The briefing room aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. plane was thick with tension. Coulson stood at the head of the table, his expression unusually grave as he addressed the team.
"Three squads broke into a federal prison last night. In just two minutes, they extracted one man: Eddison Po," Coulson said, his voice steady but urgent. "Po isn't just any prisoner. He's a former general, a strategic mastermind, and the brains behind several high-level operations. Whoever orchestrated this, they did it with military precision—no mistakes, no wasted movement. Even S.H.I.E.L.D. was caught off guard."
Su Zhan leaned back in his chair, arms folded, eyes narrowed in thought. The Warrior base had already been destroyed once, and after that, S.H.I.E.L.D. failed to recruit Chan Ho Yin and secure his unique platelets to stabilize the prion virus. Now, it seemed, their enemies had found another way forward.
Coulson glanced at Su Zhan, hope flickering in his eyes. "Can you find where he is?"
He was counting on Su Zhan's uncanny ability to sense the future—a power that had pulled the team out of more than one disaster. If Su Zhan could provide even a hint, it would save hours, maybe days, of fruitless searching.
Su Zhan closed his eyes, focusing. The world seemed to slow, threads of possibility stretching out before him. "California. Oakland," he said at last, his voice calm and certain.
Coulson's eyebrows shot up. "What?"
"It's an abandoned factory," Su Zhan clarified. "That's the strongest impression I get."
"That's more than enough," Coulson replied, relief evident in his voice. Even if it wasn't the whole answer, it was a solid lead—far better than searching blind.
Skye was already at her laptop, fingers flying over the keys. "Found it! There's an old factory in Oakland. Security cameras picked up some unusual activity last night—looks like we have our location."
Coulson nodded, already moving. "Alright, everyone, gear up. We're heading out."
Fitz turned to Michael Peterson, who stood off to the side, watching the team with a mix of excitement and nerves. "Michael, let's get you suited up. I think you'll like what we've put together."
Michael's eyes widened as Fitz led him to the lab and presented a sleek, black battle suit. He ran his hands over the material, awe and gratitude in his expression. For Michael, the suit was more than just gear—it was a symbol, a tangible step toward becoming the hero he'd always wanted to be.
He changed quickly and stepped out to show the others. "How does it feel?" Fitz asked, grinning.
Michael flexed his arms, testing the fit. "It feels great—comfortable, and I can move easily."
Fitz nodded, launching into a technical explanation. "It'll help you adapt to all kinds of tactical situations. It monitors your vitals—heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar—and, of course, it's bulletproof. Top of the line."
"Thank you," Michael said sincerely, his voice thick with emotion.
Fitz turned to Su Zhan, a twinkle in his eye. "What about you? Need a suit"?
Su Zhan just smiled. With a thought, the etheric particles from his Aether Lantern ring swirled around him, coalescing into his signature combat suit. The effect was instantaneous and striking—his suit radiated power and elegance, a far cry from Michael's more utilitarian outfit.
Fitz stared, then laughed. "Alright, never mind. I can't compete with that."
The difference in grade was obvious. Michael's suit, while impressive, looked almost like something a street-level vigilante would wear. Su Zhan's, on the other hand, was worthy of a cosmic superhero—sleek, formidable, and unmistakably unique.
Still, Su Zhan appreciated the functionality of Fitz's design. "Actually, these are good. Can you make a few more for the team? Just… in this style," he said, gesturing to his own suit.
Fitz grinned. "Absolutely!"
With preparations complete, Coulson gathered the team for a final briefing. "We've destroyed their factories before, but they always rebuild. This time, we need to do more than just hit them—we need to find out what they're planning and gather intel. We go in quiet. May, Su Zhan, you'll enter from the west. Michael and I will take the pier."
Michael studied the factory layout on his tablet, committing the plan to memory. The team split up, moving swiftly and silently toward the target.
Su Zhan and Melinda May slipped through the west entrance, the factory's darkness swallowing them. The space was cavernous and empty, filled with rows of crates and the faint scent of chemicals. Su Zhan glanced around, his senses alert. "Looks like they've cleared out. We might be too late," he murmured.
Before May could reply, a sudden crash echoed from deeper in the factory. The door of a cargo container was shoved open, and a hulking figure stepped out—a super-soldier, one of the enemy's enhanced warriors.
"Alright, hands—" Su Zhan began, but May was already moving. She launched herself at the warrior, her strikes fast and precise. Her reputation as the Cavalry was well-earned—her close-quarters combat was a blur of skill and power.
But the super-soldier barely flinched. May's blows landed with force, but the enemy didn't budge. Even her fiercest kicks seemed to have no effect.
May's eyes widened in surprise. The warrior grabbed her arm and swung a heavy fist. May tried to twist free, but the grip was unbreakable. She braced herself, closing her eyes as the punch came down.
Boom!
A massive, dark green fist materialized out of thin air, intercepting the blow with a thunderous clang. The force sent the super-soldier stumbling back, and May opened her eyes to see Su Zhan standing beside her, energy still crackling around his hand.
"Thank you," May whispered, catching her breath.
Su Zhan just smiled and shook his head. "Anytime."
He stepped forward, facing the stunned super-soldier. The rest of the team converged, weapons ready. There was no need for words—the difference in grade was obvious. Against Su Zhan, even the most advanced super-soldier was little more than an obstacle.
As the team secured the area and began searching for clues, Su Zhan glanced at Michael, who was still adjusting to his new suit. "You always wanted to be a hero, right?" he asked quietly.
Michael nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes. "Yeah. My son looks up to heroes. I want to make him proud."
Su Zhan's gaze was steady. "Just remember—being a hero sometimes means making sacrifices. Are you ready for that?"
Michael hesitated, thinking it over. "I… I don't know. But I want to try."
Su Zhan nodded, satisfied. "That's all anyone can do."
As the mission wrapped up, Skye's voice crackled over the comms. "We've got something—security footage from the factory's main office. Looks like they were planning another breakout."
Coulson's voice was grim. "Let's get all the data we can. This isn't over."
The team regrouped, the tension easing as they realized the worst was behind them. As they left the factory, Fitz sidled up to Su Zhan. "You know, I'm still going to try to make a suit that looks as cool as yours."
Su Zhan laughed, clapping Fitz on the back. "I look forward to it."
And as they drove off into the night, the difference in grade between them was clear—not just in their suits, but in their resolve, their teamwork, and their growing sense of purpose. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.