Chapter 124: Hell (Part 1)

"What are you guys up to? What's the deal with Coulson?" After eating the meal Coulson prepared, Daniel took advantage of the others chatting to slip into the cockpit, closing the door behind him and speaking in a low voice.

Melinda glanced at Daniel with a cold expression before returning her attention to flying the plane. After a while, she finally spoke, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Although I don't know how you did it, I really admire you. Bringing someone back from the dead is something even we in the wizarding world can't do."

To obtain blood samples from both Skye and Coulson, Daniel decided to use a strategy of deception, exploiting the information asymmetry without resorting to force. Skye's blood was crucial, but so was the Kree blood that revived Coulson, a substance Daniel did not possess. His bio-virus could only save those who were not yet dead.

"How do you know about that?" Melinda's tone remained calm, showcasing her iron will.

"Don't forget, I'm a magician. I can see things you can't. While I don't know how you revived Coulson, I can guess there's a significant side effect. There can't be no price for coming back from the dead."

"I'm not clear on the specifics. You'd have to ask the Director." Melinda wasn't lying. The Tahiti project was beyond her clearance, and even HYDRA members within S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't know about it. Garrett's relentless search for the source via Coulson was a testament to that.

"That one-eyed spook? I'd rather not. Can you help me get a blood sample from Coulson? I want to check his current condition."

"Blood?"

"Yes. If I ask him directly, he'll suspect something's off. You wouldn't want him to find out something's wrong, would you?"

"I'll find a way." Melinda nodded after a moment of consideration.

"No need to complicate things. I already have a plan, but I need your cooperation." Daniel explained his plan.

"Alright." Melinda agreed after a brief thought. Coulson was a very important friend to her, and she wouldn't have taken this assignment without Fury's orders.

"Blood samples?" In the plane's lab, everyone was stunned when Daniel explained the purpose of gathering them.

"This is to ensure everyone's safety. Daniel is a renowned expert in biochemistry." Melinda set the example by being the first to draw her blood.

With Melinda's approval, everyone else followed suit. Simmons, though reluctant, complied. As S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, they were used to blood tests.

In fact, the lab already stored everyone's blood samples as a precautionary measure to ensure there would be a supply in emergencies. This practice had saved many S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in the past.

Simmons' displeasure stemmed from Daniel stepping into her field of expertise. However, with Melinda and Coulson's approval, she couldn't object.

"Alright, everything's settled here. It's time for me to go." Daniel, having collected the blood samples, glanced at Skye, Ward, Simmons, and Fitz, then bid farewell to Coulson. Having achieved his goal, there was no reason for him to stay.

"Thank you. We owe you a great deal." Coulson expressed his gratitude, with Fitz and Simmons joining in.

"Don't mention it. You've all done well." Daniel felt a sense of nostalgia looking at Fitz and Simmons, who, in the original story, had a tumultuous path to being together.

"Fitz, you should thank me. In the original story, Simmons was accidentally sent to an alien planet where she fell for a pilot. It left Fitz heartbroken."

Of course, it wasn't Simmons' fault. She was a scientist, thrust into a desolate planet with the terrifying Hive. Fear and the need for rescue made her actions understandable.

But now, those events wouldn't happen. Daniel planned to deal with Hive soon. Previously, he didn't have the confidence, but now he did. That planet, although desolate, was still valuable, especially its mineral resources. Moreover, it could serve as a base for him.

Given Earth's limitations, Daniel couldn't freely use his battle armor. On another planet, he could deploy it without issue.

He also didn't intend to spare Ward, the HYDRA mole. Keeping him alive might complicate matters for Agent Hand, whom Daniel had an eye on—not romantically, but as a potential CEO for FeiFei Group. Hand's strict adherence to rules made her an excellent candidate for managing a company.

Hand was highly competent, having managed to fend off HYDRA within S.H.I.E.L.D. and take control of the hub. She would have succeeded completely if not for Ward's deep cover. Losing such talent to Ward would be a waste.

"Wait." As Daniel prepared to leave with his broomstick, Coulson seemed to receive new information and stopped him.

"What's up?" Daniel asked.

"We just got a mission. I'd like you to come along." Coulson said apologetically.

"A mission? What kind of mission?" Daniel was curious.

"It's a case involving superpowers. The target appears to have telekinetic abilities." Coulson displayed the mission details on a nearby holographic system.

The target was in a remote town in Batesville, Utah. The town was self-sufficient and tranquil until a lab explosion last week changed everything. The small town was shaken as the explosion killed several residents, all locals.

"The target is Hannah, a quality control specialist at the lab and the explosion's sole survivor. The townspeople blame her for the accident." Coulson pointed at images brought up by Fitz, explaining the intelligence from S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.

Coulson then pointed to several odd incidents, continuing, "Headquarters suspects she might have gained some strange abilities due to the particle accelerator explosion."

With Hannah blamed for the explosion and strange occurrences around her, the townspeople now believed she was possessed by a demon.

In small American towns, beliefs in demon possession and exorcism by the church were quite common. While this could be dismissed as superstition elsewhere, in a world with Ghost Riders and Mephisto, it was harder to rule out.

"It looks like telekinesis, but does that really exist?" Simmons commented, then glanced at Daniel, hesitating to finish her sentence in front of a real magician.

"What do you think?" Coulson turned to Daniel.

"I'm not sure. We'll have to meet her. Telekinesis is a very powerful ability." Thinking of a certain powerful telekinetic girl, Daniel imagined crushing a magnetic levitation train with such power.

"We'd appreciate your assistance." Coulson said.

The plane soon reached the town. A large crowd had gathered near a burning gas station beside a convenience store.

"That demon killed my husband. Why hasn't she been executed yet?"

"Get out of our town, demon!"

"Police, why aren't you arresting this demon?"

The police were present but only watching as the townspeople attacked Hannah, not stepping in to help.

As members of the community, many police officers shared the townspeople's views but, as law enforcers, couldn't arrest Hannah without solid evidence. Claims of demonic possession or superpowers weren't legal grounds for arrest.

Evidence was crucial in American law. Even Jessica's mental control couldn't stand up in court.

"Stop." As the townspeople prepared to assault Hannah, Ward and Melinda intervened, showing their S.H.I.E.L.D. credentials and ordering the police to maintain order.

S.H.I.E.L.D.'s authority compelled the police to grudgingly comply.

"Watch out!" Suddenly, an unmanned car started moving towards the crowd. Fortunately, it moved slowly, allowing people to avoid it, but it crashed into a wall, fueling more anger against Hannah.

The distressed Hannah seemed on the verge of losing control when Melinda decisively shot her with a tranquilizer dart loaded with cobra venom, freezing her.

"What are you doing?" Coulson and Ward were shocked at Melinda's action. While covert operations allowed for some flexibility, overtly shooting a civilian was frowned upon, even by S.H.I.E.L.D.

"This is interesting." Daniel smiled, noticing that the car wasn't empty. Coulson and the others might not see it, but Daniel did.

"Not telekinesis, huh?" Realizing there was someone in the car, Daniel was disappointed, hoping for a telekinetic encounter. Gaining powers from a particle accelerator explosion was typical in the Marvel universe, with most superpowers stemming from such events.

Not just in Marvel, but in the neighboring universe too, where many people gained superpowers from such accidents.

After securing Hannah, Coulson handled negotiations with the local police, asserting S.H.I.E.L.D.'s jurisdiction over the case.

"Fitz, who do you think is stronger, a superpower user or a magician?" At the lab explosion site, Fitz and Simmons were investigating using drones.

"Is that even a question?" Fitz retorted, recalling footage of Daniel destroying numerous creatures and buildings with his magic.

"I never thought magic and superpowers were real." Simmons was filled with awe.

S.H.I.E.L.D. detained many superpowered individuals, but those secrets were inaccessible to Level 5 or 6 agents like them. Accessing such information required Level 7 clearance or higher.

"Alright, we've got everything recorded. Let's head back." Fitz, a technological genius, efficiently gathered data using drones, saving manpower and resources.

"Is it superpowers?" Fitz and Simmons asked eagerly upon returning, all eyes on Daniel.

"No, it's not." Daniel shook his head.

"Then what is it? How did those objects move? How did the car start?" Skye blurted out before Coulson could speak.

"It's simple. Those objects and the car moved because of this." Daniel suddenly appeared beside Simmons

, reaching behind her to pull out a hidden figure.

"Ah!" Simmons screamed and ran behind Fitz, who, though terrified, stood his ground to protect her.

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