The system's voice resonated in Su Zhan's mind, cool and precise. "Survival task difficulty mode is engaged. Randomly selecting and retaining one ability. Ability determination: Replication. Content requirements: Survive for seven days with zero injuries."
As the pronouncement concluded, a peculiar sensation washed over Su Zhan. He felt his other powers recede, as if they were still part of him but now dormant, locked away and beyond his current reach. It was an unsettling experience, stripping him of his accustomed arsenal, yet he quickly centered himself on the one power that remained.
"Fortunately, it is the replication ability," he murmured, a wave of relief tinged with apprehension passing through him. "If it had left me with only the tracking ability or Quill's power that I just absorbed, I would be in a truly precarious situation." He paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "However, even without my full range of abilities, I am far from defenseless. I still possess the Aether particles, the Green Lantern Ring, and the Fear Blades. This survival task should not prove overly difficult. So, the difficult mode merely extends the duration of the mission?"
Su Zhan's gaze fell upon the unconscious forms of Juggernaut and the other mutants, a fleeting sense of regret in his eyes. It was a pity the mission had activated at this precise moment. He had intended to absorb their powers after the battle. Shaking his head slightly, he turned to Callisto, who watched him with a complex mixture of fear and defiance.
"You are fortunate," Su Zhan stated, his voice devoid of inflection. "I will let you go this time. But do not let me see you in Magneto's company again. If I do, your luck will have run out."
With a dismissive gesture, Su Zhan withdrew the energy that held the mutants, and they slumped unceremoniously to the factory floor. He did not, however, release the Winter Soldier.
"As for you," Su Zhan said, his attention fixing on the assassin, "I cannot permit you to leave." He grasped the Winter Soldier's arm, preparing to teleport them both away.
"Wait…"
A hesitant voice cut through the tense silence. Su Zhan turned and found Toad standing nearby, his posture betraying a mixture of timidity and desperate hope.
"I… can I accompany you?" Toad asked, his voice barely more than a whisper, laced with uncertainty.
Su Zhan was surprised by the request but could easily surmise the thoughts racing through Toad's mind. He had been abandoned by his allies, treated as utterly expendable. Perhaps, in Su Zhan, he saw a chance for something different, a path away from the dismissive cruelty he had known. With a subtle nod, Su Zhan enveloped Toad in a shimmering energy field and took him along.
Back at the War Alliance base, Blink greeted Su Zhan, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the two figures accompanying him. Initially, she assumed they were new recruits, but then she noticed that Su Zhan kept them restrained by an unseen force.
"Boss, who are these two individuals?" Blink inquired, her curiosity evident in her tone and the slight tilt of her head.
"One is known as the Winter Soldier, an operative from the same era as Captain America. The other is Toad, a mutant. Their circumstances are somewhat… complicated. Secure them for now. I will attend to them later," Su Zhan explained concisely.
Blink acknowledged his instructions with a nod, and the two captives were escorted away by War Alliance personnel.
"What is the status of Natasha and the Pulse?" Su Zhan asked, referring to Claire Bennet by her newly adopted hero name.
"They are in Natasha's quarters. I believe she is instructing the Pulse in combat techniques," Blink replied.
Su Zhan nodded his approval. "Maintain vigilance here. Ensure you are well rested and prepared. We will have a mission in a few days."
Blink hesitated for a moment, a thoughtful expression crossing her features. "Boss…" she began, her voice softer now.
Su Zhan looked at her, sensing her unease. "Is there something you wish to discuss? You can speak freely with me."
Blink took a deep breath, as if steeling herself. "Natasha, the Pulse… their relationship with you… Is it the same as my relationship with you?" She paused, then the words tumbled out, a blend of acute observation and deeply personal questioning. "Are they your women?"
Su Zhan was momentarily taken aback, then a flicker of amusement touched his eyes. "Oh? What led you to that conclusion?"
"The way they look at you is different. And the way you look at them… it is also different. I cannot articulate it precisely, but I can sense it. The Pulse is still young, so perhaps her feelings are less clear to me. But Natasha… I can definitely perceive the nature of the bond between the Pulse and you. That is why… that is why she is so eager to mentor the Pulse." Blink's words were spoken in intermittent bursts, a torrent of perceptive insights. Su Zhan finally understood the depth of Natasha's interest in Claire. He had not anticipated that particular reason for her attentiveness.
But…
Su Zhan met Blink's searching gaze and shook his head slightly. "You are mistaken."
"Am I mistaken?" Blink repeated, her confusion palpable.
Su Zhan stated plainly, "They are the same as you."
"The same…?" Blink whispered, her mind reeling from the implication. Did that mean she too was considered one of his women? But why… why had he never made any such advances toward her?
Su Zhan smiled gently and placed a hand on Blink's shoulder. "Some things are best left to unfold naturally." He turned and departed, leaving Blink to contemplate his enigmatic words, the air around her still charged with unspoken questions and newfound understanding.
The mission to rescue Nick Fury was successfully concluded. The new directive was simply to survive for seven days. There was no specific target, no clear objective beyond endurance. If he remained within the secure confines of the base and took no action, he could easily complete the task. But Su Zhan was not one to remain idle. He did not cease his activities because of a system mission, nor did he shy away from emerging challenges or unexpected opportunities. He contacted Skye to ascertain her current situation.
He knew that tomorrow, Steve Rogers would likely be apprehended at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Triskelion headquarters and branded a fugitive. Hydra's insidious presence would be fully exposed. Although Sif was present with Skye's team, it was always prudent to avoid unnecessary complications if possible.
The communication line chimed a few times before connecting.
"My dear…" Skye's voice, warm and reassuring, came through the receiver.
Su Zhan smiled. "Hey, it's me. Where are you right now?"
"At the S.H.I.E.L.D. base. What has transpired?"
"Is there a means for you to depart from that location? I mean the entire aircraft, all of you leaving together."
"That should be feasible. What is happening?"
"Alert the others. I will come to you. I will explain everything in detail later."
"Understood!"
Skye's trust in Su Zhan was absolute; she did not press for further details. After ending the call, she immediately went to inform the rest of her team. It was not long before Coulson, May, Fitz, Simmons, Skye, and Sif had assembled in the aircraft's conference room.
"What is the situation?" Coulson asked Skye, his expression serious.
Skye's voice was grave. "I am uncertain of the specifics, but Su Zhan indicated he will arrive shortly and requires us to be prepared to evacuate this base at any moment."
"Evacuate here?" Coulson and the others exchanged puzzled glances. This was a secure S.H.I.E.L.D. installation, not some unsecured outpost. The implication that they were in danger was unsettling.
"Su Zhan previously mentioned that there might be potential threats here," Sif interjected, her warrior's intuition sensing the gravity of the situation. "He requested that I remain with you. If circumstances deteriorate, he instructed me to escort you to the War Alliance."
The combined statements from Skye and Sif were sufficient to confirm that something significant and likely perilous was unfolding.
Coulson frowned, his mind rapidly assessing the possibilities. "I fear there is a serious issue developing within S.H.I.E.L.D. May, prepare the aircraft for immediate departure. Everyone else, gather essential gear. Regardless of what transpires, we will await Su Zhan's arrival before taking any definitive action."
"This is not good," Fitz interjected, rushing back into the conference room, his face pale. "The base appears to be under martial law. I contacted operations to inform them of our intent to depart, but they refused our request and ordered us to remain here. When I pressed for an explanation, they terminated the communication."
The tension in the room escalated sharply. Trouble was unmistakably brewing, and they were directly in its path.