"Dr. Cho, this is Samuel. The man sitting across from you isn't FBI. He's from a much larger intelligence agency. Our boss anticipated his arrival, so please follow my instructions carefully." The voice materialized abruptly in her mind, sharp and clear.
Dr. Helen Cho's expression froze for a fraction of a second. Fortunately, she happened to be looking down, her seated posture masking the slight tension. Coulson remained oblivious. "Ms. Cho," he began smoothly, "what's your relationship with Mr. Hong?"
She smiled, her tone measured. "I'm his girlfriend."
Coulson nodded, his expression one of mild understanding. "That's good to hear. Actually, I'm here to discuss the incident where Mr. Hong and Tony Stark were kidnapped in the Middle East. Are you familiar with that?"
Helen nodded again, her composure unshaken. "Yes, he's told me about it several times. Have you found the culprits?"
"Not yet, but we've gathered significant leads."
"That's great. Please, ask anything you need. I'll answer to the best of my knowledge."
In truth, Hong Fei had never gone into detail with her about the incident. But with Big Head guiding her covertly, she felt no panic. If anything, her performance was flawless. Coulson continued his slow, methodical questioning, and Helen responded without a single misstep, her answers flowing seamlessly.
Outside, the dim yellow glow of sunset faded from the horizon. Inside, the grand chandelier in the living room flickered to life, bathing the room in a warm, artificial daylight. Coulson raised his hand casually, tapping his wristwatch.
Beyond the manor, in the dense forest, the last traces of sunlight vanished. A shadow stirred—a black figure on the ground suddenly shifting into motion. Natasha had accompanied Coulson up the mountain, but she'd slipped out of the car midway, disappearing into the woods. Now, under the cover of darkness, she began her advance.
Her wrist-mounted screen displayed a map of surveillance signals, which she deftly avoided. Moving with precision, she crept toward the manor's outer wall. Her agility was unmatched; she scaled the wall with feline grace and landed silently on the other side. To anyone watching, she might have been a shadow herself.
The patrolling guards failed to spot her. Instead, she exploited every gap in their field of vision, advancing swiftly whenever a blind spot presented itself. Neither the cameras nor the patrols caught her—it was as if she'd become invisible.
But she didn't know that as she edged closer to the manor's core, a large red dot materialized abruptly in Big Head's Psychic Vision. The dot moved erratically—stopping suddenly, darting forward, then halting again. Its behavior was impossible to ignore.
Big Head's eyes narrowed. Coulson's visit was a diversion, meant to draw attention while Natasha infiltrated. He glanced at the surveillance feed, noting the discrepancy: his Psychic Power detected her, but the cameras showed nothing.
"This is getting interesting," he muttered, a cold smile spreading across his face. He expanded his Psychic Power, linking instantly with every patrolling guard. Then, grabbing a flashlight, he strode toward the rooftop.
"Dr. Cho, feel free to keep chatting. This boring game will be over soon."
Natasha crouched behind the main manor building, her sharp ears catching fragments of the conversation between Helen and Coulson in the living room. Suddenly, she froze, her breath catching. The faint sound of footsteps reached her, barely audible but unmistakable. Her instincts screamed a warning.
Her face froze mid-step. They'd caught her. She spun to bolt, but a harsh spotlight pinned her in place, transforming her into a lone performer on stage. The manor erupted with blaring alarms and pounding footsteps. She didn't hesitate—just ran.
A shot cracked through the air. Someone fell.
Inside the manor, Dr. Helen Cho and Coulson jerked upright at the alarm. When the gunshot echoed, Helen gasped, clutching her chest. Coulson was already moving, sprinting toward the commotion. Out back, security guards formed a tight circle on the lawn, their flashlights converging on Natasha's crumpled form.
Coulson rounded the corner and broke into a run. "FBI! Clear the area—now!" He shoved through the crowd, only to freeze at the sight. Natasha lay on the ground, clutching her bleeding shoulder, surrounded by a dozen guns trained on her. He took a step forward, but her sharp glare stopped him cold.
This operation was already skating on thin ice legally. Coulson halted, drew his own weapon, and flashed his badge. "Lower your weapons. I'm FBI—I'll handle this." Up on the roof, Big Head killed the spotlight and watched the scene unfold. Number Two arrived moments later with Dr. Helen Cho in tow.
"Stand down," Number Two ordered, stepping forward. "Agent Coulson, my apologies. This... wasn't supposed to happen." The guards reluctantly lowered their guns but maintained a tight perimeter. Coulson nodded. "It's fine. I've gathered what I needed here. I'll take her into custody and—"
"No, no, no," Number Two interrupted, shaking his head. "We couldn't possibly inconvenience you with this. I recognize her—she came for an interview recently. Clearly, she's trespassing with ill intent. We should call the police." Coulson forced a smile. "No need. The city's far from here, and she might be connected to my case."
Number Two hesitated, then shook his head again. "But we fired on her. Protocol requires we call the police first. You can follow her to the station for questioning, or..." Coulson's smile tightened. If the police took her in, Fury would skin him alive. An agent arrested because someone called the cops? S.H.I.E.L.D.'s reputation would be toast.
Dr. Helen Cho stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "Let Agent Coulson take her." Her gaze lingered on Natasha, softening with something like pity. Number Two relented instantly. "If Dr. Cho says so, we'll defer to her judgment." Coulson nodded his thanks, then moved to cuff Natasha's hands.
As he escorted her toward the car, the manor's security team trailed close behind.
Until they got into the car, Coulson turned back and said, "Thank you all. Sorry for the disruption." Dr. Helen Cho waved. "Drive safely, Mr. Coulson. Goodbye." The engine roared to life, and the car sped off. On the roof, Big Head chuckled under his breath.
Halfway across the world in Europe, Hong Fei's phone buzzed. It was Dr. Helen Cho herself on the line.
The revelation that Big Head orchestrated everything drew a dry chuckle from him. "Looks like handing him supervisory authority was the right call. He's performed exceptionally well." He tapped his fingers against the desk. "Inform him I've approved his biological experiment application—and tell him to brief you when he's free."
"Perfect." Hong Fei's voice carried quiet admiration. "I've reviewed his previous publications. His expertise in biological research is formidable."
"More so now, I'd wager." He leaned back in his chair, considering. "If you have any relevant studies on hand, forward them to him. He won't disappoint."
"Understood." Hong Fei ended the call and set his phone aside, returning to his meditation. The stillness settled around him like a second skin.
Tomorrow, S.H.I.E.L.D. would receive a devastating surprise—one that would force their attention elsewhere. Hong Fei smirked. Fury might play the unshakable director, but that bastard wasn't operating without pressure. His so-called benefactor wouldn't let him off the hook so easily.