In the north parking lot of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, Seth and Donnie Gill huddled beside a battered pickup truck. The lot was half-abandoned, the perfect place to hide from prying eyes. Behind the truck, a large, heavily modified device sat humming—a machine that could do far more than just make ice. After Seth's latest upgrades, it could now influence the weather itself.
Donnie sat nervously next to the machine, his hands trembling. He kept glancing at Seth, who was on the phone with their mysterious investor. Seth's voice was tense. "Mr. Quinn, S.H.I.E.L.D. is searching for us. You said you'd send a helicopter if the device worked. Is that still the plan?"
On the other end, Ian Quinn—the same Quinn who once tried to steal Dr. Hall's gravity research—replied smoothly, "As long as the device is functional, I'll send a team to pick you up. Show me results, and you'll be rewarded."
But as soon as the call ended, Quinn's expression turned cold. He had no intention of picking them up. Instead, he ordered his pilot to reroute the helicopter and leave the area. Seth and Donnie were on their own.
Seth turned to Donnie, his eyes wild. "Start the machine. We don't have a choice."
Donnie hesitated, fear etched on his face. "We haven't tested it. We don't know what could happen."
Seth's voice grew harsh. "If we don't act now, S.H.I.E.L.D. will catch us before we have a chance. Turn it on!"
Swallowing hard, Donnie obeyed. He flipped the switch, and the machine roared to life.
Almost instantly, the sky darkened. Ominous clouds rolled in, swirling above the parking lot. The air grew bitterly cold, and a biting wind howled through the empty lot. Within moments, hailstones the size of fists began to pelt the ground, shattering windows and denting metal. It was as if the world itself had turned against them.
Seth and Donnie dove into the truck for cover. A massive hailstone smashed through the windshield, spraying glass everywhere. The storm outside was deafening, a cacophony of wind, hail, and thunder.
Donnie's face was pale. "We have to shut it down! This is out of control!"
Seth clung to his desperation. "No! Quinn said he'd come if he saw results. We just need to hold out a little longer!"
Donnie shook his head, his voice trembling. "If we die here, what's the point of any of this?"
Seth looked out at the chaos. The hurricane-force winds, the endless hail—he realized Donnie was right. "Fine. Let's turn it off. But hurry!"
They braced themselves and dashed into the storm, fighting their way to the machine. Just as Donnie reached for the controls, a blinding bolt of lightning split the sky and struck the device.
The explosion was instantaneous. Seth was thrown clear, landing hard on the frozen ground. Donnie's hand, still on the machine, was blasted by the energy surge. He screamed in pain but somehow managed to stay conscious.
Smoke and sparks filled the air. Donnie staggered to his feet, calling out, "Seth! We need to get out of here!"
He ran to where Seth lay motionless. Donnie shook him, panic rising. "Seth! Wake up!"
There was no response.
At that moment, Donnie heard a strange sound—a rush of wind, but somehow controlled, almost gentle. He turned and saw a figure descending from the sky, surrounded by swirling gusts that parted around him as if obeying his will.
"It's you!" Donnie gasped, recognizing the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent from before—Su Zhan.
"Help him, please! He's hurt!" Donnie pleaded, desperation in his voice.
Su Zhan landed lightly, taking in the scene. He glanced at Donnie's hand, then at the ruined device, and a faint smile appeared. Everything was unfolding as he had hoped.
With a wave of his hand, two spheres of energy enveloped Donnie and Seth. Su Zhan lifted them into the air and soared through the storm, piercing the dark clouds and returning to the S.H.I.E.L.D. plane.
As they entered the plane, the team rushed to help. Simmons and Fitz immediately began first aid, but it was too late. Seth was dead—killed instantly by the lightning strike.
Donnie, shaken and grief-stricken, could only stare at his friend's lifeless body. He had never meant for any of this to happen. Seth had been his only friend, and now he was gone.
Su Zhan watched Donnie closely, his mind already working through the next steps. With Fitz injured and the device destroyed, S.H.I.E.L.D. would never allow Donnie to remain at the Academy. His intellect, his abilities, and the danger he posed meant he would be closely monitored—perhaps even locked away.
But there was something no one else knew. The true threat was not the device, nor Donnie's actions, but the change that had just occurred within him. When the lightning struck the machine and Donnie's hand was on it, his body underwent a fundamental transformation. He had gained the power to alter the structure of air, turning it into ice at will. It was a power reminiscent of the X-Men's Iceman, though not as strong—Donnie could not create ice from thin air, but his ability was still formidable.
If left unchecked, Donnie Gill would one day become the infamous villain Blizzard.
As S.H.I.E.L.D. prepared to take Donnie into custody, Su Zhan considered his options. Fitz and the others understood that Donnie had been manipulated, but the rules were clear—he had to be held responsible. S.H.I.E.L.D. would not simply let him go, but Su Zhan had no intention of leaving Donnie in their hands.
He smiled to himself. "Looks like I'll have to stage a little rescue. But I can't do it myself—at least, not directly. This is a job for Dr. Connors."
Su Zhan slipped away to his quarters and called Blink.
"Boss," she answered immediately.
"How's Dr. Connors behaving?" Su Zhan asked.
"He's been quiet so far," Blink replied.
"Good. I have a job for him," Su Zhan said, outlining his plan. Connors would break Donnie out, and Blink would handle the escape. They would not bring Donnie to the spaceship just yet—better to wait until S.H.I.E.L.D. was distracted.
After all, Su Zhan was planning to recruit Coulson's entire team eventually. For now, appearances had to be maintained.
Later, as Coulson arranged for Donnie to be transferred, Donnie's mood was bleak. He had lost his only friend, and now he was being taken away, unsure of what the future would hold.
As the car carrying Donnie pulled away, Coulson and his team turned back toward the plane. As they passed Su Zhan, Coulson hesitated, then said quietly, "There's something I need to discuss with you. In private."
Su Zhan saw him glance at Skye and instantly understood. This was about Skye's past—her true origins.
"Let's go to your office," Su Zhan replied, following Coulson with a knowing look.