# Chapter 6: Exposed
Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division Headquarters
The sterile corridors of S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters hummed with quiet efficiency, but in one particular briefing room, an atmosphere of intense focus had settled over two of the organization's most capable agents. The room itself was unremarkable—white walls, a simple conference table, and multiple monitors displaying various intelligence feeds from across the globe.
Nick Fury sat at the head of the table, his single eye scanning through a collection of photographs and documents spread before him. The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a man who had seen enough in his decades of service to remain calm in the face of almost any revelation, but the intelligence reports in front of him were giving even his experienced mind pause.
Across from him, Agent Natasha Romanoff—code name Black Widow—maintained her characteristic poise while presenting information that would have seemed impossible to anyone without their extensive experience in dealing with enhanced individuals.
"According to the testimonies of the gang members we interrogated and our own forensic analysis of the scene, there's a 99.99% probability that this individual was the unidentified enhanced person present during last night's incident with the Abomination," Natasha said, sliding a photograph across the polished surface of the table.
Fury picked up the image and studied it carefully. The photo showed a teenager who appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old, with a thin build that suggested he would struggle to lift heavy furniture, let alone go toe-to-toe with gamma-enhanced monsters. His face had an almost scholarly quality—intelligent eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses and features that belonged more in a library than a superhuman battlefield.
Despite his extensive experience with deceptive appearances, Fury found himself slightly skeptical. This boy looked like he would have trouble winning a fight against a strong breeze, much less surviving a confrontation that had left military vehicles crushed and buildings reduced to rubble.
"What else did your investigation turn up?" Fury asked, setting the photo down but keeping his eye focused on Natasha's face.
"Look at this," she replied, pushing another set of photographs toward him.
These images showed the same person, but the differences were striking. The subject appeared taller, more muscular, and carried himself with a confidence that was completely absent from the first photo. His facial features had sharpened, and there was something in his posture that suggested physical capabilities far beyond normal human limits.
"Is this the same person?" Fury asked, though his tone suggested he already suspected the answer.
"Experts confirms it with 99% certainty," Natasha replied solemnly. "But here's where it gets interesting—these photos were taken only four days apart."
Fury leaned back in his chair, processing this information. Physical transformation of this magnitude in such a short time frame pointed to either advanced technology, supernatural intervention, or some form of genetic enhancement that S.H.I.E.L.D. had not previously encountered.
"So you're saying he's definitely enhanced?" he asked.
"Based on our forensic analysis and the testimonies we've collected, I can't conceive of any normal human possessing this level of capability," Natasha responded. "The gang members described seeing him casually send a two-hundred-pound man flying through a line of motorcycles with what appeared to be a gentle push. Additionally, there are reports of him moving with superhuman speed and demonstrating strength levels that should be physically impossible for someone his size."
She paused to pull up additional files on her tablet before continuing. "There's also this—ballistics analysis from the Abomination incident shows impact patterns consistent with someone possessing strength measured in tons, not pounds. The precision of the strikes suggests combat training or enhanced reflexes that allowed split-second tactical analysis under extreme stress."
Fury nodded, absorbing the implications. "What can you tell me about his background?"
"The subject's name is Lin Chen. He's twenty years old, mixed American and Asian heritage. His parents died in a car accident three years ago, leaving him to inherit and operate a small convenience store in Queens. He's been working part-time construction jobs to make ends meet, and recently participated in an underground fighting tournament where he defeated a previously undefeated opponent."
Natasha consulted her notes before continuing. "For the past three years, his behavior has been unremarkable by our standards—no criminal activity, no association with known enhanced individuals or organizations, no travel patterns that would suggest contact with foreign intelligence services or terrorist groups."
"In other words," Fury said, "he either recently acquired these abilities, or he's been hiding them with a level of operational security that would impress most intelligence professionals."
"That's my assessment as well," Natasha agreed. "Given his age and background, I lean toward the former explanation."
Fury stood up and walked to the room's single window, which looked out over the bustling activity of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operations center. Dozens of agents worked at computer terminals, analyzing threats and coordinating responses to situations around the globe. It was a reminder of how much work was involved in keeping the world safe from the various enhanced individuals, terrorist organizations, and cosmic threats that seemed to emerge with increasing frequency.
"If it's the latter scenario—if he's been successfully hiding abilities of this magnitude—then we're dealing with someone whose operational security and tactical thinking are already at a professional level," Fury said without turning around. "In that case, standard recruitment protocols would apply."
He turned back to face Natasha, his expression serious. "But if it's the former scenario, if an ordinary person has suddenly acquired power that can reshape city blocks, then we have a potentially volatile situation on our hands."
Natasha nodded, understanding the implications. S.H.I.E.L.D. had dealt with enough newly enhanced individuals to recognize the patterns. Sudden acquisition of superhuman abilities often led to a period of psychological instability as the individual struggled to adapt to their new capabilities. Without proper guidance, this frequently resulted in destructive behavior—sometimes accidental, sometimes intentional.
"An untrained enhanced individual with this level of power could cause massive collateral damage," Fury continued. "Even with the best intentions, someone who doesn't understand the full scope of their abilities could accidentally level city blocks while trying to help."
"And if his intentions aren't good..." Natasha left the sentence unfinished, but both agents understood the implications.
"Exactly," Fury said. "Natasha, I'm assigning you to handle this situation personally. I want you to conduct a thorough assessment of this individual. Determine whether he represents a potential threat to civilian populations, or whether he might be suitable material for recruitment into our organization."
"Understood, Director. What are my operational parameters?"
"Standard enhanced individual protocol," Fury replied. "Observe, assess, and if possible, make contact. If he demonstrates hostile intentions or shows signs of losing control, you're authorized to take whatever measures are necessary to protect civilian populations."
Natasha gathered up the photographs and files, preparing to leave. "And if he proves suitable for recruitment?"
"Then we bring him in properly. Someone with his apparent capabilities could be a valuable asset to the Avengers Initiative, assuming he can be properly trained and integrated into our operational structure."
As Natasha prepared to leave the briefing room, Fury added one final instruction. "Be careful, Agent Romanoff. The reports suggest this individual was able to hold his own in a direct confrontation with the Abomination. That puts him in a very small category of enhanced individuals, and we don't yet know the full extent of his capabilities."
---
Queens, New York
Lin Chen's Convenience Store
Lin Chen was restocking shelves in his store when his phone rang. The caller ID showed the number he had given to the loan shark gang, and he smiled slightly as he answered.
"You guys are quite efficient," he said after listening to their report. "You found her faster than I expected."
The gang leader's voice was eager and slightly nervous as he replied through the phone's speaker. "Since it's a mission given to us by the boss, we naturally did our best!"
"It's also mainly because we got lucky," another voice added in the background. "We only had to check a few schools before we found someone matching your requirements exactly."
"The target's full name is Daisy Louise Johnson," the leader continued. "She's mixed Asian heritage, just like you specified. She's a first-year student at New York University, majoring in computer science. According to our sources, her technical abilities are so advanced that even her professors are impressed. Some of them have apparently said she knows more about certain aspects of computer programming than they do."
Lin Chen's smile widened. This description matched perfectly with his knowledge of the future Quake. At this point in the timeline, Daisy would be brilliant but naive, skilled but untrained in the more dangerous applications of her talents. She would also be unaware of her true parentage and the inhuman abilities that lay dormant in her genetic code.
"Send me her address," Lin Chen said.
"Right away, boss!" the leader replied with obvious relief. Completing this assignment successfully might mean they were finally done with their obligation to this terrifyingly powerful young man.
"Oh, and one more thing," the gang member added before Lin Chen could hang up. "She apparently lives alone in a small apartment near the university. Our guys observed her routine for a day, and she seems to keep to herself mostly. No obvious bodyguards or security measures that we could detect."
"Good work," Lin Chen replied, then ended the call.
Almost immediately, his phone chimed with an incoming text message containing an address in Manhattan, along with additional details about Daisy's daily schedule and habits. The gang members had been thorough—perhaps motivated by their recent education in what happened to people who disappointed him.
Lin Chen looked at the address and allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. "Perfect. Once I bring Daisy under my wing, it'll be much easier to track down enhanced individuals and supernatural conflicts."
He put away his phone and began planning his approach. Recruiting someone of Daisy's intelligence and potential would require finesse. She wasn't the type of person who would respond well to intimidation or crude displays of power. Instead, he would need to offer her something she wanted—challenges that would engage her brilliant mind, resources that would allow her to pursue her interests, and perhaps most importantly, a sense of purpose that her current academic environment wasn't providing.
Lin Chen also knew that time was a factor. In the original timeline, Daisy would eventually be recruited by Phil Coulson's team after a series of encounters that would reveal her true heritage and abilities. If he wanted to secure her services for his own purposes, he needed to approach her before S.H.I.E.L.D. became aware of her existence.
The irony wasn't lost on him—he was planning to recruit someone who was destined to become a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, while S.H.I.E.L.D. was likely planning to recruit him. The Marvel Universe was becoming a complex web of competing interests and hidden agendas, with multiple organizations trying to secure the same valuable assets.
But Lin Chen had advantages that the others didn't. His knowledge of future events allowed him to anticipate developments that would catch other players off guard. His growing power base gave him resources that most independent operators couldn't match. And most importantly, his system continued to make him stronger with every fight, ensuring that his capabilities would continue to grow even as new challenges emerged.
As he finished organizing his store's inventory, He sat down on chair unaware that S.H.I.E.L.D. was undoubtedly planning their approach to him.
Tomorrow, he would begin his approach to Daisy Johnson. But tonight, he would prepare for what was likely to be the first of many recruitment battles in his growing conflict with the established powers of the Marvel Universe.
The age of heroes was beginning, and Lin Chen intended to make sure he recruited the best ones before anyone else got the chance.