"Are you sure about this?"
Skye whispered as she adjusted her hoodie, nervously glancing at the massive black plane parked on the runway ahead of them. The S.H.I.E.L.D. logo gleamed on its side like a warning label.
Su Zhan stuffed his hands into his pockets, calm as ever. "Relax. They're not going to shoot you. Probably."
"Probably?!" she hissed. "Do you have any idea how many laws I've broken? These people hate me!"
"That's why I'm here," Su Zhan said with a smirk. "To make sure they hate me more."
Before Skye could argue, the hatch opened. A man in a neat suit stepped down the ramp, his expression serious but kind.
Phil Coulson. The man who'd died in the Battle of New York… and somehow got better.
"Miss Skye," he said, his tone polite but cautious. "You've been on our radar for quite a while. I'd like to have a word."
Skye shot Su Zhan a look. "You set me up!"
He shrugged. "You're welcome."
Coulson's eyes shifted to Su Zhan. "And you are?"
"Su Zhan," he said, offering a hand. "Consultant. You could say I'm… between employers."
Coulson raised an eyebrow but shook his hand. "You two mind coming aboard? Director Fury likes to keep an eye on the field teams personally these days."
Su Zhan smiled faintly. "Wouldn't miss it."
Aboard the Bus — S.H.I.E.L.D. Mobile Command
The interior of the plane was sleek, packed with computers, weapons, and a few very curious faces. Skye's eyes darted everywhere, overwhelmed by the high-tech setup.
"This is insane," she whispered. "It's like stepping into a sci-fi movie."
"Welcome to S.H.I.E.L.D.," a woman's voice said from behind.
They turned to see Agent Melinda May, cold and composed, arms folded across her chest. "If you so much as touch anything without permission, I'll throw you out mid-flight."
"Nice to meet you too," Skye muttered.
Su Zhan chuckled. "She's always like that, right?"
May's eyes narrowed. "You talk like you've known me for years."
"Let's just say I've done my homework."
Before May could respond, Coulson walked over, tablet in hand. "Alright. We've got a situation. A potential superhuman incident in a small town in Colorado. We're en route now. While we're in the air, I want to go over a few introductions."
He gestured toward the young man and woman sitting at a workbench surrounded by gadgets. "Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons. Engineering and biochem, respectively."
Fitz waved cheerfully. "Hi! Are you the new recruits?"
"Something like that," Su Zhan replied.
Simmons smiled brightly. "Oh, how lovely! We haven't had civilians on board since… ever."
"Yeah," May said flatly, "let's hope this doesn't become a habit."
Coulson continued, "Now, Skye here has been hacking into S.H.I.E.L.D. servers for months. Instead of locking her up, I figured we might put her talents to better use."
Skye blinked. "Wait—you're not arresting me?"
Coulson smiled faintly. "Not today. Consider this… a job interview."
"Wow. Okay. Cool. I'll just, uh, try not to break anything."
"Do that," May muttered.
Coulson turned to Su Zhan. "And you. You came recommended—though I can't find any record of you in our databases. Care to explain that?"
"Let's just say my résumé's classified," Su Zhan replied with a smirk. "But I'm good at solving… unusual problems."
Coulson studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. We'll see how you do in the field."
As the plane rumbled through the clouds, Skye sat next to Su Zhan, whispering. "You didn't tell me they'd be nice! I was expecting handcuffs and interrogation rooms!"
"That can still happen," he said with a grin.
She elbowed him. "Not helping."
He looked around the cabin—the legendary team slowly forming before his eyes. Fitz, Simmons, May, Coulson, Skye… the beginnings of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Exactly as planned.
But his mind wasn't on introductions. His system interface flickered in his vision.
[Main Quest Update: Phase 2 – Embedded within S.H.I.E.L.D.]
Objective: Gain trust of the team. Discover the location of classified "Centipede Project."
Reward: New Ability – Energy Manipulation (Low-Tier)
Su Zhan leaned back in his seat, smiling faintly.
He knew the "Centipede Project." A mix of Super Soldier Serum, Gamma radiation, and Extremis Virus. Unstable, dangerous—and full of potential.
If he could get his hands on it, his power would skyrocket.
Hours later, the plane touched down on a remote airstrip.
Coulson gathered the team near the ramp. "Alright, people. We've got a possible enhanced individual showing super strength. The situation's unstable. Let's move."
Skye whispered, "Uh, I didn't sign up for superhumans."
"You'll be fine," Su Zhan said, his voice calm, confident. "I'll keep you safe."
She looked at him skeptically. "And who's gonna keep you safe?"
He smirked. "No one needs to."
Minutes later, the team was on-site—cordoned-off area, smashed concrete, a trail of destruction leading into a nearby warehouse.
Coulson gave orders. "May, take point. FitzSimmons, get your gear. Su Zhan—stay with Skye."
Su Zhan nodded. "Got it."
As they moved closer to the building, a man suddenly burst through the wall, roaring, veins glowing faintly under his skin. His muscles bulged unnaturally—the Centipede Serum in full effect.
"Get down!" Coulson shouted.
Su Zhan stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "So this is the Centipede project."
The enhanced man turned toward him, eyes wild. "Stay away!"
"I'd love to," Su Zhan said calmly, raising his hand. The air shimmered around him—heat waves bending the light. A flicker of flame sparked to life.
The man lunged.
Su Zhan sighed. "Wrong move."
He snapped his fingers.
A wave of heat exploded outward, engulfing the attacker in flames. The man screamed, thrashing, but Su Zhan's flames didn't consume—they contained, wrapping around him like molten chains. In seconds, he was down.
The team stared in shock.
Skye's jaw dropped. "Okay. Wow. Remind me never to make you angry."
Coulson stared at the smoldering figure, then looked at Su Zhan. "You said you were good with unusual problems. Guess I'll have to agree."
Su Zhan smiled faintly. "Told you."
The system chimed softly in his mind.
[Quest Complete: Phase 2 Objective – Acquired Centipede Serum Sample]
Reward: Ability Upgrade – Energy Manipulation (Enhanced)
Su Zhan looked at the faint trail of smoke rising from the floor and smiled to himself.
Step two, complete.