehall's presence, who thanked each of them for their contribution in achieving his goals.

Wards delivered Raina, just as his promised; Raina was able to slowly earn Whitehall's trust despite his doubts, and Zabo's knowledge of the Diviner allowed them to reach that "historic moment". However, Whitehall wondered what was Skye's role in their plans, just as armed soldiers brought her to their presence.

Ward explained that he took her as a hostage to make sure that S.H.I.E.L.D. did not attack after taking Raina from their plane. However, Whitehall confronted him for his order of not shooting down the plane, and he had to counter that order.

Whitehall said he had a theory for Skye's presence. Agent 33 open the briefcase containing the Obelisk and asked Skye to pick it up. Skye defiantly refused, but the guards pointed their guns at him. Zabo discreetly nodded at Skye to let her know the Diviner would not hurt her, and prepared a scalpel to defend his daughter.

Skye grabbed the Obelisk and as it began to glow, she used it as a weapon against one of the guards, while her father killed another with the scalpel. Ward grabbed his weapon and sided with Skye and Zabo, but they were quickly overwhelmed by all the HYDRA guards in the room. Whitehall approached Skye, and said that he hoped she was as special as her mother.

Raina took back the Obelisk from Skye's hand, and Whitehall addressed to Zabo, confessing that he did not recognize the day he entered his office at the HYDRA Laboratories. Zabo threatened that he would kill Whitehall and his men if his daughter had not been there, so Whitehall had one more reason to be glad that she was there.

However, Whitehall could not understand Ward's motivations, and Raina revealed that he was in love with Skye, and thought that he helped her to fulfill her destiny, she would be able to see him whom Ward really was. Whitehall jokingly said it was sad that Skye would not fulfill her destiny, or that Zabo would not get his vengeance for the death of his wife.

Whitehall ordered his men to secure the three, and warned them about Ward, as he was one of the best killers, though he revealed his intentions of brainwashing Ward into his service.

Battle for the Kree City

Landing

Cloaked Quinjet landing over the Ponce de León Theater

"It's not ideal, but assaulting from up here is our best bet. The narrow quarter reduce HYDRA's numerical advantage."
"Sounds perfect. Other than the fact that HYDRA's drill will be all the way down in the basement."

―Phil Coulson and Lance Hunter^[src]

Phil Coulson, Melinda May, Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter landed on the rooftop of the Ponce de León Theater and prepared their gear to assault it, given that infiltrating the building from the top floor would help them reduce the numerical advantage that HYDRA possessed due to its large number of soldiers, though Hunter pointed that the Plasma Drill was in the basement.

Morse asked how to communicate inside the building, and May said that, given HYDRA scanned for communications, they would keep radio silence.

Coulson summarized the mission saying they had two goal: stop the drill and find Skye inside the building. Hunter asked about their third goal, "Don't die out there", the statement that Morse and Hunter usually told each other before a mission. Coulson explained that it was implicit, but Morse said that Hunter simply liked to hear it.

Setting the Bombs

"All right. Timers are good. We just need to get them to the right spots, insert the detonators, get the hell out."
"What do we do if Mack's down there?"
"If he's dead, we'll bring his body back up. If not, it's not Mack. We'll be doing him a favor."

―Antoine Triplett and Jemma Simmons^[src]

Antoine Triplett, Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons prepared inside Castillo San Cristóbal to infiltrate the hidden city. Triplett told Fitz and Simmons that one of them should stay out of the city in case anything went wrong, but both of them explained that given electronics would be inoperative in the city, they had higher probability rate of success working together.

Triplett checked the timers for the explosives, and all that remain was placing them in the chosen spots to destroy the temple, insert the detonators and escape from the city.

Simmons asked what would happen if Alphonso Mackenzie was inside the city, and Triplett explained the two options. If Mackenzie was dead, they would bring his corpse outside, but if he was not dead, that would mean he was not Alphonso Mackenzie anymore, and he would be forced to kill him.

Triplett was the first to descend through the hole, but Mackenzie was nowhere to be seen, and Triplett wondered where would he went.

Prisoners

"Do you know what your mother's special gift was?"
"No."
"She didn't age. At least, not like the rest of us. I wonder if that's your gift as well. Or if you're special in another way. Discovery requires experimentation. I killed your wife. And before I kill you, I want you to watch what I do to your daughter."

―Daniel Whitehall and Skye to Calvin Zabo^[src]

Agent 33 was tasked with watching prisoners Grant Ward and Skye, who had been tied to chairs inside the kitchen of the Ponce de León Theater, while Calvin Zabo was unconscious on the ground.

Ward talked to Agent 33 and asked how did she end up looking like Melinda May, and she reveals that it was serving Daniel Whitehall, and having another did not even bother her, given that before meeting Whitehall she was lost and purposeless, but now she was "happy to comply", demonstrating her brainwashing.

Ward asked her if she loyal to HYDRA, but she clarified that she was loyal to Whitehall. Ward compared it to his own loyalty to John Garrett, but Garrett went insane. Agent 33, tired of the speaking, threatened Ward with her handgun to make him shut up.

Zabo regained consciousness and asked Skye if she was hurt, and Whitehall arrived to the kitchen to see that Zabo was awake. Zabo attacked Whitehall, saying he had waited years for his revenge, but Whitehall activated a Control Device on Zabo's neck that made him feel such pain that it paralyzed him.

Whitehall addressed a still-tied Skye, and revealed that her mother's gift was that she did not age, or at least she did not like the rest of humans. Whitehall wondered what Skye's gift was, and uttered his infamous belief that "discovery requires experimentation". Zabo, coping with the pain in the ground, had to hear how Whitehall planned to do to his daughter the same he did to his wife, but this time, Whitehall would force him to watch before he killed him.

Suddenly, Whitehall started to hear gunshots inside the building, as S.H.I.E.L.D. managed to infiltrate the theater, and ordered a guard to stay in the kitchen before leaving with Agent 33.

Infiltration

"Know what we could use?"
"Another fifty men?"
"I was gonna say a dozen. But I like your idea better."

―Phil Coulson and Melinda May^[src]

Phil Coulson, Melinda May, Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter infiltrated the Ponce de León Theater and started searching for Skye while killing any HYDRA operative they came across.

Coulson commented that they could use a dozen of extra agents, but he preferred May's idea of using fifty. Meanwhile, Hunter and Morse managed to clear their own way through the theater.

Liberation

"Now, let's get out of here."
"Yeah, me too! Come on!"
"It's safer here. And I'm about to do something to Whitehall, I don't want you to see me like that."
"I don't mind... seeing. Hell, I'm happy to help."

―Grant Ward, Skye and Calvin Zabo^[src]

Grant Ward realized Calvin Zabo was trying to remove his Control Device, and distracted the guard saying that S.H.I.E.L.D. was coming for them, and lied when he assured that they outnumbered the HYDRA operatives in the theater.

Ward proposed to let him go and would speak to S.H.I.E.L.D. in his behalf, but the guard told him to shut up. Ward said that he was simply trying to be helpful, being nicer than Zabo would be. Zabo then hit the guard and easily broke his neck.

Ward and Skye asked Zabo to release them, but he told Skye that she should stay in the kitchen, as it was a safe place, and he was going to do something to Daniel Whitehall that he did not want her to witness. Ward said that he did not mind seeing it, and he would even help him, though Zabo refused, saying he needed to do it himself.

Death of Daniel Whitehall

"What did you do?!"
"You're... welcome?"
"You killed him! He was mine and you killed him!"

―Calvin Zabo and Phil Coulson^[src]

Daniel Whitehall ordered Agent 33 to command a team to sweep the theater floor by floor to kill the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents that infiltrated the building.

Calvin Zabo viciously approached Whitehall to finally exact his revenge for the death of his wife. Whitehall smiled as he saw Zabo, and grabbed his handgun to kill him. However, before he could shoot, Phil Coulson killed Whitehall with a single shot, who quickly collapsed.

Zabo was enraged for being denied his revenge, though Coulson had saved his life. Zabo checked Whitehall's corpse and realized he was actually dead, and began to yell at Coulson for killing Whitehall despite he wanted to do it himself. Coulson warned Zabo that he would kill him too if he moved, as he would not let him take Skye to the hidden city and trigger whatever he thought would happen.

Zabo angrily shouted that he had no right to stop him, and Coulson acknowledged that, though Zabo loved his daughter in his own insane way, he would have to kill him, and asked where the Obelisk was.

They were interrupted by Agent 33, who shot at both men. Coulson returned fire while Zabo escaped, and then went in his pursuit. Agent 33 realized Whitehall was on the ground, and knelt by his side.

Back on the Enemy

"I'm sorry your little family reunion didn't go as planned. The least I can do is get you out of here. Sit down while I check the door."
"Never turn your back on the enemy. You taught me that."

―Grant Ward and Skye^[src]

Grant Ward liberated himself using the knife the deceased guard was carrying, and apologized to Skye for the mess that her family reunion had turned into. Ward intended to take Skye out of the building, given it was the least he could do for her, and asked her to sit while he checked the door.

Skye grabbed the handgun from the deceased guard's corpse, and promptly shot four times at Ward. Ward fell to the ground, shocked by Skye's reaction, and she reminded him of one of his lessons when he was her Supervising Officer, to never turn the back on the enemy.

Final Duel

"Stop it! Stop it or I'll shoot! Dad!"
"He took something from me."
"No. He saved you from killing more people. Now get up, and get away from him."

―Skye and Calvin Zabo^[src]

Calvin Zabo ambushed Phil Coulson and started to beat him. Coulson defended himself and tried to talk Zabo down, saying that both wanted to help Skye. However, this enraged Zabo even more, saying that she only needed him, as Coulson was not her father.

Zabo and Coulson continued their fight, and despite Coulson tried to defend himself, Zabo was able to severely beat him. Skye entered the room and pointed Zabo with her gun, ordering him to stop. However, Zabo did not stop beating Coulson until Skye called him "Dad".

Zabo tried to justify himself saying that Coulson took his chance of revenge from him, though Skye said that what he actually did was to save him from killing anyone else, and ordered his father to get away from Coulson.

Skye refused to submit to the transformation despite her father told her she needed to finish what has been started. Skye told him he would not descend to the hidden city and transform, because all the victims that the whole ordeal had caused, and also because it was what HYDRA wanted.

She told she was going to make sure the Obelisk did not descend to the city either, and offered her father a chance to leave, or else she would kill him. Zabo agreed to leave, but said that he would be waiting for her, as he would be the only one who would understand her after her change, even when everyone else would be afraid. Zabo departed, telling Skye that he was his father and he would always love her, revealing her birthname to be Daisy.

Once her father left the room, Skye ran to Coulson's side, crying and apologizing for not being able to kill her father even despite she wanted to do it. Skye told Coulson that she would set things right, finding the Obelisk and stopping the Plasma Drill. Coulson tried to stop her from going to the hidden city, but he was badly injured and could not even get up.

New Loyalties

"The guy sitting across from me isn't so bad."
"Says the girl who saved my ass back in Puerto Rico."

―Agent 33 and Grant Ward^[src]

Agent 33 went to the kitchen and found an injured Grant Ward in the ground. She checked his wounds, realizing he survived thanks to a piece of body armor.

Ward asked her if she had come to finish him off, and Agent 33 revealed that Phil Coulson had killed Daniel Whitehall. Ward then moved her gun away, stating that she was now free. Agent 33 was very confused, not knowing what to do without Whitehall.

Ward saw an opportunity, and asked Agent 33 to help him, and he would get them out of the building, and once they were safe, they would figure everything out. Agent 33 agreed, and took Ward with her.

Descent to the City

"Did she drag you down there kicking and screaming, or were you curious?"
"I went to Puerto Rico to destroy the alien city and stop Dr. Whitehall."

―Robert Gonzales and Phil Coulson^[src]

Melinda May joined Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter, and together defeated one of the last teams of HYDRA guards. May went to look for Coulson.

Skye descended to the basement of the theater, and realized that Raina had already taken the Obelisk to the hidden city.

Coulson and May descended to the basement too, though Skye had already followed Raina to the city. Coulson prepared to descend, though May complained, saying he could barely stand. Coulson said that it was him who put Skye in that path, so it was his responsibility to fix it.

Coulson ordered to take the rest of the agents to the Bus if they did not return before the bombs exploded, because despite Daniel Whitehall's death, HYDRA was still active. May tried to convince him again, but he said that after all he went through because of the city and the symbols he felt the need to carve, he was very curious to see what was all about.

Terrigenesis

"The tragedy in Puerto Rico... the death of Agent Triplett, the transformation of the young woman, Raina. Even Agent Skye seems to have been affected."
"And all because of Coulson's search for a city that his own alien writing drove him to find."

―Anne Weaver and Robert Gonzales^[src]

This section requires expansion

Antoine Triplett, Jemma Simmons and Leo Fitz emerged from the hidden city through the entrance under the Castillo San Cristóbal, ten minutes before the detonation of the bombs. Fitz was worried that Alphonso Mackenzie was still inside the city, and would die or at least be trapped in the explosions.

Melinda May called Triplett, who informed her that they had managed to place the explosives. However, May said Raina had already entered the city with the Obelisk. Triplett was willing to let Raina die in the explosion, but as May informed that both Skye and Phil Coulson were in the city too, Triplett entered the city again, despite Fitz and Simmons' attempts to dissuade him.

Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter descended to the basement of the theater, where May told her that Coulson and Skye had descended to the hidden city.

Hunter wondered out loud the reason for the descent, but May ordered them to clear the building as soon as possible.

Earthquake

An earthquake shook the city of San Juan, provoked by Skye's newly obtained powers due to her transformation inside the hidden city.

Leo Fitz embraced Jemma Simmons to protect her inside the garrison of the Castillo San Cristóbal, Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter tried to clear out the theater, and Melinda May was still in the basement, checking for any signal of Phil Coulson or Skye's return.

Calling Headquarters

"We have enough boots on the ground in Puerto Rico to hunt down Raina."

―Phil Coulson to Jemma Simmons^[src]

Jemma Simmons exited the Kree City and called the Playground from the Castillo San Cristóbal to inform Phil Coulson and Melinda May that they had been attacked by Raina. Coulson asked how many victims there were. Simmons stated that Raina attacked five agents; two were dead and three were in critical condition.

May wondered how Raina could have done that without a weapon, but Simmons explained that her body was covered in thorns, something very hard to comprehend. Simmons also informed that she shot Raina a few times, but she was unable to kill her, though she obtained tissue and blood samples.

Coulson asked how long would it take to blow a vertical shaft on the ocean floor and drown the city. She informed him that her team was preparing the charges, so the city would be underwater and sealed in no time.

Simmons requested to return to the Playground instead of joining the manhunt for Raina, in order to study Raina's samples and check on Skye, as she was exposed to the same substance that transformed Raina. Coulson agreed, saying that they had enough men in Puerto Rico to chase Raina, and prompted Simmons to return home.

Cargo Ship

Calvin Zabo bribed a cargo ship captain in San Juan in order to quietly leave Puerto Rico, and promised to hide and be quiet, as he did not want any trouble. However, before he could hide, he was confronted aboard the ship by Raina, who knew she would find Zabo there as it was the way they traveled the word together for years.

Raina revealed that even after all that time, she did not get the answers she had been looking for, and Zabo lamented that she was unable to reach the temple and evolve, without having looked at her. Raina then grabbed Zabo by the neck and told her that she had evolved. Zabo looked at Raina's face, covered in thorns, and she angrily asked what did she become.

Zabo asked Raina to calm down and explained that it looked like she suffered a metamorphosis. Raina believed that she would become something divine and transcendent, as her grandmother told her she would be an angel, but instead, Raina transformed into a freak of nature covered in thorns. Zabo jokingly compared her to the flowers she always liked.

Raina was enraged by the comment, pushing Zabo against one of the containers, and blamed him for how much her thorns were hurting her. Zabo told her that Raina had always wanted to transform more than anything, though she blamed Zabo's daughter, Daisy, as Raina believed she had received the gift meant for her, as Daisy came through the Terrigen Mist as beautiful as ever.

Zabo was surprised to hear that her daughter had also transformed, and was enraged when Raina insulted her for having received the gift she thought was meant for her. Zabo threw Raina to the floor, grabbing her by the neck and nailing his hand with her thorns in the process, telling her that they all had their disappointments.

Zabo told her that he had always dreamt of a perfect reunion with his daughter and revenge for his wife, but Phil Coulson prevented him from achieving them. However, Zabo was excited about his daughter's transformations, even dancing to celebrate the news.

He began to think out loud how his daughter would be afraid and confused, given she lacked Raina's mental preparation, so she had probably returned to Coulson. Zabo thought it was the worst place for her to be, as S.H.I.E.L.D. would put her on the Index, so she returned to him as soon as she saw how S.H.I.E.L.D. treated people with powers.

Raina mocked him, saying that Skye would never love Zabo, but he did not pay attention to her, thinking out loud that he should reconnect with some people from the Index to wreak havoc and attack Coulson. He then answered Raina, saying that maybe his daughter would not love him, but she needed him.

Raina then asked Zabo to help her, but he said that he had already helped her, and they had both achieved their goals, so Raina was on his own. Raina begged Zabo to find a way to fix her transformation, but he revealed that there was no fix nor a way to reverse it, as the transformation was permanent and lifelong.

Raina told Zabo that she could not live as such, as her insides felt like gravel and she even cut herself when she moved. However, Zabo's only answer was that if she could not live as what Raina herself described as a repulsive creature, then she should not live at all. Raina began to contemplate her future, and covered her face with a hood before leaving.

Suicide Attempt and Rescue

Raina returned to San Juan and searched for a highway, beginning to cross it in order to commit suicide. She passed through the cars, that avoided hitting her, until she was surrounded by a S.H.I.E.L.D. tactical team.

The team leader ordered Raina not to move, as they were not going to hurt her, just to take her in. Raina refused, threatening the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents by saying that if they did not kill her, she would make them do it.

However, before anybody could act, a force field appeared out of nowhere and Gordon teleported inside of it. Gordon grabbed a surprised Raina, promising to show her the way, and teleported with her to Afterlife.

PRIDE's Charity Work

Puerto Rico was one of several places in the world that has been benefited from the work of PRIDE. The charity organization has sent them multiple water filtration kits.

Appearances

In chronological order:

• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
  • Season Two
    • The Things We Bury (on a map)
    • ...Ye Who Enter Here
    • What They Become
    • Aftershocks
    • Who You Really Are (mentioned)
    • Love in the Time of HYDRA (mentioned)
    • One Door Closes (mentioned)
    • The Dirty Half Dozen (mentioned)
• Luke Cage
  • Season One
    • Moment of Truth (mentioned)
    • Code of the Streets (mentioned)
• Runaways
  • Season Two
    • Earth Angel (mentioned)
• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
  • Season Five
    • The Real Deal (mentioned)

Trivia

• Puerto Rico translates into "Rich Port" in Spanish.
• In the comics, Yo-Yo Rodriguez is from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• La Garita del Diablo, or the Devil's Sentry Box, is an actual location in Puerto Rico. As depicted in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., it is a small sentry box built in 1634 into Fort San Cristobal and associated with the disappearance of a soldier named Sanchez. It is currently inaccessible to the general public.

Behind the Scenes

• The Falcon and The Winter Soldier originally planned to shoot scenes at The Arecibo Observatory. However, the shooting was scrapped after two major earthquakes rocked the island in early 2020. In late 2020, the Observatory subsequently collapsed.
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever filmed in Puerto Rico, with Puerto Rico standing in for the Yucatán, and likely Cape Verde and Haiti as well.
• Puerto Rico also served as a stand-in for Lagos in Captain America: Civil War.

External Links

• Puerto Rico on Wikipedia