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Geminidirected the membrane to gently envelop him. The instant it contacted the man's physique, it was immediately absorbed.
Subsequently, Geminiexchanged for a bottle of orange potion, applying it via identical methodology, then transitioned to blue potion. She employed over a dozenvarious colored potions before finally ceasing.
"That should suffice. What's his name? His genuine name—don't attempt to deceive me with fabrications." Geminiobserved her handiwork with satisfaction and inquired.
"Steve Rogers." Coulsonhesitated before responding.
"Steve, return to consciousness." Geminidirected her wand toward her throat, muttered an incantation, then leaned down and whispered softly near Steve's ear.
A resounding intake of breatherupted. Steve within the containersuddenly opened his eyes, sat upright abruptly, breathing rapidly. After several seconds, he collapsed heavily back into the container and closed his eyes.
"What occurred? What's wrong with him?" Coulsonrushed to the container's edge, asking urgently.
"Nothing's amiss—he's awakened. It's simply that he's been frozen for considerable time. His body is recovering, so don't disturb him presently. Allow him extended sleep." Gemini explained, extracting a bottle of colorless, transparent liquid and prying open Steve's mouth to pour it down. "This is Dreamless Sleep Potion—it'll inducedeep slumber so his body can recover properly."
Coulsoncarefully observed Steve, who now possessedhealthy complexion and steady breathing. Feeling with his hand, Steve's skin had warmed and his heartbeat had returned to normal rhythm.
Coulsonfinally exhaled with relief. "When will he awaken?"
Geminicleaned the potion bottles and the ceiling mist, answering casually, "That depends on when his bodyfully recovers. The potions I employed are finest quality. He was frozenexcessively long—his soul and body became uncoordinated, so I assisted with adjustment as well. Additionally—you needn't feed him anything special. I administerednutritional supplements."
Coulsoncontinued inquiring, "So do we await here for his awakening, or transport him back?"
Geminiregarded Coulsonstrangely. "Obviously you transport him back. What purpose would leaving him here serve?"
Coulsonsilenced himself and smiled awkwardly. "Could you assist me carrying him out? I cannot managealone."
Geminirolled her eyes. "Coby, escort the guestsout."
Cobydidn't materialize, but Coulsonfelt an invisible handgrasp his arm. The next instant, he and the containerhousing Captain Americaappearedoutside the shop entrance.
The All-Purpose Shop had already extinguished its illumination. The darkened establishmentappeared exactly as it had before his entry. Were it not for witnessing Stevesleeping peacefully in the container, he would have consideredeverything just experienced a dream.
"Agent Coulson, how did it proceed?" Nick Fury's inquirytransmitted through Coulson's earpiece.
"I'm excellent, sir. The Captain is excellent too—successfully thawed. Apparently he requiresbodily recovery during sleep and will awaken when fully restored." Coulsonpressed his earpiece to report. "Retrieve us. I've been exposed."
Promptly, a black business vehiclehalted before Coulson. Several men in black suitsemerged, lifted the container into the vehicle. Coulson also entered, and the automobiledeparted, stopping at a buildingproximate to the All-Purpose Shop.
Personnelquickly emerged to assist. Coulsonnervously followed the container into a nostalgic chamberdecorated like a 1940s hospital. He observed as they lifted Steve from the container and gently positioned him on the hospital bed, then filed out of this specialized ward in orderly fashion.
"Coulson, report your observations." Nick Fury's voiceemanated from behind Coulson.
Coulsonturned around. "Here, sir?"
"Follow me." Furyconcluded speaking, turned and departed the ward, proceeding to a room at the corridor's opposite end and opening the portal, gesturing for Coulson to enter.
The chamber was vacant except for two items: a potion bottle with only the bottom remaining, and the container that had housed Steve.
"What did the shop personneldo to this container? The testing personnelreport it continuously radiates heat and automatically adjusts based on the temperature of whatever's placed inside." Nickinquired.
Coulsonremained silentmomentarily, then began recountingeverything from his door knocking, omitting no detail. Then he removed what appeared to be a button from his collar—actually a cameradisguised as a button.
Knowing that electronic signals would be interruptedwithin the shop, Coulsonhadn't connected this to the external world. The video was recorded and stored on his phone.
Notably—ever since Tonyprovided Gemini a phone, she had specifically adjusted her shop's magnetic field to ensurephone signal reception. Otherwise, Coulson's recording would probablyremainnothing but static.
"So this is the shop proprietor? A young girl? Is she evenof age?" Furyfrowned while watching the video footage.
"I don't believe so, sir." Coulsonanswered seriously.
"This shop assistantappearsvery familiar. Isn't he the doctor who returned with Tony Stark?" Furystroked his chin, had someone deliver Ethan's files, compared them, and confirmed this was indeed Ethan himself.
"I have a question, sir." Coulsonhesitatedextensively before finally speaking.
Furycontinued his actions, examining Ethan'svarious fileswithoutlooking up. "I know what you wish to ask, Agent Coulson. You want to inquire—why send Captain America to the All-Purpose Shop, correct?"
Coulsonremained silent, indicating agreement.
"We expendedtremendous efforttesting the All-Purpose Shop and proved it truly exists—what it accomplishes can be explained as magic. But does magicgenuinely exist in this world? I couldn't be certain. When agents made subtle wishes and obtained items that could locatelost objects, we finally confirmedCaptain America'scorrect location. But with S.H.I.E.L.D.'scurrent technology, we couldn't guaranteesafely thawing the Captainwithout harming him. But if we simply left him frozen indefinitely, I feared that by the time we could thaw him, the Captain would already be nothing but bones." Furysupported his arms on the table, hands crossedbeneath his chin, carefully explaining to Coulson.
"Furthermore—from our understanding of this All-Purpose Shop, if they accept a commission, they can definitely complete it. If they hadn't accepted the assignment, we would have simply retrieved the Captain." Furyshrugged and continued examiningfiles. "Agent Coulson, I'm certain our billionaire friendknows something. You've had previous contact—this task is yours. You must discoverwhat he knows."
"Yes, sir." Coulsonnodded, glanced reluctantly at Captain America'schamber door, then turned and departed the building.
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