The S.H.I.E.L.D. base was a fortress under siege, but the enemy was within. Martial law had been declared, and the air crackled with a palpable tension, thick with a murderous aura that prickled Su Zhan's skin as he arrived. As his aircraft touched down and he stepped onto the tarmac, he could feel the weight of suspicious eyes following his every move. The guards pretended to be at ease, their smiles strained, but their hands never strayed far from their weapons. The entire base felt like a coiled spring, ready to snap.
"Why does everyone seem so on edge?" Su Zhan asked the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent accompanying him, his tone casual but his gaze sharp.
The agent's smile was unnatural, his eyes darting nervously. "Not at all, sir. Not nervous, just… excited. I have heard a great deal about your accomplishments, but I never had the opportunity to see you in person. It is an honor."
Su Zhan raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Would you like an autograph?"
"No, no, thank you," the agent stammered, clearly flustered. He shook his head, refusing with an awkward politeness that betrayed his unease.
Su Zhan shrugged. "It seems you are not as great an admirer as you claim. Well, I am here now. I hope our next meeting is under more… convivial circumstances." With that, Su Zhan turned and walked toward the waiting aircraft, leaving the agent to retreat hastily in the opposite direction.
"Close the hatch!" Su Zhan commanded as he stepped aboard the plane. The heavy ramp whined shut, sealing them inside. Coulson, May, Fitz, Simmons, Skye, and Sif were already gathered, their faces grim.
Su Zhan looked directly at Coulson. "Do you remember when I told you that S.H.I.E.L.D. is not what you believe it to be? Back when Captain America defeated the Red Skull and seemingly destroyed Hydra, Hydra merely went underground. They infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D., and after years of insidious development, they have eroded it from within. Or rather, they have all but taken it over. Now, the time is ripe, and Hydra is preparing to reveal itself. Nick Fury was targeted for assassination, though I managed to save him. I am uncertain of his current whereabouts. Hydra has also formed an alliance with Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants. Their next move will be to eliminate the core leadership of S.H.I.E.L.D. and seize complete control."
"That is impossible!" Coulson exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief and a touch of anger.
Su Zhan raised a hand, cutting off Coulson's protest. "You will see soon enough whether it is possible or not. You cannot remain here. May, is the aircraft ready?"
"Ready for takeoff at any time, but…" May trailed off, her brow furrowed.
"But the hangar door is sealed," Fitz interjected, his voice tight with worry. "If we cannot open that door, we are grounded."
"Something is definitely wrong outside," Skye added, her fingers flying across her computer keyboard. She projected an image onto the main viewscreen. The display showed armed troops massing outside, their weapons trained on the aircraft. They were slowly tightening a perimeter, effectively trapping them. Seeing the undeniable evidence, even Coulson's disbelief began to crumble.
"I will deal with them!" Sif declared, her hand instinctively going to the hilt of her sword. The blade sang as she drew it, its polished surface reflecting the grim determination in her eyes.
"Leave it to me," Su Zhan said with a calm smile. The Fear Blades materialized in his hands, their dark energy swirling like captured shadows. "You just ensure you are ready for immediate takeoff. I will handle the other complications."
He strode to the hatch, which began to lower with a hydraulic hiss. As the ramp descended, Su Zhan could see the heavily armed troops arrayed outside, every weapon pointed directly at the opening.
"The game begins," he murmured, flexing his wrists and giving the twin blades a gentle flourish. Before the ramp had fully touched the ground, he surged forward, a blur of motion.
"Fire!" a voice barked from outside. The command was followed by a hail of gunfire, bullets cracking through the air, all aimed at Su Zhan.
His twin blades danced, a whirlwind of black energy that deflected every shot. He leapt high, landing in the midst of the startled soldiers. With each rise and fall of his blades, blood sprayed into the air. The Fear Blades were like the scythes of the Grim Reaper, reaping lives with terrifying efficiency.
A grenade arced through the air. Su Zhan glanced up, and the projectile froze in mid-flight. He turned his head to look at the soldier who had thrown it, and the grenade shot back toward its owner. The man tried to run, but it was too late. After a few desperate steps, the grenade exploded, tearing him apart.
This was the telekinetic ability Su Zhan had recently copied from Simmons, now unleashed with deadly precision.
"Break!" Su Zhan roared, his gaze fixed on the massive steel hangar door. The Aether Battle Suit on his body pulsed, then dissolved into a torrent of swirling Aether particles. The dark red liquid surged forward, striking the heavy door.
The Aether particles pierced the thick steel with ease, then flowed back and forth, weaving through the metal like an unstoppable river. In moments, though the door had not opened, it began to groan and buckle. Then, with a rending crash, the entire door tore free from its moorings and fell inward. May, in the cockpit, tensed, knowing that such a massive weight could easily crush the aircraft.
However, her worries were unfounded. As the door fell, the Aether particles continued their work, flowing around the falling steel, visibly shrinking it. In the end, the once formidable barrier was reduced to fragments, then to nothing, completely consumed by the Aether.
May let out a breath she had not realized she was holding and quickly initiated the takeoff sequence.
In the distance, the remaining soldiers began to fire wildly at the escaping aircraft, trying to prevent its departure. Su Zhan waved his hand, and the energy of his Green Lantern Ring formed a shimmering protective shield around the plane. The Aether particles flowed back to him, reforming his battle suit. He raised the Black Blade, and a dark, misty aura flared around it. In that instant, the soldiers nearby felt an inexplicable, overwhelming fear, a primal terror that clawed its way up from the depths of their hearts.
"Plop, plop."
Weapons clattered to the ground as soldiers dropped them. Some hugged their heads and squatted, choking on their fear. Others screamed, their faces contorted in terror. A single gunshot rang out. One soldier, completely consumed by fear, had lost his mind and taken his own life.
"Why bother?" Su Zhan murmured, glancing at the fallen soldier. It was the same agent who had escorted him in earlier.
The air was filled with choking sobs, cries, and hysterical wails. Amidst the cacophony of terror, energy enveloped Su Zhan, and he slowly ascended into the air, then accelerated sharply toward the departing aircraft.
The cabin door was still open. Su Zhan flew straight in and sealed it behind him.
May was in the cockpit, her focus entirely on piloting them to safety. The others were gathered in the conference room, their faces pale and drawn, their moods heavy with the shock of what they had just witnessed and experienced. They had never imagined such a betrayal, such a catastrophic collapse of the organization they had served.
"What do we do now?" Fitz asked, his voice barely a whisper as he looked to Su Zhan. In this moment of crisis and uncertainty, Su Zhan had become their anchor, their leader.