Hong Fei's prediction proved accurate—the S.H.I.E.L.D. research base housing the Tesseract sat strategically between New York and Washington D.C. This prime location allowed both the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters and the New York branch to swiftly provide support whenever needed.
As the last sliver of sunset disappeared beneath the horizon and moonlight softly illuminated the earth, eight armored figures ascended into the night sky. Among them, the Abomination's armor stood out as particularly unconventional. Rather than full-body protection, it merely covered his hands and feet, with the rest of his form exposed save for a few connecting armor frames.
It barely qualified as armor—more like a specialized flight apparatus Ivan had engineered specifically for him. The eight figures made no attempt to conceal their ascent, prompting the agents stationed on the nearby hills to scramble reports up the chain of command. Director Fury, currently inspecting the research base, received the alert almost immediately.
"What are they up to now?" Fury muttered, brow furrowed. Before him, the Tesseract floated serenely within a massive containment device, its ethereal blue glow casting soft light across the room.
A bustling hive of researchers surrounded the artifact—some monitored data streams, others conducted independent analyses, while many darted about the vicinity in a flurry of activity. Professor Erik Selvig stood near the device, his gaze fixed intently on the screen. His expression shifted between calm contemplation and deep concern, radiating intense focus.
In truth, his mind was preoccupied with plotting his escape. Though he'd only met Hong Fei a handful of times, he'd become all too familiar with the man's notorious exploits during his time here. The more he learned, the colder his heart grew—he couldn't help but feel increasingly uneasy.
Simply put, he knew he'd boarded a pirate ship of the highest order, and the chances of jumping ship seemed slim to none. He didn't need to think hard to realize Hong Fei's impatience—he'd urged immediate action earlier that day. With the signal sent that afternoon, Selvig suspected their arrival was imminent, perhaps even seconds away. Heaven help me, he thought, I'm just a scholar—don't drag me into this mess.
"Professor Selvig," Fury's voice interrupted his thoughts, "how's the research progressing?"
Selvig quickly composed himself, meeting Fury's gaze with a calm demeanor. "I can't give you a precise answer. Its very existence defies much of our current understanding. Modern science might as well be elementary school compared to this. We're doing our best to establish contact and study it, because frankly, I don't believe anyone on Earth can fully control it."
Fury wasn't surprised by the response—he'd witnessed the Tesseract's magic firsthand. He even knew of its connection to Captain Marvel's origins. The thought inevitably brought to mind that adorable orange cat...
Fury's eye twitched slightly as he said, "Understood, Professor. I know it's extraordinary, and that it contains unimaginable energy. That's precisely why I brought you and the others here to study it."
Selvig paused, considering his words carefully. "We're attempting to extract its energy in a stable, controlled manner, but it's proving extremely difficult. The energy remains stable within the Tesseract, but becomes highly volatile once released. I have some theories, but they'll require time to verify."
"That's good to hear," Fury replied. "I have full confidence in your abilities—you're the finest group of scientists in the world. We have plenty of time."
Selvig thought otherwise but kept it to himself. Fury turned and strode away, with Agent Barton following silently in his wake.
Moments later, Fury and Barton found Hill in a research room. "Officer," Hill greeted.
Fury nodded. "Status report?"
"We've made progress, but it's not stable yet," Hill replied. "It can serve as a temporary emergency measure."
They moved to a workbench, gathering around a new weapon—bulky, with an unconventional design. Its barrel was unusually thick, far larger than standard kinetic weapons. Aside from the trigger, it bore little resemblance to traditional firearms.
Fury picked it up, inspecting it with a critical eye. "Looks like a prototype."
"It is," Hill confirmed.
Setting the weapon down, Fury strode out of the room, hands clasped behind his back. Barton and Hill followed. "I don't want to pressure you," Fury began, "but the situation is urgent. Whether these threats have surfaced yet or not, they're real. We can't wait for them to vanish on their own, nor can we rely on someone else to solve them. Our existence is built on the expectations of many. We must be the solution to these problems—that's our purpose.
Never count on luck. Stay vigilant. Work hard. Earn the right to call yourselves agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Yes, Officer!" Barton and Hill replied in unison.
Before Fury could continue, the base lit up with crimson warning lights, and alarms blared. Their expressions darkened. Fury swiftly pulled out a tablet, accessing the external surveillance feed. The moment the screen displayed eight figures, he barked, "Get the Avengers on standby! Call Tony! And notify General Ross!"
Outside the base, the distance from New York to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s research facility spanned hundreds of kilometers, but armored flight made it trivial. The base, nestled near an unremarkable town, appeared as nothing more than a tunnel carved into a hillside. The group paused above it.
Hong Fei turned to the others. "Target: the Tesseract. You know what it looks like. Its energy signature is off the charts. The armor can handle it, but don't touch it directly—no skin contact."
Everyone nodded. In the next instant, they descended rapidly. Eight figures streaked through the sky, their armor's propulsion systems igniting like shooting stars. The roar of their flight drew the attention of the agents stationed outside.
With metallic clangs, seven suits of armor touched down. The Abomination's landing left a crater in the ground. Hong Fei stopped just short of impact, his powerful physique and skill allowing him to shift from extreme motion to perfect stillness. He hovered slightly, flanked by seven others—four to his left, three to his right.
Facing this posture, the S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents were stunned at first, then sprang into action. Fully armed personnel raised their weapons, while suited officials triggered the alarms. Hong Fei glided forward, close to the ground, his team marching behind him.
"Stop!" someone shouted. "This is a restricted military zone!"
"Trespassing is prohibited! Violators will face the consequences!" Hong Fei's voice crackled through the team channel. "Are we being too soft, or what?"
Frank's reply came sharp and clear. "Abomination."
The command was all it took. The Abomination surged forward, his massive frame moving with terrifying speed. Hands and feet worked in unison as he barreled toward the enemy. This was how the team operated—precision and power in perfect sync.
Hong Fei might be the leader, the one who made the final call, but tactical command? That was Frank's domain. And Frank knew his stuff. The Abomination's sheer size combined with his blistering speed created an overwhelming presence. The mace he wielded was larger than some of the Agents standing in their way.
The moment the Abomination leaped into action, the Agents opened fire. S.H.I.E.L.D. had stationed armed vehicles at the tunnel entrance, their machine guns mounted on rooftops tracing lines of fire through the darkness. Bullets sprayed wildly, but they might as well have been pebbles thrown at a tank.
The Abomination swung his mace with brutal efficiency—left, right, up, down. Vehicles crumpled, Agents scattered, and in moments, he'd carved a clear path forward. From deep within the tunnel came the roar of engines. Frank's voice cut through the chaos. "Abomination, hold the entrance. Everyone else, push in."
The group advanced, bullets ricocheting harmlessly off their armor. The Abomination stayed behind, standing guard at the tunnel's mouth. With a roar, he slammed his mace into the ground. Soil and debris erupted, sending the remaining Agents scrambling backward. They raised their weapons but didn't dare fire.
Hong Fei led the charge deeper into the tunnel. Soon, vehicles came speeding toward them. Frank barked another order. "Jessica."
Jessica took to the air, her flight granting her unmatched mobility. She moved with a gentler touch than the Abomination, flipping vehicles with precision. The tunnel filled with the deafening crash of metal on metal as cars piled up, blocking the path.
Accelerating past the wreckage, the team emerged into a vast chamber. The tunnel ended in a sharp right turn, opening into a sprawling mountain base. Above them, a circular dome bathed the space in white light. Along the walls, rooms were carved into the rock, while below, buildings with sleek, futuristic designs cascaded like fish scales.
Researchers fled from laboratories, clutching data and equipment. Squads of armed personnel converged on the central platform. Heavy weapons mounted on the walls swung toward the tunnel entrance, trained on Hong Fei and his team.
Before them, a crowd had already gathered. Fury stood at the back, his voice booming. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Hong Fei drew his blade. The Dragon Power surged within his body, coursing like a torrent. Heat radiated from his nano armor, coalescing into a spiraling aura of pale gold. Though it lacked a dragon's form, the energy pulsed with undeniable power, suffusing the air with palpable pressure.
"Robbery," he said, his voice calm but edged with steel.