{Chapter: 89 - Giving Jemma A Gift?}
"Did you know I set up my own team?" Aiden asked, his tone casual, yet layered with meaning, brushing aside Phil's earlier question with an enigmatic grin.
Phil gave a slow nod, his brows lifting slightly. "War Legion, right? Based on the West Coast Island. Quite the bold move."
His gaze lingered on Aiden's sleek, dark uniform, which bore a futuristic cut with elegant silver threading that shimmered subtly under the lights of the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility. "Is this your official uniform? It looks... impressive. Sleek, but authoritative. Suits you."
As he spoke, Phil's eyes were drawn to a ring on Aiden's finger—one he hadn't seen before. It gleamed faintly, not just with reflected light but with something deeper—like it pulsed with meaning. Before Phil could ask, Aiden shifted, his eyes distant, as if seeing something that existed far beyond the confines of the room.
"The future…" Aiden began, voice calm, laced with an eerie stillness. "It's fluid. A winding river that flows through the fabric of time itself. No matter how gifted you are—how connected you become to the temporal thread—you can never fully tame it."
Phil listened closely, sensing a rare vulnerability in Aiden's words.
"I've seen it, Phil. Pieces. Shadows. Possibilities. I've walked through events that haven't happened yet, spoken to people, and watched civilizations rise and fall like waves against a cosmic shore. But you can't always change what's coming."
He paused, the air heavy with implication.
"Sometimes, knowing what lies ahead doesn't make it easier. Sometimes, it makes it harder—because you realize that no matter how early you see the storm, you still can't stop it from raining. My job now isn't to rewrite the future… It's to cushion the blow. Minimize the losses. Keep the worst from turning catastrophic."
Aiden's voice grew firm, the conviction behind his words grounding the abstract.
"And when that future comes—when the Grand Event unfolds—you'll have a place on my team, Phil. You've always been someone I could trust. When that time comes, and it will… I'll need people like you by my side."
Phil's eyes narrowed, tension flickering beneath his calm exterior. "The Grand Event… You make it sound like something cataclysmic."
Aiden's lips curved slightly, though there was no warmth in his expression. "It's bigger than either of us. And the less you know now, the better. For your own peace of mind."
Phil leaned back in his chair, letting the silence linger before nodding slowly. "Then I'll be ready. But I'll admit—it's unsettling."
Aiden chuckled, the sound faint but genuine. "That's the nature of truth, Phil. It doesn't always comfort."
Phil sighed, running a hand through his hair. "If that's all…"
"I should get going," Aiden said, rising to his feet. "Besides, I've got someone waiting for me."
Phil wanted to press further, to dig for even a fragment more of the truth, but he knew Aiden well enough by now. If he didn't want to share something, there was no prying it out—not even with Fury breathing down his neck. Their relationship had always been one of mutual respect, not orders.
Though technically still part of S.H.I.E.L.D., Aiden was more of a trusted ally than a subordinate—like a loaded weapon pointed in the same direction, but with a mind of its own.
—
Leaving the office, Aiden made his way through the quiet corridors of the base, passing agents who nodded respectfully as he walked by. Some still saw him as a mystery—others as a hero. But most simply knew better than to get in his way.
Eventually, he found Quake—Daisy—sitting alone in one of the briefing lounges, fiddling with her gauntlets. The moment she saw him, her eyes lit up, and she rushed into his arms.
Aiden wrapped her in a firm embrace, holding her close as if anchoring himself after drifting through time and fate. She buried her face into his chest, exhaling softly, her body relaxing as she finally felt safe again.
"I missed you," she whispered.
"I missed you too," he replied, running a hand through her hair. "More than you know."
They sat together for a while, sharing stories in hushed tones, trading glances and soft laughter, stealing a rare moment of peace. Though their time together was often brief, it was always grounding—reminding them both of what they were fighting for.
After a while, Aiden stood. "I have to visit the lab. But I'll be back soon."
Daisy gave a nod, gently squeezing his hand before letting go. "Don't keep me waiting too long."
—
Down in the research lab, Jemma Simmons and Leo Fitz were immersed in a complex string of diagnostics. Holographic screens floated in the air, displaying streams of biochemical data and energy signatures.
The moment Aiden entered, Jemma paused, straightening with visible excitement as she walked towards him far from Fitz..
"Aiden!" Jemma beamed. "Glad to see you in one piece. We heard about your, uh… Asgardian detour."
"It had its moments," Aiden said with a smirk.
Jemma leaned forward eagerly. "So what did you want to give me? You teased it earlier."
"Take a guess," Aiden replied, his tone playful.
Jemma tapped her chin. "Hmm… Your blood? Some rare DNA sample? Another alien artifact?"
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "If you really want my blood, you'll have to hold up your end of the deal."
Jemma's face reddened slightly as she averted her gaze. "I—I was just joking."
"Were you?" Aiden teased, then pulled out a slender vial from a hidden in his inventory.
Inside was a shimmering pale-blue liquid, glowing faintly as if infused with starlight.
Jemma leaned in, mesmerized. "What is that?"
"This," Aiden said, lifting the glass vial into the ambient light, the pale blue liquid within catching the glow and shimmering faintly, "is a prototype Gene Potion. A stabilized serum designed to enhance both physical and cognitive function. Think of it as a distant cousin to the Centipede serum—only far more refined. No volatile rage triggers, no risk of cellular meltdown. Just clean, balanced enhancement."
He handed the vial carefully to Jemma, who took it with both hands as if handling a priceless artifact.
"Really?" she murmured, eyes narrowing in scrutiny as she turned the bottle slowly, observing the liquid's viscosity and the way it refracted the light. "This compound—it's more transparent than I would've expected. Almost... serene. And you say no side effects?"
"None so far," Aiden confirmed, arms folded as he leaned casually against a counter. "Of course, I haven't tested it widely—just controlled scenarios. It's not perfect, not yet. But it's a start."
Jemma stepped closer beside her, his curiosity piqued as well. "Looks deceptively simple. But substances like these usually come with strings attached."
"Smart," Aiden nodded. "It's not as potent as the Centipede serum, sure. But unlike that cocktail of chaos, this formula doesn't rely on unstable extremis compounds or gamma-bonding agents. It won't overload someone's system or explode them from the inside out."
Jemma exhaled, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "That would be a pleasant change. Stabilizing any super-soldier formula has always been the grand scientific unicorn—attractive, elusive, and likely to gore you if mishandled. And you're just... handing it to me?"
"You're the best mind I know when it comes to biology and biochemistry. This lab is state-of-the-art. If anyone can reverse-engineer this safely and identify any dormant threats or unknown variables, it's you."
The side effects of Gene Potion Aiden have yet to be known; in the movie, it only said Kira safely stole it, and others who have superpowers will be poisoned if taken. Of course, this doesn't apply to Aiden. He hopes they can discover and remove the hidden danger so it could be used later for his Knights.
Jemma looked at him, her expression softening slightly at the compliment, though she tried to remain composed.
"And what exactly does it do?" she asked, already reaching for a scanning device. "Besides not turning people into walking bombs."
"It's not a fixed formula," Aiden explained. "It reacts differently depending on the subject's genetic signature. So far, I've cataloged a few known outcomes—enhanced tracking senses, advanced auditory wave manipulation, low-level telekinesis, even mind-affecting abilities like suggestion or limited future insight. But never more than one ability per user."
Jemma blinked. "You mean it rewrites their genome dynamically based on compatibility markers? That's... astonishing."
Aiden smiled. "There's a stronger version, but it's unstable and hasn't been tested. This one's safer. I'm hoping you can dissect it and determine whether there are any hidden risks, especially for people with pre-existing powers."
Jemma set the vial down gently into a secure stabilizer mount and activated the scanner.
"So you want me to play mad scientist, then?"
Aiden chuckled. "Mad genius, more like."
She smirked in response, rolling her eyes. "Flattery might work on Daisy. With me, results do the talking."
He tilted his head. "Noted."
Jemma's voice softened a touch as she continued scanning. "I'll start the initial molecular analysis now. I assume you logged its origin, composition history, and projected cellular interactions?"
"Sort of," Aiden said, tapping his temple. "Stored it up here. I'll give you a data dump after your first pass."
"Perfect. If it's stable enough, we could run simulations with my holographic cells. And if I get clearance, I'll consider rodent trials. No human testing until we're absolutely sure."
"Agreed. I want it safe. I'm planning to give it to my knights in the future—people I trust, who can make the most of it. But only once we're certain there are no latent toxins or energy-reactive components."
Jemma nodded thoughtfully. "You know, there's a legend in medical science—about the formula that could heal, protect, and empower without sacrifice. I never believed in it. Still don't, really. But this..." she paused, tapping her finger on the vial, "...this might be the closest anyone's ever come."
"Let's hope it lives up to the promise."
"Thanks," Aiden said, then glanced at the clock on the lab monitor. "I'll leave you to it. Just let me know if anything... explodes."
"Don't joke," Jemma muttered as she put on her lab coat and gloves.
---
Back in his private quarters, Aiden shut the reinforced door behind him with a soft sigh, allowing himself a moment of solitude. He walked over to the meditation mat he'd laid out earlier and lowered himself onto it, folding his legs into a cross-legged position.
He retrieved the ring from his finger and held it up, the artifact resonating with a low hum of latent energy. It wasn't just a ring—it was a containment device, perfectly attuned to the Aether's chaotic essence.
He closed his eyes and allowed the dark red energy to flow into him in small streams, filtered and restrained through the artifact.
The Aether—also known as the Reality Stone—wasn't meant to be held by mortals, let alone absorbed. But Aiden wasn't exactly mortal anymore. The system embedded within him, fused with every cell of his body, allowed him to devour and convert cosmic energy slowly.
The process was slow and meditative, but the benefits were enormous. Each pulse of energy that entered his body elevated his potential. His cells adapted, strengthened. His mind became more fluid, more aware.
Unlike Thanos, who relied on the Gauntlet as a vessel, Aiden was forging himself into a vessel.
[The energy required for a system upgrade has been reached. Initiating system evolution.]
A mechanical voice echoed through his consciousness, and he opened one eye with mild surprise.
"Finally," he murmured.
He had completed three major quests. Devoured multiple abilities. And now, with the Aether being slowly absorbed into his body, the system had reached a new threshold.
This was no ordinary leveling up—this was evolution. What new abilities, functions, or possibilities would unlock, he didn't know. But he was ready.
The ring vibrated in his palm as the process accelerated slightly, and he let out a controlled breath, maintaining his focus.
There was no way to tell how long the upgrade would take. Time moved strangely when you dealt with forces of this magnitude.
So he kept his eyes closed and continued to absorb the Aether's energy, shaping it slowly, molding it into something uniquely his.
---
Hours passed.
The steady rhythm of the plane's engines served as background music to his meditation—until a familiar voice broke through the stillness.
"Aiden," came May's calm, clipped tone over the intercom. "We're preparing to land. Get ready."
Aiden's eyes snapped open. "Oh," he muttered, stretching slightly. "I forgot to ask what the team's mission even is..."
With a soft chuckle and a shake of his head, he stood up, slipped the ring back onto his finger, and stepped out of his room into the corridor beyond.
Whatever came next, he was ready.
*****
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