The S.H.I.E.L.D. medical facility hummed with controlled activity as enhanced individuals recovered from the Hand operation. Su Chen stood in the observation area, watching through reinforced glass as doctors examined casualties with equipment designed to handle non-standard physiology.
Seven wounded, two dead. The numbers played through his mind repeatedly. Both fatalities had been experienced fighters—volunteers from Elektra's coalition who'd known the risks and accepted them. Their deaths weren't his fault, exactly, but they were his responsibility as the operation's architect.
"You're thinking about the casualties," Natasha Romanoff's voice came from behind him. The Black Widow moved silently, a skill Su Chen respected even if it didn't fool his enhanced senses. "Wondering if different tactics could have saved them."
"Always," Su Chen confirmed without turning. "Every operation has costs. The question is whether those costs were justified by the outcome."
"Were they?" Natasha asked, moving to stand beside him at the window.
"Two lives traded for preventing dimensional invasion and dismantling an organization that's killed thousands over centuries," Su Chen replied. "Mathematically, yes. Emotionally..." he paused. "That's harder to justify."
"Good," Natasha said simply. "Leaders who don't feel the weight of casualties become monsters. The fact that you're questioning yourself means you're still human."
Su Chen glanced at her, noting the assessment in her green eyes. This wasn't casual conversation—Natasha was evaluating him, gathering psychological profile data for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files.
"Director Fury sent you to analyze me," Su Chen stated flatly.
"Director Fury sent me to debrief you," Natasha corrected. "The analysis is just professional courtesy. Though you're making it easier by being self-reflective about casualties. Most enhanced individuals with your power level develop god complexes."
"I've seen what god complexes produce," Su Chen replied. "Tyrants who think their power justifies any action. I've fought enough of them to recognize the warning signs in myself."
"Past tense," Natasha caught the phrasing. "You've fought tyrants in the past. Before coming to New York. Before S.H.I.E.L.D. had any record of your existence. Where exactly did you gain that experience, Mr. Su Chen?"
It was smoothly done—conversational tone, natural flow, but absolutely calculated to extract information. Su Chen recognized interrogation techniques when he encountered them.
"Agent Romanoff, we both know you're going to investigate my background regardless of what I say," Su Chen replied calmly. "So let me save you some time: Yes, my history contains gaps. Yes, I have capabilities and knowledge that don't match conventional training. And yes, I'm deliberately maintaining certain secrets. The question you should be asking isn't 'what is he hiding,' but 'does what he's hiding threaten S.H.I.E.L.D.'s objectives?'"
"And does it?" Natasha challenged.
"No," Su Chen stated with complete honesty. "My objectives align with protecting Earth from threats that conventional forces can't handle. Everything I've done—stopping The Hand, containing the Tesseract crisis, recruiting enhanced individuals—serves that goal. The methods might be unconventional and my full capabilities might be classified, but the outcome serves everyone's interests."
Natasha studied him for a long moment. "Director Fury thinks you're either a very sophisticated asset or a very patient threat. He hasn't decided which yet."
"He's welcome to keep wondering," Su Chen replied. "As long as wondering doesn't interfere with operational effectiveness."
"Fair enough," Natasha said. "Now, the actual debriefing: The Hand operation. Walk me through your tactical decisions, starting with how you identified the gateway location."
For the next hour, Su Chen provided comprehensive details about the operation—tactical planning, coalition coordination, combat engagement, and the final gateway destruction. He was forthcoming about most details while carefully omitting certain capabilities like Babata's comprehensive intelligence gathering and the full extent of his Formation Arrangement cultivation.
"The dimensional severance technique you used to destroy the gateway," Natasha pressed. "Our sensors registered energy patterns we've never encountered. What exactly did you do?"
"I disrupted the gateway's connection to multiple dimensional layers simultaneously," Su Chen explained, which was technically accurate if incomplete. "The Hand's ritual existed across several reality layers. Destroying it in just one dimension would have left anchors that could be used to rebuild. I ensured complete elimination."
"And you just... know how to manipulate dimensional connections?" Natasha challenged.
"I've studied extensively," Su Chen replied vaguely. "Enhanced capabilities often come with enhanced understanding of underlying principles. The more you can do, the more you need to understand why you can do it."
It was a non-answer disguised as explanation, and Natasha recognized it. But before she could press further, the medical bay doors opened and Director Fury entered, his expression carrying the weight of someone dealing with multiple crises simultaneously.
"Agent Romanoff, thank you for the preliminary debrief," Fury said. "I need to speak with Mr. Su Chen privately."
Natasha nodded and departed without question, though Su Chen caught the slight narrowing of her eyes that suggested she'd be reviewing every word of their conversation later.
Once they were alone, Fury's demeanor shifted from professional courtesy to barely controlled intensity. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"
"Prevented a dimensional invasion and dismantled a centuries-old criminal organization," Su Chen replied calmly. "I thought that was fairly obvious."
"You conducted a military operation involving thirty enhanced individuals in the middle of New York City," Fury countered, his voice hard. "You destroyed infrastructure that's going to cost millions to repair. You killed approximately seventy people, regardless of whether they were enemy combatants. And you did it all without coordination with any official authority."
"I prevented a dimensional entity from manifesting in Earth's reality," Su Chen stated flatly. "Every person I killed was actively working to make that happen. Every piece of infrastructure destroyed was being used to facilitate dimensional invasion. And I coordinated with the only authority that mattered—other enhanced individuals who understood the threat and could respond effectively."
"That's exactly the problem!" Fury's voice rose slightly before he controlled it. "Enhanced individuals deciding they're the authority. That's vigilantism at best and potential tyranny at worst. What happens when the next 'threat' you identify turns out to be wrong? When your intelligence is faulty and you conduct another military operation against innocent people?"
"Then I take responsibility and face consequences," Su Chen replied. "But Director, my intelligence wasn't faulty. The Hand was exactly what I said they were—a dimensional cult preparing to open a gateway for an entity that would have consumed millions. You can verify that through your own investigation of the collapsed station."
"I already am," Fury confirmed. "Preliminary reports suggest you're telling the truth—the mystical signatures match dimensional manipulation, and the bodies we've recovered all show evidence of the enhanced conditioning you described. But that doesn't address the fundamental issue: You're operating a private military force without oversight."
"I'm coordinating enhanced individuals who choose to work together," Su Chen corrected. "Nobody in my network is coerced. Everyone participates voluntarily because they believe in protecting people from threats that official channels can't or won't address. That's not a military force—it's a coalition of concerned individuals using their abilities responsibly."
"Semantics," Fury dismissed. "The result is the same—organized enhanced individuals conducting combat operations. Which brings me to why I'm here: The Avengers Initiative. Your performance against The Hand demonstrated exactly what I'm looking for—tactical coordination, strategic thinking, and the ability to accomplish objectives against overwhelming odds. I want your network integrated into the Avengers framework."
Su Chen had anticipated this conversation. "Define 'integrated.'"
"You and your core team would become official Avengers," Fury explained. "You'd maintain operational independence for most activities, but when S.H.I.E.L.D. identifies threats requiring Avengers response, you'd coordinate with Captain Rogers and the other members. You'd have access to S.H.I.E.L.D. resources, intelligence networks, and legal protection. In exchange, you'd provide capability, coordination, and accountability."
"Accountability to whom?" Su Chen challenged. "S.H.I.E.L.D.? The World Security Council? Politicians who don't understand enhanced capabilities?"
"To the people you're protecting," Fury replied. "Same accountability any soldier, police officer, or agent accepts when they take on the responsibility of protecting others. You act with appropriate force, you follow established rules of engagement where possible, and when things go wrong, you answer for it."
"And when 'appropriate force' and 'established rules' are insufficient for the threat?" Su Chen pressed. "When bureaucracy and oversight prevent effective response to time-sensitive situations?"
"Then you make the call in the field and justify it afterward," Fury said. "Same as anyone else with authority and responsibility. The difference is having a framework for that justification rather than operating as a law unto yourself."
Su Chen considered carefully. Fury was offering official sanction and resources in exchange for accountability and coordination. It was a reasonable deal, assuming S.H.I.E.L.D. could be trusted—which Su Chen knew it couldn't, given Hydra's infiltration.
"I'll agree to provisional Avengers status," Su Chen decided. "My core team coordinates with Captain Rogers for situations requiring united response. We maintain operational independence for other activities but provide regular intelligence briefings to S.H.I.E.L.D. about threats we're tracking. And we get access to Avengers resources and support when needed."
"Provisional," Fury repeated. "Meaning you're reserving the right to walk away if the arrangement doesn't work."
"Exactly," Su Chen confirmed. "I won't commit my people to an organization until I'm confident the relationship serves everyone's interests. Give me six months to evaluate how well S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers operate. If it works, we formalize. If not, we maintain a looser alliance."
Fury considered this, his single eye assessing Su Chen with the intensity of someone making a significant strategic decision. "Six months provisional status. But understand—during that time, you're under observation. Any operation that contradicts Avengers principles or creates unnecessary casualties will be grounds for immediate termination of the arrangement."
"Acceptable," Su Chen nodded. "Now, I have information you need to hear. It's about Hydra's infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Fury's expression hardened. "Agent Romanoff mentioned you'd provided intelligence suggesting Hydra's presence. I've had my people investigating—"
"And they've found nothing conclusive," Su Chen interrupted. "Because Hydra's infiltration is deeper than you're looking. They're not just agents following orders—they're embedded in command structures, technical divisions, and administrative positions. They've been inside S.H.I.E.L.D. since its founding."
"That's a serious accusation," Fury stated coldly. "And it requires serious evidence."
"I'll provide it," Su Chen said. "But not here, not through official channels, and not to anyone except you directly. If Hydra is as embedded as I believe, using normal communication methods risks alerting them."
He pulled out a secured data device—one of Babata's creations, encrypted with technology this universe wouldn't develop for decades. "This contains financial records, communication patterns, and personnel assessments that demonstrate Hydra's presence. Review it personally, verify independently, and then we'll discuss how to address it."
Fury took the device, examining it with professional suspicion. "If this intelligence is false or intended to create internal conflict—"
"Then you'll have confirmation I'm not trustworthy and can terminate our arrangement," Su Chen finished. "But Director, I'm betting my credibility that when you verify this information, you'll find I'm telling the truth. Hydra is inside S.H.I.E.L.D., and they're preparing something significant. You need to know about it before whatever they're planning reaches completion."
"I'll review this personally," Fury confirmed, pocketing the device. "Now get out of my medical facility. You and your people have forty-eight hours to recover, then I want you at a full Avengers briefing. We're bringing together everyone who's committed or provisionally committed to the initiative."
"Who's confirmed so far?" Su Chen asked.
"Captain Rogers, obviously. Agent Romanoff is transitioning from S.H.I.E.L.D. operations to Avengers assignment. Agent Barton will be recalled from his current mission. And we're in final negotiations with Stark—he's being difficult about authority structures, but he'll come around."
"What about Banner?" Su Chen inquired. "I've seen his file. The Hulk represents significant capability if you can ensure control."
"Banner is complicated," Fury replied carefully. "He's been in hiding for years, avoiding everyone who wants to study or weaponize the Hulk. Approaching him requires delicacy we haven't had time for. But yes, he's on the list for eventual recruitment."
"I might be able to help with that," Su Chen offered. "My network includes people with experience managing enhanced individuals who have control issues. If you want, I can make preliminary contact with Banner—establish rapport without the pressure of official S.H.I.E.L.D. recruitment."
Fury considered this. "Why would you volunteer for that?"
"Because having Banner as an ally serves everyone's interests," Su Chen replied honestly. "The Hulk's power is extraordinary, and Banner's scientific expertise is valuable. If I can help bring him into the fold in a way that respects his autonomy and addresses his control concerns, that strengthens the Avengers and my relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D."
"You're very focused on relationship building," Fury observed.
"Because relationships are what make coordination work," Su Chen stated. "Power without coordination is just chaos. I'm building networks that allow enhanced individuals to work together effectively. That serves my interests and everyone else's."
"Alright," Fury decided. "You can make preliminary contact with Banner. But carefully—he's paranoid, traumatized, and he transforms into an unstoppable rage monster when threatened. If your approach triggers the Hulk in a populated area, the consequences will be on you."
"Understood," Su Chen confirmed. "I'll be subtle."
As he departed the medical facility, Su Chen felt satisfaction with how the conversation had concluded. He'd secured provisional Avengers status, which provided official sanction and resources while maintaining operational independence. He'd planted the Hydra intelligence with Fury directly, which would create internal investigation without immediate attribution to Su Chen's network. And he'd positioned himself to recruit Bruce Banner before S.H.I.E.L.D. could approach with their typical heavy-handed methods.
"Master," Babata's voice came through their neural link. "While you were meeting with Fury, I detected unusual activity. Tony Stark just announced he's hosting a technology exposition in two weeks—the 'Stark Expo,' showcasing cutting-edge innovations from various companies. But more interesting, I've intercepted intelligence suggesting multiple organizations are planning to attend for purposes beyond viewing technology."
"Let me guess," Su Chen replied mentally. "Hydra, AIM, the Ten Rings, and probably a dozen other groups want access to Stark's technology or an opportunity to recruit him."
"Confirmed," Babata said. "The expo represents a convergence point where multiple factions will be operating simultaneously. It's a perfect opportunity for intelligence gathering, recruitment, and potentially intervention if threats emerge."
"Then we'll attend," Su Chen decided. "Publicly as consultants supporting legitimate innovation, privately as intelligence gatherers tracking hostile organizations. Notify the team—they have two weeks to prepare for a high-profile operation where we'll be surrounded by enemies who may or may not know we're there."
He walked through S.H.I.E.L.D.'s corridors, his mind already processing the expanding strategic landscape. The Hand operation was complete, but it was merely one threat among many. Hydra prepared their own plans. The Chitauri invasion loomed on the horizon. Loki's schemes continued developing. And now, the Stark Expo would provide another opportunity for chaos, recruitment, and advancement.
The convergence was accelerating. And Su Chen intended to be positioned optimally when it finally arrived in full force.
The harvest continued, and the yields were increasing exponentially.