Three weeks after Thor's departure, Su Chen's network had expanded significantly.
He stood in a converted warehouse in Hell's Kitchen—purchased through shell companies and renovated to serve as a secure meeting space for his growing organization. The location was strategic: far enough from S.H.I.E.L.D. facilities to maintain independence, close enough to urban centers for rapid response, and positioned in territory where Jessica Jones and Luke Cage had local knowledge.
"This is everyone?" Luke Cage asked, surveying the assembled group with evident skepticism.
"Everyone relevant for this operation," Su Chen confirmed. Present were Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Saeko, Esdeath, and David Chen. Notably absent were his more exotic assets—Xiao Yi Xian remained with the Black Dragon Fortress in orbital standby, and his other dimensional resources stayed concealed.
"You called this meeting to discuss The Hand," Jessica said, getting directly to business. "I've been tracking them for two weeks. They're running enhanced trafficking operations across five cities, using front companies that look legitimate on paper but funnel people to training facilities where they're either recruited or disposed of."
She pulled up files on a secured tablet, displaying surveillance photos and organizational charts. "They're not just criminals—they're an army. Military discipline, enhanced combat capabilities, and they're coordinated across international borders. Someone's funding them, directing them, and they have resources that shouldn't be possible for a criminal organization."
"Because they're not criminals," Su Chen explained. "The Hand is an ancient organization dating back centuries. They've mastered techniques that grant extended lifespan, possibly resurrection. Their warriors are trained from childhood, enhanced through mystical means, and absolutely loyal. What you're seeing is the modern manifestation of something that's been operating in shadows for generations."
"Mystical means," Luke repeated dubiously. "You're talking about magic?"
"I'm talking about techniques that produce measurable results regardless of what you call them," Su Chen replied. "The Hand has access to knowledge that most organizations don't—methods of enhancing human physiology, extending life, and potentially returning from death. Whether you classify that as magic, advanced biology, or something else is academic. What matters is they're dangerous and expanding their operations into our territory."
"So we take them down," Luke said simply. "Find their facilities, free the captives, and shut down their operations."
"It's not that simple," Saeko interjected, speaking for the first time. "Organizations like The Hand have existed for centuries because they're adaptable and deeply rooted. Destroying one cell just causes them to relocate and rebuild. We need to understand their structure completely before we can dismantle them permanently."
"Which is why I've been gathering intelligence rather than attacking," Jessica confirmed. "They have five confirmed facilities in New York alone. But there's a hierarchy—lower-level operations handling recruitment and trafficking, mid-level facilities handling training and enhancement, and something at the top that coordinates everything. We need to identify that coordination center."
Su Chen nodded approvingly. "Exactly. We're not going to wage war against The Hand's entire organization. We're going to conduct surgical strikes—free the captives, gather intelligence, and work our way up the hierarchy until we can eliminate their leadership structure in New York. That cripples their operations here without triggering a wider conflict we're not prepared for."
"Why aren't we prepared?" David Chen asked. The young electromagnetic manipulator had been quiet, observing the discussion with clear interest. "I mean, we've got some seriously powerful people here. What could The Hand throw at us that we couldn't handle?"
"Numbers," Esdeath replied coldly. "Individual power matters less when you're facing coordinated forces that don't fear death. The Hand's warriors are trained to sacrifice themselves for mission success. Even overwhelming individual strength can be overcome by sufficient numbers of skilled, expendable troops."
"She's right," Su Chen confirmed. "Which is why we're being strategic. We hit their operations where they're vulnerable, extract intelligence about their structure, and avoid engaging their full strength until we understand exactly what we're dealing with."
He pulled up a holographic display—one of several technological upgrades he'd introduced to the warehouse using Babata's fabrication capabilities disguised as acquired equipment. The display showed a three-dimensional map of New York with five locations highlighted.
"These are the confirmed Hand facilities Jessica identified. Three are trafficking operations—recruiting grounds where they identify potential assets and vulnerabilities. One is a training facility where captured individuals are enhanced and indoctrinated. The fifth is different—heavier security, different energy signatures, and very limited access. I believe that's their regional command center."
"You believe, or you know?" Luke challenged.
"I know," Su Chen stated flatly. "My resources for intelligence gathering exceed what I've demonstrated to S.H.I.E.L.D. I'm not going to apologize for having capabilities I don't advertise."
Luke studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Fair enough. As long as those capabilities are used against the right targets, I can work with not knowing all the details."
"Our first operation targets this facility," Su Chen indicated one of the trafficking operations. "Low security, minimal enhanced personnel, but actively processing captives. We go in, extract the prisoners, and most importantly—capture Hand operatives alive for interrogation. We need information about their hierarchy and operations."
"When?" Jessica asked.
"Tomorrow night," Su Chen replied. "That gives us time to plan the operation in detail, prepare contingencies, and ensure we're coordinated. Jessica, you and Luke will handle primary entry and captive extraction—your enhanced durability makes you ideal for engaging Hand forces directly. David, you'll provide electronic warfare support, disrupting their communications and security systems. Saeko and Esdeath will handle perimeter containment, preventing escape or reinforcement."
"And you?" Luke asked.
"I'll be coordinating and providing tactical support," Su Chen said. "But more importantly, I'll be interrogating any Hand operatives we capture. I have methods for extracting information that are... effective."
The tone in which he said it made everyone present understand that "effective" meant things they probably didn't want details about.
"One more thing," Su Chen added. "This operation is completely independent of S.H.I.E.L.D. They're not aware of The Hand's full scope in New York, and alerting them would trigger official response that could compromise our intelligence gathering. We're operating outside their oversight on this one."
"That doesn't bother you?" Jessica challenged. "Just deciding to conduct a military operation without government sanction?"
"S.H.I.E.L.D. is compromised," Su Chen stated bluntly. "I have intelligence suggesting Hydra—the Nazi science division that supposedly was destroyed in World War II—has infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. at multiple levels. Bringing them into this operation risks alerting enemies who could warn The Hand or use the situation against us."
The silence that followed was heavy.
"You're saying Nazis have infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D.," Luke said slowly. "And you just... know this somehow?"
"I have access to intelligence networks beyond S.H.I.E.L.D.'s awareness," Su Chen confirmed. "Whether you believe me or not, consider this—would an organization as paranoid and capable as S.H.I.E.L.D. really have no hidden elements within its structure? No shadow factions pursuing their own agendas?"
"He's not wrong," Jessica said reluctantly. "I've done investigations into government agencies before. They're never as clean as they appear on the surface. Internal factions, competing agendas, classified programs nobody knows about—it's standard operating procedure."
"Which is why we're operating independently," Su Chen reiterated. "We handle threats that the official organizations can't or won't address. That's our purpose—to be the force that protects people when the systems fail them."
"Pretty speech," Luke observed. "But it's also a justification for operating without oversight. How do we know you won't decide we're a threat you need to 'handle' someday?"
Su Chen met his gaze directly. "You don't. That's why this network is voluntary—anyone can leave anytime they want. I'm not building an organization based on coercion or control. I'm building one based on shared purpose and mutual benefit. You work with me because you choose to, because our objectives align, and because together we're more effective than separately."
"And if our objectives stop aligning?" Luke pressed.
"Then we part ways professionally," Su Chen replied simply. "I'm not interested in forcing loyalty, Luke. That creates enemies pretending to be allies. I'd rather have honest disagreement than false cooperation."
Luke considered this, then nodded slowly. "Alright. I can respect that. But understand—I'm doing this to protect my community. The moment I think this network is becoming what we're fighting against, I'm out."
"Understood and accepted," Su Chen agreed. "Now, let's plan this operation in detail. We have twenty-four hours to prepare, and I want every contingency covered."
They spent the next three hours reviewing tactical plans, discussing capabilities, and identifying potential complications. Jessica's investigative instincts identified security vulnerabilities. Luke's combat experience provided insight into engaging trained opponents. David's technical knowledge outlined how to compromise their electronic infrastructure. Saeko and Esdeath contributed tactical analysis based on combat experience that technically shouldn't have been possible given their official backgrounds, but nobody questioned it directly.
By the time they finished, they had a comprehensive operation plan that accounted for multiple scenarios and established clear roles for each participant.
"One last thing," Su Chen said as they prepared to depart. "The Hand's warriors are trained to die rather than be captured. When we engage them, expect fanatical resistance. Don't hesitate, don't show mercy they won't reciprocate, and understand that some of them might be victims of their own indoctrination. That doesn't make them less dangerous."
"Understood," Jessica said, and the others nodded agreement.
After everyone departed, Su Chen remained in the warehouse with Saeko and Esdeath.
"Master," Saeko said quietly, "you're revealing more of our organizational structure to these street-level heroes than you've shown S.H.I.E.L.D. Is that wise?"
"It's necessary," Su Chen replied. "Jessica, Luke, and David represent something important—enhanced individuals who have genuine connections to communities, who understand street-level threats, and who operate based on personal principles rather than organizational directives. They're valuable precisely because they're independent."
"And when S.H.I.E.L.D. inevitably learns you're running operations without their oversight?" Esdeath challenged.
"I'll handle that when it happens," Su Chen said. "Fury is pragmatic—as long as our operations don't contradict S.H.I.E.L.D.'s objectives and we produce results, he'll tolerate some independence. The key is managing the perception that we're allies who sometimes operate autonomously rather than rivals conducting unauthorized activities."
"A fine distinction," Saeko observed.
"But an important one," Su Chen confirmed. "Now, let's prepare for tomorrow. I want to review The Hand's facility layout in detail and identify optimal entry points. This operation needs to be flawless—it sets the tone for how our network handles complex threats."
As they worked through the night, reviewing intelligence and refining plans, Su Chen felt the familiar satisfaction of pieces moving into position. The Hand operation would serve multiple purposes—it would free captives, gather intelligence, demonstrate his network's capabilities, and further establish his team as a force independent of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s direct oversight.
"Master," Babata's voice carried a note of interest. "I've detected something unusual in global financial networks. Stark Industries' stock has been behaving erratically—someone's manipulating it, possibly attempting a hostile takeover. Cross-referencing with other data... Obadiah Stane, Tony Stark's business partner, appears to be the one orchestrating this."
"Stane's betrayal," Su Chen identified. "The timeline is accelerating. Stark will soon discover his partner has been selling weapons to terrorists and attempting to steal his technology. That confrontation will force Stark to reveal the Iron Man armor publicly."
"Should we intervene?" Babata asked.
"No," Su Chen decided. "Stark needs to face this betrayal and overcome it on his own. The experience will shape who he becomes as Iron Man. Our time to make contact will come after he's established himself, when he's looking for allies who respect his independence rather than trying to control him."
He looked at the holographic display showing not just The Hand operation, but multiple threads of activity across New York and beyond. Enhanced individuals emerging, organizations maneuvering for position, ancient threats awakening, and cosmic forces taking interest in Earth.
The convergence was accelerating, and Su Chen intended to be positioned at its center when everything finally came together.
The harvest continued, and tomorrow night, they would demonstrate exactly why his network was becoming a force that even ancient organizations like The Hand needed to fear.