| HistoryText
| - Early Life
Grant Ward was an agent of Hydra who had a rough childhood: When he was a child, his older brother Christian forced him to bully their younger brother Thomas, eventually throwing the younger brother into a well, in which he drowned. Eventually, in 1999, Ward was sent off to military school, but he went AWOL, stole a car and attempted to set his brother's house on fire, unaware that he was inside. This landed him in the Juvenile Detention Facility in Plymouth, Massachusetts. As his family was pressing his charges and Christian wanted him tried as an adult, Ward was recruited by John Garrett, who taught him self-sufficiency by spending months out in the wilderness with no one but a dog named Buddy for company. Eventually, Garrett revealed his allegiance to Hydra and had Ward implanted in S.H.I.E.L.D. as a sleeper agent.
After witnessing Project Centipede in action, Ward was assigned to Agent Coulson's special S.H.I.E.L.D. team to investigate renegade superhumans. He has become Skye's senior officer, imparting martial tactics training, and his words helping her develop a greater sympathy for S.H.I.E.L.D. than she previously possessed.
During this time, he developed a romantic relationship with fellow agent Skye and a sexual relationship with Melinda May, which caused the two women to be the ones that attacked him the most aggressively when his identity was revealed to them.
When Hydra was revealed to have infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D, Ward helped Coulson's team infiltrate and secure the Hub. When Garrett was exposed as a Hydra agent, Ward assisted him in escaping custody by killing Victoria Hand. He then went on to springing Raina from prison, and raid the Fridge. However, as the hard drive he stole containing information on GH.325 required for Garrett was encrypted by Skye, Ward was forced to go undercover to get her to decrypt it. For a time, his ploy worked, but as Agent Koenig was close to uncovering NSA surveillance of the Fridge, which would've exposed Ward's involvement in the raid, he was forced to kill Koenig and hide his body. Skye soon finds Koenig and realized Ward's true allegiance. She keeps her cool long enough when she and Ward went to Los Angeles to crack the drive to tip off the authorities to Ward's identity as a Hydra agent. But Skye's escape is short lived as she is grabbed by Deathlok. Held captive, Skye confronted Ward on his betrayal, to which he reveals his feelings for her but this only disgusted her. After Skye's escape, Ward began to doubt having a chance with her.
During the final confrontation with his former S.H.I.E.L.D. team, Ward was defeated by Agent May and sustained damage to his larynx serious enough that he was rendered unable to speak. Ward was taken into custody of the U.S. military, with Coulson informing him of Garrett's death and promising to make him suffer for what he has done.
Life as a S.H.I.E.L.D.'s access
Ward was later moved to the Playground, where he had time to think on his actions, but also tried to commit suicide on separate occasions. He offered to reveal whatever he know about Hydra to Skye only. One day, she comes to him demanding anything he know about Carl Creel, an assassin for Hydra who was looking for the Obelisk. Ward first tried to win her sympathy by describing his various suicide attempts to her, but Skye quickly grew impatient with him. He then told her he didn't know where he was, but told her that Hydra would hide their messages in the white noise between S.H.I.E.L.D.'s communications to find any orders given to Creel. He then tried changing the subject to discussing her father, only for Skye to seal off his cell and leave.
Skye visits him again to question about Hydra's recruiting methods for gifteds. He explained that if the superhuman refuses Hydra, they are deemed a threat and eliminated; he stated that that's why Hydra will win. Later, Ward gets an unexpected visit from Fitz, who was still suffering from trauma from their last encounter. Ward defended that ejecting him and Simmons into the ocean was the only alternative from shooting them in the head, having anticipated that they would find a way to survive. However, Fitz then began depressurizing his cell to make him suffer as he had suffered. But when he mentions the team not letting him on the mission to help Donnie Gill, Ward warned him that Donnie had been brainwashed by Hydra.
After Skye returned from their mission, she questioned Ward about Hydra's brainwashing techniques. After explaining Hydra's rare use of it, he assured her that he wasn't brainwashed. He then revealed to her that her father is alive and looking for her and that he is willing to bring her to him.
On Skye's next visit, she questioned him about what she knew about her father. When he admitted he heard from Raina, she believed that he had been fooled. She then changed the topic, asking about the mysterious alien symbols he saw from their Belarus mission. He explained that Garrett immediately started carving the symbols after being injected with GH.325 and started losing his mind afterwards.
Breaking out
On Skye's next visit, she demanded any information on his brother Christian. He remained evasive and tried to change the subject of the conversation back to her father, only for Coulson to intervene and cut him off. Skye later came back, having turned his cell camera off and Ward tried to convince her that his brother's a sociopath. Skye then gave in to her curiosity about her father, challenging him to tell her the full truth, as he neglected to mention that he was a murderer. Ward explained to her that the village in China's Hunan province was actually full of Hydra agents who murdered her mother, prompting her father to fly into an uncontrollable rage. He offered to help her find her father if she let him out, only for Skye to inform him that Coulson is trading him to Christian.
Coulson later came by, having struck a deal with Christian. Ward attempted to insist that he wants to help the team, only to be held accountable for all those he had murdered. As he was marched out of the Playground, Simmons threatened to kill him if she ever laid eyes on him. As he was handed over to the FBI, Ward called out to Coulson to tell Skye that he's not done. Soon, en route to federal prison, Ward escaped by breaking his thumbs and kills his escort.
Ward later collected his IDs and other essentials from one of his dead drops. Suspecting that S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were tailing him, Ward strapped a vest full of C4 explosives to himself to keep them from making a move against him. He soon made contact with Sunil Bakshi, claiming he wanted to help him kill Coulson, only to kill his bodyguards and leave Bakshi for S.H.I.E.L.D. to apprehend. After giving himself a shave, he called Skye, telling her that he will be sending S.H.I.E.L.D. a number of presents, but stated that he had personal business to take care of. He then planned on going after Christian.
He eventually abducted his brother when he arrived at his childhood home to see his mistress. Grant had Christian dig up the well where he had him almost kill their brother Thomas all those years ago. Once he uncovered the well, Christian attacked his brother with the shovel and tried to escape, but Grant caught up to him and dragged him back. Grant held his brother over the well, threatening to throw him in unless he apologized for what he did. Senator Ward broke down and apologized for manipulating his brother into almost killing Thomas because he was the only one their mother did not torture. Grant helped his brother to his feet and hugged him, apparently forgiving him. However, once they got back to the house, Grant killed Christian and their parents and staged the scene to look like a murder-suicide committed by his brother. Ward then went to Dr. Whitehall's offices, where he was reinstated as an agent of Hydra and introduced to Skye's father.
Ward was later assigned by Whitehall to retrieve Raina, who was currently in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, tracking down the cloaked Bus. Upon boarding, he made an additional demand that Skye come with him, wanting to uphold his promise to introduce her to her father, stating that he will spare them all. Sam Koenig then calls him out for murdering his brother Eric. Taking note of Sam and Billy, he asks how many identical Koenigs are there. May refuses to hand Skye over but Skye concedes to his demand.
After taking Skye and Raina, Ward headed to Puerto Rico, where Raina could activate the temple within the alien city and Skye could meet her father, Calvin. He let the two of them alone, but soon afterwards, Whitehall demanded to see him, Skye and her father. He asked Grant why he had brought Skye along, and Raina explained to Whitehall about Ward's love towards Skye, and that he hoped she would trust him if he brought her to her father. Whitehall then forced Skye to pick up the Diviner; however, she survived the device and used it to kill a Hydra soldier nearby her. Upon seeing Skye's escape attempt, her father aids her with his scalpel, and Ward tries to help too. Being outnumbered, Skye, Cal and Ward are trapped by Whitehall's forces.
Calvin was able to overcome one of Whitehall's devices, that was immobilizing him, so he escaped alone and went on to kill Whitehall. Ward was able to free himself and then free Skye. Knowing better than to trust Ward, Skye shot him while he was opening the door and walked away, stating that Ward had taught her to never turn her back on her enemies. Soon after Whitehall was killed by Director Phil Coulson, Agent 33 came to Ward and saw that the shots Skye took on Ward were intercepted by a bulletproof object. Confessing that she had no more purpose in life after Whitehall's death, she escaped Puerto Rico with Ward.
Ward and Agent 33 tracked down the creator of the nano-mask to help repair it. After disposing of the inventor, Agent 33 attempted to seduce Ward with Skye's face, but he rejected her advances, desiring to be with the real Skye but his feelings for her were gone when she shot him. As she was clearly upset at the rejection, Ward offered to cheer her up. They proceeded to break Bakshi out of Glenn Talbot's custody and brainwash him into their service. Agent 33 then showed her scarred face to Ward and introduced herself as Kara.
Ward was able to track down the inventor of the Photostatic Veil to a diner; once there, he and Agent 33 discussed their short history together while Ward ordered the pancakes from the waitress Rhonda. Agent 33 still struggled to make decisions for herself now that her controller Daniel Whitehall was dead. Before their pancakes could arrive, the inventor of the Veil got up to leave; Ward and Agent 33 pulled out their guns and captured him. They took him back to their hotel room and forced him to fix the mask. Although he was unable to remove the mask, he was able to get it working again to cover up her scars. Once he was finished, Ward killed him to ensure he did not tell anyone about them.
When Ward returned, Agent 33 had turned her face into Skye's; using Skye's face she tried to seduce Ward, but he insisted that he wanted to be with her, not anyone else. He explained that his feelings for Skye had gone when she shot him. As she was clearly upset at the rejection, Ward cheered up Agent 33 by handing her Sunil Bakshi's file, who was being held in a prison by Glenn Talbot. He then proceeded to tell her a very edited story of how John Garrett saved him from his family's cruelty and how, after he had a confrontation with them, he was free to be his own man. Ward promised her they would kidnap Bakshi and help her gain revenge.
Using the Photostatic Veil to disguise herself as Glenn Talbot's wife, Carla, Agent 33 gained entry into the facility. Once she was inside she turned off the security cameras, allowing Ward to arrive and kill the guard. Together they located Sunil Bakshi, who was initially delighted to see Agent 33, believing her to still be loyal to HYDRA, although as soon as Ward appeared, he knew he was in danger. Agent 33 knocked him out and Ward took him outside in a wheelchair.
Once they were back at the hotel, they tied down the captured Bakshi and used the Faustus method to brainwash him. Agent 33 was able to turn the mask off to reveal her true scarred face. Ward smiled at seeing her true identity and, to show her that it was time for a new beginning, introduced himself to her again, and she introduced herself by her real name, Kara. Kara then began to taunt Bakshi while Ward watched closely.
In Mexico, Ward bought a cactus for his and Agent 33's house while she called her mother. However, Agent 33 was captured by Phil Coulson and Deathlok, and Coulson used her phone to call Ward to inform him of her capture. Ward immediately drove to the restaurant where Agent 33 was and was directed to a booth with Coulson in it. Ward listened as Coulson mapped out a deal, in which Ward would help infiltrate HYDRA and then have his bad memories wiped. Ward agreed to take the deal, and he and Agent 33 gathered their belongings in preparation for the mission. Ward took Sunil Bakshi along, to help with the infiltration. In Coulson's Quinjet, Ward asked how Leo Fitz was doing. Fitz exploded out of his seat at him, and had to be restrained by Coulson and Lance Hunter, leaving Ward's question unanswered.
Ward watched from the Quinjet as Bakshi and Deathlok met with List, where he realized that the mission was about finding Skye. When List left for Milwaukee, Ward and the others followed him to Calvin Zabo's old office, where the HYDRA agents stormed the building in an attempt to capture any gifted individuals. Ward, Coulson, Agent 33, and Lance Hunter went inside as well, separating in an attempt to find Skye. Ward and Coulson fought their way through many HYDRA agents, before seeing Skye, who started towards them before suddenly being teleported away by Gordon. When Agent 33 found them with an injured Hunter, Ward advised Coulson to retreat, since they were outmanned and outgunned.
Ward followed the Bus with a Quinjet. When Coulson was allowed to continue his plan he messaged his agents in the Quinjet and Ward landed the Quinjet on top of the Bus. Once at the Playground he was placed under guard with Agent 33.
After Coulson's Team had successfully destroyed the HYDRA base and freed Mike Peterson and Lincoln Campbell, Ward phoned Coulson, saying he thought he would rather escape before ending up in a prison cell or with his brain erased. Ward explained that he knew the team would never forgive him but Kara did deserve forgiveness and so he was leaving her at S.H.I.E.L.D. to rebuild her life as an agent.
In reality, however, Ward had organized a plan for Kara Palamas to use the Photostatic Veil to disguise herself as Melinda May and fly Bobbi Morse to Ward's location. After Morse learned of Palamas' deception, the pair had a fight and Morse knocked Palamas out, but as Morse walked out of the Quinjet, Ward shot her in the head with an I.C.E.R. Ward and Palamas then dragged her unconscious body back onto the Quinjet and tied her up. Ward told Palamas that for her to get full closure, Morse's suffering would have to be prolonged before they killed her. He then shot Morse, who was regaining consciousness, three more times.
Torturing Bobbi Morse
Ward and Kara Palamas took Bobbi Morse to an abandoned warehouse, where they tied her to a table. Ward revealed to her that they had learned from Sunil Bakshi that that it was Morse who had sold out Palamas' location to HYDRA, leading to her capture and torture at the hands of Daniel Whitehall, and they wanted her to confess this to them to give Palamas the closure she needed. When Morse remained calm and confident, Ward opened his tool-bag and took out a long sharp needle before revealing that he knew Morse hated needles.
Ward explained his plan of torture to Morse, that he had used an anaesthetic to remove any sensation of pain from Morse as he pushed needles under her finger nails, knowing that Morse would be able to push away most pain he inflicted to her. He explained that this way, the sensation of unbearable pain, would hit her body all at once. He offered to avoid this pain if Morse confessed her sins. Morse however told Palamas that she had made a choice while at HYDRA to give away the location of one S.H.I.E.L.D. safe-house, not knowing if it was empty or not and believed she had done the right thing. Morse told them that she would never give an honest apology to them and she would make the same call again.
Eventually Kara Palamas saw in Bobbi Morse's eyes that the pain was finally engulfing her body. She told Ward and they embraced as they watched Morse suffer. Morse attempted to convince Palamas that Ward was playing with her emotions and using her as his slave, explaining that Ward was using symbolic targets from her past to make her believe he cared for her. Palamas however revealed that she knew all about Ward's past with John Garrett, and how he had killed many S.H.I.E.L.D. agents including Victoria Hand and she was in love with him non-the-less and would always stand with Ward.
As Palamas slept, Ward visited Bobbi Morse, who had been suffering from the pain for hours. Ward complimented her on her resilience before comparing himself to her, as they both hid their true identities from the world. Ward attempted to convince her once again to end her suffering by admitting she betrayed her and thus giving Palamas the closure she needed, but Morse refused, calling Ward a hypocrite as he had betrayed his entire team. Without warning, Morse managed to rip off her restraints and attacked Ward. The pair engaged in a fierce fight until Kara Palamas came to Ward's aid and together they overpowered Morse before Ward broke her kneecap by stamping on it. Ward offered Palamas the chance to shoot Morse, but she refused, citing that it didn't feel right as she did not feel remorse. Ward told her he knew what to do instead.
A Terrible Mistake
Ward and Palamas tied Bobbi Morse back to a chair and rigged a rifle behind her. Ward explained that as Morse had clearly shown no to no regard for her own life, he would force her to watch as someone else was killed while attempting to save her. He told her that the rifle was set to fire at the doorway when someone opened it, killing them instantly in front of her eyes, which would give them the closure they desired and break her heart.
When a S.H.I.E.L.D. team led by Lance Hunter and Melinda May arrived to rescue Bobbi Morse, Ward decided he would kill May as a payback for nailing his foot to the floor and fracturing his larynx. After taking out several agents of the S.H.I.E.L.D. team, Ward overheard a message on the S.H.I.E.L.D. radio for all agents to move to the south corner and await May's arrival. Ward hid himself and the moment he saw May he grabbed her and fired three fatal shots into her stomach. To his horror however, he discovered that he had accidentally killed Kara Palamas after she had disguised herself as May. Ward begged her to stay with him but she died in his arms, breaking Ward's heart.
Rebuilding HYDRA
Ward escaped to the Goldbrix Tavern, there he sat staring at a photograph of Kara Palamas. A group of thugs that he had hired to find the remaining HYDRA members showed up and gave him the list of names. Ward told them that he wanted more names, but one of the thugs told him that there weren't anymore. Unhappy with this answer, Ward smashed the thug's head into the bar and ordered the others to get more names so he could form a team. When one of the thugs asked him what the plan was, Ward looked down at Kara's picture and simply replied "Closure".
A few months after his return to HYDRA, Ward had successfully found many new recruits who were fiercely loyal to him and his control, all of whom were loyal to the founding values of HYDRA. With Kebo as his second in command, Ward made his goal to reunify HYDRA's splintered cells and clean the organization from soft and greedy members who cared only about wealth and not about power, which he blamed as the main reason for HYDRA's decline and inevitable failure.
Hunting Werner von Strucker
Seeking to found new members who could bring something to his organisation, Ward set his sights on Werner von Strucker, the son of HYDRA's Baron Wolfgang von Strucker. Ward found Carmine, a HYDRA agent who might know of von Strucker's location. He stole Carmine's new sports car and drove into him, driving into his warehouse base with Carmine still clinging to the bonnet. As they drove with Carmine clinging on for dear life, Ward spoke to Kebo about how Carmine had got the car and never used it to it's full potential, representative of the old HYDRA. Ward slammed on the breaks sending Carmine flying, he and Kebo then walked over to him and demanded to know von Strucker's location.
Carmine gave up the information and told Ward the Werner von Strucker was living on a boat, paid for with his father's money. Ward and Kebo scouted out the area and spotted von Strucker having a party on the boat surrounded by beautiful women in bikinis and his security team. Ward and Kebo once again spoke about how HYDRA wasted their money and never used it to it's fullest potential, as von Strucker would never let his ship out of the dock. Ward then ordered Kebo to sneak onto the boat and unleash a bag full of rats to scare away the women.
Once the women had run away, Ward casually walked onto the boat where he was soon stopped by a large security guard, without stopped Ward knocked out the guard before walking onto the boat. Despite multiple guards attempting to stop him, Ward continued to walk forward and knocked out guard after guard with minimal effort, disarming them before knocking them out or throwing them overboard. Before long Ward came across von Strucker, but was hit in the face by a guard, angered by the blow to his jaw, Ward shot and killed the guard before hitting von Strucker and kidnapping him.
Recruiting von Strucker
Ward and Kebo brought Werner von Strucker back to their base where they told him that he had never earned a single thing in his life and had wasted his families' money. Ward demanded that he hand over all his wealth to them by giving over his banking passwords, when von Strucker resisted Ward punched him in the face and made it clear that he wasn't asking his money but was going to get it, so he ordered Kebo to torture von Strucker until he handed over the money.
Before long, Ward returned to find Werner von Strucker attacking Kebo and trying to kill him. When von Strucker tried to use his family as leverage, Ward made it clear that he knew who he was, noting that Baron Wolfgang von Strucker was one of HYDRA's greatest leaders. Ward told him that he had earned his respect and, in a similar technic that John Garrett had done to him years earlier, gave him tacos as a reward. Ward and von Strucker then explored the base where they discussed their family histories before Ward explained his goals for the new HYDRA. For his first mission, Ward sent von Strucker to get close to Melinda May's ex-husband Andrew Garner by posing as a student.
New Recruit
Kebo was able to recruit a new soldier in HYDRA, who offered them a crate full of weapons as a show of faith after killing Spud to gain entry. As they examined the box Ward and Kebo discussed their plans for the new HYDRA, noting key comparisons between his vision and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s values, claiming he almost viewed it as a shame that he was going to destroy the agency.
Showdown with Hunter and May
Ward met with Kebo when he arrived at their base with the recruit; however, to Ward's horror, the recruit turned out to be Lance Hunter, who was on a mission to kill Ward. A firefight broke out with Hunter stealing a gun and firing at the HYDRA agents. Ward and Kebo were able to get to cover and discovered that Hunter had seemingly come without backup; however, before long, Melinda May arrived to assist Hunter. Ward ordered Kebo to tell Werner von Strucker to film the murder of Andrew Garner to threaten May.
Although the video horrified May, Hunter refused to surrender, instead advancing on Ward and Kebo while firing his gun at the pair. With no other choice, Kebo managed to break a window by throwing a desk through it and ran to the truck with Ward behind him; however, Hunter managed to fire a shot which wounded Ward in the shoulder, causing him to fall hard on the ground. Kebo was able to bring his boss to safety and they drove away while Hunter continued to fire down at them.
A New Ally
Having found themselves a new hideout, Ward and Kebo watched as new weapons were unloaded from a van. Ward discussed how S.H.I.E.L.D. had sent Lance Hunter to try to kill him and accused Kebo of being sloppy as he had allowed him into HYDRA, noting that everyone wanted him dead. They changed the subject to Werner von Strucker, who had disappeared after failing to kill Andrew Garner. Ward ordered Kebo to hunt down and kill von Strucker before S.H.I.E.L.D. could find and question him.
As more weapons were being unloaded, Ward was shocked to see that Kebo had returned without Werner von Strucker. When Ward attempted to question him over this, Kebo handed him a phone without a word. Ward picked up the phone and found himself speaking to Gideon Malick, an old HYDRA ally to Baron Wolfgang von Strucker who was feared by everyone who knew of his reputation. Malick accused Ward of making many mistakes during his time as the "Director of HYDRA" and offered his assistance in locating von Strucker. When Ward questioned why Malick would do this, he was told that Malick had chosen a side. Ward then sent Kebo with a team of operatives to Strucker's location in Lisbon, Portugal.
Meeting Malick
Ward met with Gideon Malick and they discussed Werner von Strucker, who had survived the assassination attempt and fallen into a coma. Malick asked Ward if revenge was his only goal but Ward insisted that his end goal was to assassinate Phil Coulson and destroy S.H.I.E.L.D., as he believed that without Coulson, S.H.I.E.L.D. could never return. As they were speaking they were interrupted when Malick received a call from Rosalind Price.
Malick had a dinner of octopus served up for the pair of them and explained why the octopus was HYDRA's symbol, describing it as smart and the ultimate killer. Malick continued to press Ward for a request and they discussed how HYDRA's leadership had been destroyed due in part to Ward; Malick made it clear that he knew Ward was looking for Baron Wolfgang von Strucker's secret vault, which was said to contain HYDRA's greatest weapon, but Malick insisted the vault did not exist. However, Ward argued that Malick had killed Werner to become sole owner of it. Ward suggested that they use the weapon inside it to good use for HYDRA.
Malick was called away by Giyera and explained that he would not support Ward's plan of revenge against S.H.I.E.L.D.. Ward insisted that he would find Wolfgang von Strucker's vault with or without Malick's help, but Malick informed him that although he was a fine predator, he was not top of the food chain as he left. Malick's team of assassins arrived and attacked Ward, but he was able to defend himself. After a brief but violent fight, Ward was able to overpower and kill all but three, shooting two and plunging a knife into one of the men's throats.
Ward put the three surviving assassins in a row and demanded that they surrender the location of the von Strucker vault. When they refused, Ward threatened them with torture. As the men managed to stay strong, Ward took a torch and explained that he had always been a fan of fire; he then dragged one of the men out and held the flame to his face, explaining that the key was to ensure the person knew how much it was going to hurt. Finally, one of the men told him the vault was in Zepkow, Germany; having gained the information he needed Ward killed them.
Hunt for the Vault
Ward boarded an airplane to Moscow to hunt down Baron Wolfgang von Strucker's vault. While they reached cruising altitude, Ward flirted with one of the air hostesses who provided him with a drink. They continued to flirt and she suggested that he come stay with her when they reach Moscow; however, Ward explained that he would not be going to Moscow, but that this was the only plane flying over where he needed to go.
He informed her of his intention to leave the plane in midair by blasting open the doors and ordering her to strap in. Ward then put on a parachute and spoke on the coms, telling the other passengers to strap themselves into their seats, explaining that soon the pilot would be forced to make the plane dive down before they all froze to death, noting that it was HYDRA that had killed them. Ward then used an exploding watch to rip off the door, allowing himself to be sucked out as the plane crashed, killing everyone left onboard.
Learning HYDRA's History
Ward eventually located Baron Wolfgang von Strucker's hidden vault and broke inside, ripping a hole through the ceiling and dropping in with his gun raised. Ward discovered that Gideon Malick was already there and waiting for him. Malick explained that he had not been impressed by Presidents or alien technology but he was impressed by Ward and suggested that Ward should be HYDRA's second head next to him, but Ward expressed his desire to kill Malick.
Malick instead asked Ward if he knew of HYDRA's origins, and he said that HYDRA was founded during World War II by Red Skull using Nazi funding, but Malick explained that their history was far older than that. He opened Strucker's safe and pulled out a piece of the Monolith, explaining that the stones had the power to teleport users to another world. He explained how an Inhuman was born thousands of years ago, so powerful he was banished from Earth, and HYDRA aimed to bring him back, using the ATCU to build It an army. Malick vowed to help Ward destroy S.H.I.E.L.D. in exchange for learning how they brought Jemma Simmons back from the Monolith planet.
Meeting Lash
Having spent a few days researching HYDRA's long history, Ward went to visit Andrew Garner, who was being kept in a S.H.I.E.L.D. Containment Module. Garner threatened to kill Ward by ripping a hole through his chest, but Ward remained confident. Ward explained that he would not be sedating Garner but instead would use a gas which would force Garner to transform into Lash. Ward then told Garner that he had found a new way to torture Melinda May using him, before filling the Containment Module with gas and watching Garner suffer.
Assassination of Rosalind Price
Having learned that Rosalind Price had discovered Gideon Malick's connection to the ATCU, Ward was sent to assassinate her. Ward took position across the street and shot Price in the throat while she was having dinner with Phil Coulson. Once she was dead, Ward phoned Coulson and compared Price's death to Kara Palamas', noting that he wanted Coulson to watch someone he cared for die in his arms. As Ward defended Malick's plans, he informed Coulson that he had sent a team to kill him before hanging up and leaving him to die.
Returning to the HYDRA base, Ward was complimented on his successful mission by Malick, although he was confronted about nearly killing Coulson, who had barely escaped with his life. Ward claimed that he wanted to put Coulson through his paces, but Malick claimed that this was not something he wished to leave to chance, despite Ward's desire for Closure. Malick told him more about HYDRA's history with the Monolith, claiming Ward was risking everything, but Ward told Malick that he knew Coulson better than Coulson knew himself.
Kidnapping Fitz and Simmons
In order to discover the secrets of returning from the Monolith, Gideon Malick organised the kidnapping of Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons. The pair were brought before Ward and Malick, who explained the situation. Simmons quickly realised their end goal; when Simmons tried to attack Malick, Ward noted that her rage was new. When they both refused to help, Ward recommended that Malick separate the pair.
Ward went to speak to Simmons alone, who claimed she was not scared for him while Ward noted that while being trapped on Maveth may have helped her bravery, he felt that when he dropped them in the sea he had made her a stronger woman. As Simmons told him to do his worse, he promised he would not hurt her; however, he left her to be tortured by Giyera instead. While Simmons screamed in pain, Ward visited the enraged Fitz. Ward mocked Fitz while he begged him not to harm Simmons, but Ward sat down and listened to Simmons' screams of pain.
As Ward continued to mock Fitz, he got a call from Phil Coulson. To Ward's horror, Coulson revealed that he had kidnapped his brother Thomas Ward, who was being held at gunpoint, before hanging up. Ward soon called back and was allowed to speak to his brother and tried to claim that S.H.I.E.L.D. were the bad guys who had killed the woman he loved. Thomas explained that he had been hiding from Ward all these years and confronted him about killing their parents and Christian Ward. Coulson then picked up the phone and revealed he had traced the call to Ward's location. Enraged, Ward attacked Simmons and tried to force her to reveal her secrets.
Entering Maveth
Ward's methods proved effective and soon Leo Fitz agreed to help them in exchange for ensuring the safety of Jemma Simmons. Ward brought Fitz to the HYDRA Castle to meet with Gideon Malick and Simmons who were already there, and Ward mockingly noted that Fitz now had the chance to give up the world for the woman he loved.
As Ward prepared to face S.H.I.E.L.D., he was approached by Malick, who told him that he needed him to lead men into Maveth. Ward hesitated as he had desired to kill Phil Coulson ever since Kara Palamas' death, however, Malick told him this hatred was a weakness, to which Ward took great offense and refused to be forced to follow Malick's manipulation. Malick explained he had tried to find a suitable partner for years, testing Alexander Pierce and John Garrett, but he had his faith in Ward himself. He told him to lead their men to the other side and look It in the eye so they could work with It to control the world.
Agreeing, Ward put on a military uniform and prepared to go through the Monolith's portal. As the room began to shake, the Monolith pieces created a portal which Ward's soldiers jumped through. Gideon Malick took a moment to remind Ward to find It and bring it to the same spot within twelve hours when they would reopen the portal, shaking his hand. Ward and Fitz then jumped through the portal and arrived on Maveth in the middle of a sandstorm. Ward then ordered his team and Fitz to get moving so they could find the Entity.
Journey to Maveth
Fitz paused to look at his program; moving towards Ward and explaining a function. As he talked, Fitz made a move for Ward's gun; Ward easily stopped him and thrust him down a ridge, climbing down after him. Ward told Fitz that if he did not return from Maveth, Simmons would die and it would be Fitz's fault. Fitz told Ward that Malick had only sent him because he was expendable; Ward ordered him to keep moving.
One of Ward's soldiers called him over, and Ward and Fitz ascended a rise to see an ancient HYDRA shrine. They continued on, and Fitz found the hideout of Will Daniels. He entered the cave without telling Ward what he was doing, and Ward followed him inside and threatened to shoot Daniels, who Fitz was talking to. Ward held his gun to Daniels' head while Fitz frantically explained that Daniels was their guide to finding the Inhuman. Ward saw the Project Distant Star Return insignia on Daniels' uniform and decided to leave him alive to guide them.
Ward walked behind Daniels and Fitz. Daniels led them to the region of Maveth he had dubbed the "no fly zone". As they walked, a sandstorm arose and Ward ordered the team to take shelter. As they stayed behind some rocks, Ward realized that they had to keep going, only to find that Daniels and Fitz had killed his agents and escaped. As he stood with his two remaining HYDRA agents, they were shot by Phil Coulson, who then shot Ward in the shoulder. Ward was taken prisoner by Coulson and the two followed Daniels and Fitz to find the portal before it closed.
Last Showdown
As Ward and Phil Coulson encountered Leo Fitz and what was supposedly Will Daniels beating him, Coulson shot Daniels from behind. At this moment, Ward broke free and started brawling with Coulson. Due to his injuries and the fact that his hands were tied together, however, Coulson managed to gain the upper hand and eventually had him at the verge of death.
Coulson stood over the beaten and defeated Ward and finally had him at his mercy, but briefly hesitated. However, upon remembering all of the pain and death Ward had caused him, his friends, and allies he had tortured or killed including Victoria Hand, Eric Koenig, Bobbi Morse and Rosalind Price, Coulson slowly crushed Ward's chest, eventually breaking his bones and stopping his heart; at long last, after years of tormenting S.H.I.E.L.D., Grant Ward was finished and his body was left on Maveth to rot.
Post-Death
Though Grant Ward was effectively killed on Maveth, it would not be the end of him. The Will Daniels that was attacking Fitz during Ward's bout with Coulson, was actually the dark Entity possessing the astronaut's corpse. While Daniels' body was incinerated by Fitz through use of a flare gun, the embodiment of the being escaped from the then burning corpse and made its way to Ward's body. Making use of Ward's body as a puppet, the Entity followed Coulson and Fitz, escaping back to Earth through the portal, where it sought out Gideon Malick.
PersonalityS.H.I.E.L.D. Identity
Grant Ward, while infiltrating S.H.I.E.L.D., generally has a bad temper but is able to stay calm and collected during sticky situations. He is slightly anti-social with strong morals and is known to be "deadly". On his days off, however, he enjoys a nice book or even singing along to his favorite West Side Story song. As time progresses, Ward seems to soften somewhat, developing friendships with his fellow Agents, which eventually is cemented upon rescuing Agent Simmons after she jumps from the Bus. Ward does not seem overtly interested in relationships but for a time has a purely sexual relationship with Agent May. However, when he begins to develop feelings for Skye, this arrangement ends.
True Personality
In reality, Ward is a master manipulator, who is able to adjust his personality in order to gain the trust of others. While he still manages to retain a calm and collected personality, he has very little of the loyalty or morals that he previously demonstrated. His only loyalty is to John Garrett, to whom he claims he owes everything. He does seem to have some reservations about Garrett's actions. Beyond that, he seems more than willing to work against Phil Coulson and his team. However, when Raina pointed out that Coulson was a good man and asked him if he owed something to a man like that, Ward admitted that he did owe Coulson something, but he owed Garrett everything. At the same time, he could not bring himself to directly murder Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons and instead ejected them into the ocean.
During his imprisonment, Ward evolved to being his own person, as he was previously restricted by his almost blind loyalty towards Garrett, to the point of even ignoring his own desires. Ward became more remorseless and manipulative as he demonstrated when he knew Skye's pressure points and attempted to use his knowledge of her father to exploit them. He also murdered numerous guards during his escape and his brother and his parents as revenge for the years of abuse they put him through. When he was reinstated as a member of HYDRA he still continued to aid S.H.I.E.L.D. to re-earn their trust, particularly Skye's, but this ultimately ended when she and Simmons attempted to kill him on separate occasions. As a result, he grew a far darker personality and sadistic tendencies, as shown with the kidnapping of Bobbi Morse and torturing her in order to give Kara Palamas the closure she needed. When he accidentally killed Kara Palamas, that was the last straw for Ward; he vowed revenge against S.H.I.E.L.D. and was willing to join HYDRA in order to gain "closure".
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)