Forty-three hours after their encounter with Spider-Man and Agent Coulson, Su Chen's patience was rewarded.
"Master, critical alert," Babata's voice cut through the early morning silence. "Project Pegasus is experiencing cascading containment failures. The Tesseract's energy output has increased by 847% in the last six minutes. Director Fury has issued a Level Seven emergency evacuation order."
Su Chen was on his feet instantly, his Dual Pupils blazing to life as he accessed the data streams Babata was feeding directly into his consciousness. The holographic display materialized before him, showing real-time satellite imagery of the Mojave Desert facility. Even from orbit, the blue energy radiating from the underground complex was visible—pulses of spatial distortion that warped the very fabric of reality.
"Show me internal feeds," he commanded.
The display shifted to security camera footage from inside Project Pegasus. Chaos reigned in the corridors as scientists and technicians fled toward evacuation routes. In the central containment chamber, Dr. Erik Selvig stood mesmerized before the Tesseract, which now hovered freely in the air, its cube structure flickering between solid matter and pure energy.
"The fool," Su Chen muttered. "He's been bombarding the Space Stone with gamma radiation, trying to force it to open a stable wormhole. All he's accomplished is destabilizing the dimensional locks that keep it contained."
Saeko emerged from her room, already dressed and ready. Her Supreme Sword Bone resonated faintly with the spatial distortions emanating from the Tesseract, recognizing a kindred form of reality manipulation. "This is our opportunity?"
"Better than I could have planned," Su Chen confirmed. "The Tesseract is attempting to open a portal—not randomly, but in response to a specific signal. Someone on the other side is calling to it."
"Loki," Esdeath identified, having reviewed the intelligence Su Chen had compiled about this universe's major players. "The Asgardian prince who's destined to invade Earth using the Chitauri army."
"Precisely," Su Chen nodded. "But he's early. In the original timeline, this shouldn't happen for another three months. Selvig's experiments have accelerated the cascade of events."
He pulled up additional data streams, showing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s response protocols activating across multiple facilities. "Director Fury is scrambling response teams, but he doesn't have anyone who can actually contain a Space Stone crisis. Their technology is insufficient, and their few enhanced assets are unavailable—Thor isn't on Earth yet, and they haven't even located Captain America."
"Which means they're desperate," Saeko observed. "Desperate enough to accept help from anyone who offers it."
"Exactly," Su Chen smiled. "Babata, how long until critical failure?"
"At current destabilization rates, the Tesseract will achieve full portal manifestation in approximately seventy-three minutes. However, the energy buildup will become visible to civilian populations within thirty minutes, which will force S.H.I.E.L.D. to expand their containment perimeter."
Su Chen's mind raced through calculations, analyzing variables and probabilities with the processing power granted by his Formation Arrangement cultivation. "We need to arrive before the portal opens, but after S.H.I.E.L.D. has exhausted their conventional options. That will maximize our perceived value."
He turned to his companions. "Full combat readiness, but maintain the dimensional masking. We're about to walk into a situation that will test our ability to balance overwhelming power with strategic restraint."
Esdeath's Frost Crown materialized, though its power signature remained compressed beneath Xiao Yi Xian's masking agent. "Rules of engagement?"
"Protect S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel, prevent civilian casualties, and secure the Tesseract before Loki arrives," Su Chen outlined. "But most importantly—we need to be seen as potential allies, not threats. That means fighting with controlled power, showing capabilities that are impressive but explainable within this universe's framework."
"What about the Space Stone itself?" Saeko asked. "Can we copy it?"
Su Chen's golden pupil flared with intense focus. "The Infinity Stones are conceptual embodiments of fundamental universal forces. Copying them will require direct physical contact and several minutes of uninterrupted analysis. We won't have that opportunity during an active crisis, so our primary objective is to establish ourselves as key players in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s response network. Once we have their trust, we'll have multiple opportunities to study the Stones."
He pulled out his smartphone—the quantum-enhanced device that served as his interface with the fortress. "Babata, prepare the dimensional shuttle for immediate deployment. Route us directly to Project Pegasus, arrival time synchronized with maximum S.H.I.E.L.D. desperation."
"Understood, Master. However, I must warn you—the spatial distortions from the Tesseract will interfere with our cloaking systems. Our arrival will be detected by both S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Masters of the Mystic Arts."
"Let them detect us," Su Chen declared. "We'll be arriving to help contain a crisis. Even the Ancient One won't interfere with that, as long as we don't destabilize this dimension further."
They moved to the apartment's balcony, where Babata had arranged for a localized sensor blackout. The dimensional shuttle materialized in the air before them—sleek, dark, and radiating subtle power that would be invisible to conventional detection but obvious to anyone with enhanced senses.
As they boarded, Su Chen felt a familiar tingle across his consciousness—someone was watching them. His silver pupil focused on the dimensional layers, and for just a moment, he glimpsed a figure standing in a space that existed perpendicular to normal reality.
The Ancient One. Bald, serene, and radiating power that marked her as this universe's foremost mystical authority. Their eyes met across dimensional boundaries, and Su Chen inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment. The Ancient One's expression remained neutral, but she made no move to interfere.
"She's evaluating us," Esdeath observed, having caught the brief dimensional glimpse.
"Of course she is," Su Chen replied as the shuttle accelerated toward the Mojave Desert at speeds that would appear as merely a blur to ground-based observers. "She's seen millions of futures, and she's trying to determine which timeline we're leading toward. As long as we don't pose an extinction-level threat to this universe, she'll allow events to unfold."
The journey took less than four minutes, the shuttle covering over three hundred miles while maintaining a profile that conventional radar would struggle to track. As they approached Project Pegasus, the scope of the crisis became apparent even from altitude.
The entire facility was surrounded by a hemisphere of blue energy—spatial distortions that warped light and matter, making the underground complex appear as if it were being viewed through unstable water. S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicles surrounded the perimeter, but they were maintaining a safe distance, unable to approach through the reality-warping field.
"Energy output is now at 1,200% of baseline," Babata reported. "Portal manifestation imminent. I'm detecting S.H.I.E.L.D. communications—Director Fury is on-site and requesting any available enhanced assets."
"Perfect timing," Su Chen murmured. "Take us down, but maintain altitude until I give the signal. I want them to see us arrive, to know we came in response to their crisis."
The shuttle descended, and almost immediately, alarms began blaring in the S.H.I.E.L.D. command vehicles. Su Chen watched through his neural link as Fury's tactical displays lit up with alerts about an unidentified aircraft approaching the crisis zone.
"Unknown aircraft, this is S.H.I.E.L.D. Command," a voice crackled over radio frequencies. "You are entering a restricted military zone. Identify yourself immediately or you will be fired upon."
Su Chen activated the shuttle's communication system, his voice calm and measured. "S.H.I.E.L.D. Command, this is Su Chen. I believe Agent Coulson has information about me in his database. I'm here to help contain the spatial anomaly."
There was a pause—undoubtedly while someone frantically searched for his name in their systems. Then a different voice came through, one Su Chen recognized from intelligence files as belonging to Maria Hill, Fury's second-in-command.
"Mr. Su Chen, this is Deputy Director Hill. How did you know about this situation? This facility's location is classified."
"The energy signature from your containment breach is visible to anyone with the right sensors," Su Chen replied truthfully, if not completely. "And I have some experience with spatial anomalies. Do you want my help or not?"
Another pause, then Nick Fury's distinctive voice cut through. "Mr. Su Chen, this is Director Fury. Agent Coulson spoke highly of your capabilities, but this situation is beyond civilian assistance. We have protocols—"
"Your protocols are insufficient," Su Chen interrupted, his tone remaining professional but firm. "You're dealing with a device that manipulates the fundamental structure of space itself. Your conventional technology can't interact with it, and you don't have anyone on your roster who can safely enter that energy field. Meanwhile, that field is expanding at an exponential rate. In approximately forty minutes, it will reach the nearest civilian population center."
He let that sink in before continuing. "I can help, Director Fury. But we're wasting time debating."
There was a long silence. Su Chen could imagine the calculation happening in Fury's mind—weighing the risk of accepting help from an unknown enhanced individual against the certainty of catastrophic civilian casualties.
"Land your aircraft at the perimeter command post," Fury finally ordered. "But understand—you'll be under constant surveillance, and if you pose any threat to my people, we will respond with extreme prejudice."
"Understood, Director," Su Chen replied, signaling Babata to land the shuttle.
They touched down in a cleared area surrounded by S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicles and armed personnel. The moment the shuttle's door opened, Su Chen found himself facing a semi-circle of agents with weapons drawn—not aimed at him directly, but definitely ready.
Nick Fury stood at the center of the formation, his single eye assessing Su Chen with an intensity that would have been intimidating to someone who hadn't faced down actual gods. He was exactly as Su Chen's intelligence had suggested—tactical, pragmatic, and absolutely ruthless when necessary.
"Mr. Su Chen," Fury greeted, his voice neutral. "You have thirty seconds to convince me why I shouldn't arrest you for breaching classified airspace and knowing about a facility that officially doesn't exist."
Su Chen stepped out of the shuttle, followed by Saeko and Esdeath. Their appearance caused a visible stir among the assembled agents—three individuals who radiated controlled power, moving with a coordination that spoke of extensive combat experience.
"Because arresting me won't solve your immediate problem," Su Chen replied evenly. "That facility is about to tear open a hole in space-time, potentially creating a permanent gateway to locations unknown. You need someone who can enter that energy field, reach the device causing the distortion, and either shut it down or contain it."
"And you can do that?" Maria Hill challenged, her hand resting on her sidearm.
"I can," Su Chen confirmed. "But I need to know exactly what you're dealing with. What device is causing this reaction?"
Fury and Hill exchanged glances. It was Phil Coulson who stepped forward, having apparently been summoned when Su Chen's name appeared in their systems.
"Mr. Su Chen," Coulson greeted professionally. "I see you took my suggestion about reaching out seriously, though this is faster than I anticipated." He glanced at Fury, who gave a subtle nod of permission. "The device is called the Tesseract. It's an artifact of unknown origin that we've been studying for energy applications. Our head researcher was attempting to activate it when something went wrong."
"The Tesseract," Su Chen repeated, allowing a note of recognition to enter his voice. "A cube that glows blue and seems to contain impossible amounts of energy?"
"You've heard of it?" Hill asked sharply.
"I've encountered references to similar objects in my research," Su Chen said vaguely. "Artifacts that manipulate fundamental forces—space, time, energy. They're incredibly dangerous if mishandled." He looked directly at Fury. "Director, whoever was experimenting with that device was playing with forces far beyond human comprehension. The fact that this didn't happen sooner is honestly surprising."
Fury's expression darkened slightly, but he didn't dispute the assessment. "Can you contain it or not?"
Su Chen turned toward the energy field, his Dual Pupils analyzing the spatial distortions in detail. What he saw was both fascinating and concerning—the Tesseract wasn't just opening a random portal. It was creating a stable bridge to a specific location, using energy signatures that originated from outside this dimension entirely.
"I can stabilize the field and prevent it from expanding further," Su Chen said. "But I'll need to reach the device itself, which means entering that distortion field. Once inside, I'll need approximately ten minutes to work without interference."
"Ten minutes to do what exactly?" Hill pressed.
"To either shut down the activation sequence or reinforce the containment," Su Chen explained. "The Tesseract is responding to an external signal—someone or something is trying to use it as a gateway. I need to determine if we're blocking that gateway or managing it."
"Managing it?" Fury's voice sharpened. "Why would we manage an unauthorized dimensional breach?"
"Because blocking it completely might cause a catastrophic energy backlash that vaporizes this entire region," Su Chen replied bluntly. "These devices don't simply turn off, Director. They need to discharge their accumulated energy safely, which means either allowing a controlled breach or redirecting that energy elsewhere."
The implications hung in the air. Fury's jaw tightened, but Su Chen could see the Director's tactical mind processing the information. He was being given two bad options and told to choose the less catastrophic one.
"If you're lying to me—" Fury began.
"Then you'll have lost nothing you wouldn't have lost anyway," Su Chen interrupted. "Director, we're wasting time. Every minute we delay, that field expands and more civilians come into danger. Let me help."
Fury held his gaze for a long moment, then nodded sharply. "Fine. But Agent Coulson goes with you as an observer, and you're wearing a tracker." He gestured, and an agent stepped forward with what appeared to be a high-tech bracelet. "This monitors your vital signs and location. It also has a kill switch—if you betray us, you won't enjoy the consequences."
Su Chen allowed them to attach the bracelet, though he could feel Babata already analyzing and subverting its systems. Within seconds, the AI would have complete control over what signals it transmitted.
"Understood," Su Chen agreed. "Saeko, Esdeath—you'll remain here as a liaison with S.H.I.E.L.D. command. Monitor the situation and be ready to assist if needed."
"Acknowledged," they responded in unison, taking up positions that would allow them to observe everything while appearing cooperative.
Su Chen turned toward the energy field, with Coulson falling into step beside him. The agent was carrying what appeared to be a sophisticated sensor package, likely meant to record whatever happened inside the distortion field.
"For what it's worth," Coulson said quietly as they approached the shimmering barrier, "I hope you know what you're doing. Fury may not say it, but we're out of options."
"I know exactly what I'm doing, Agent Coulson," Su Chen assured him. "The question is whether you're prepared for what you're about to see."
They reached the edge of the energy field. Up close, the spatial distortions were even more pronounced—reality itself seemed to ripple and fold, creating impossible geometries that hurt to look at directly.
Su Chen extended his hand toward the barrier, and his Dual Pupils flared to full power. His golden eye analyzed the energy patterns, while his silver eye perceived the underlying dimensional structure. Around his hand, space itself began to bend in response to his will—a small demonstration of his Supreme Sword Bone's ability to cut through the fabric of reality.
"Stay close to me," he instructed Coulson. "And try not to think too hard about what you're seeing. Human minds aren't designed to process spatial distortions directly."
With that, he stepped into the field, pulling Coulson along with him.
The world inverted.
From the outside, the energy field appeared as a hemisphere of blue light. From the inside, it was a corridor of twisted space that led down into the facility through angles that shouldn't exist. Su Chen walked forward with confidence, his Formation Arrangement cultivation allowing him to navigate the distorted geometry as easily as a normal hallway.
Coulson stumbled slightly, his face paling as his brain tried to process what his eyes were seeing. "What... how are we..."
"Don't look at the edges," Su Chen advised. "Focus on where you're walking. Your perception will adjust."
They descended through the impossible space, and Su Chen took the opportunity to examine the energy signatures more closely. The Tesseract's power was magnificent—pure spatial manipulation, operating at a level that would allow instantaneous travel across galactic distances. But more interesting was the responding signal he detected.
"Babata," he subvocalized through his neural link. "Analysis of the external signal source."
"Confirmed, Master. The signal originates from a location outside this universe's normal space—specifically, from what appears to be a pocket dimension or parallel reality. The energy signature matches Asgardian magic combined with Chitauri technology. Loki is attempting to establish contact."
"Time until full portal manifestation?"
"Thirty-seven minutes, assuming current acceleration rates."
"Understood."
They emerged from the twisted corridor into the central containment chamber. The sight that greeted them was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
The Tesseract floated in the center of the room, no longer contained by any physical apparatus. It had grown from a simple cube into something far more complex—a geometric structure that existed in multiple dimensions simultaneously, rotating through configurations that defied Euclidean geometry. Blue energy arced from it in patterns that carved temporary rifts in space, each one offering glimpses of distant locations.
Dr. Erik Selvig lay unconscious near the wall, apparently thrown back by the initial energy surge. Several other technicians were huddled behind overturned equipment, too terrified to flee but unable to help.
"Secure the doctor and the civilians," Su Chen instructed Coulson. "Get them to the edge of the field where they can be evacuated. I'll handle the Tesseract."
"What are you going to do?" Coulson asked, his agent instincts making him hesitate despite the obvious danger.
Su Chen's eyes blazed with golden and silver light as he approached the hovering artifact. "Something either very clever or monumentally stupid. I haven't decided which yet."
He reached out with both hands toward the Tesseract, and the Origin Mirror's power surged through him, ready to copy the fundamental nature of an Infinity Stone.
The harvest had reached its critical moment.