Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1413, Section 1409: In-depth Medical Examination Report (Combined)

For Agent Coulson's team, boarding the space station was a novel experience.

Excluding the planet Agent Coulson named "Tatooine," this would be their first time in outer space. But the courses they were about to take indicated that their future missions would be closely related to outer space; textbooks on spacewalking, space medicine, and the biology of weightlessness were already on their desks. This knowledge would ensure they possessed the survival skills to handle both in orbit and in outer space, and the ability to calmly deal with any emergencies they encountered.

While Leopold Fitz and Gemma Simmons were still arguing about how gravity was generated on Skyfire, Coulson, Melinda May, Alfonso McKenzie, and other agents had begun searching the accommodations. There were no hidden listening devices or cameras, because Dita disdained using spy equipment to spy on them; she openly installed surveillance equipment in everyone's room, blatantly monitoring the agents. The soldier who brought them there handed Agent Coulson a manual that guided them to their rooms—the doors had nameplates, and the combination locks on the doors had the fingerprints and iris scans of the room's occupant—this was also stated in the manual, suggesting that the station's owners had prepared for their arrival in advance.

This situation sent chills down Melinda May's spine. She didn't know why such top-secret information was stored on the space station, and she was terrified by the seemingly prophetic actions. However, Agent Coulson simply brushed it off by citing a leak of S.H.I.E.L.D. information, without delving deeper into the matter. It was just one of countless mysteries they faced—if the iris and fingerprint data on the room locks demonstrated the depth of the space station's intelligence, then the crew files on the data panels containing manuals demonstrated the breadth of that intelligence. Apparently, at some point, all the agents had undergone a thorough medical examination, and their health conditions, predicted through deep genetic analysis, and the likelihood of developing various diseases in the future were all listed in their files for reference.

For example, Agent Coulson saw that he had a higher chance of developing cancer than anyone else, and the genetic analysis report on his data panel also highlighted a genetic contamination incident. This involved GH-325 from the Tahiti Project, a substance extracted from Kree corpses that could promote human cell regeneration. This substance could cross the blood-brain barrier and affect neurons in the human brain, causing him to experience hallucinations, impulsivity, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other aftereffects. Agent Coulson initially thought the aftereffects had disappeared, but the genetic analysis report detailed the destructive effects of GH-325 on his genes. His DNA telomeres were severely damaged, and at the same time, Kree genes were constantly repairing his DNA, making it highly likely that organ failure would occur faster than cancer.

Agent Coulson also reviewed the files of Daisy Jensen and Elena Rodriguez, two Inhumans, but when he tried to access their genetic analysis data, he found that the forms that should have been filled in were all blank. Apart from a glaring red stamp, the files contained nothing. This made Agent Coulson very nervous, because he had never known whether the station's occupants were friendly towards the Inhumans, but judging from the Emperor's treatment of aliens, it was very likely that their attitude towards the Inhumans wouldn't be much better.

However, he did not disclose any information about the medical examination report to his team members, and he even deleted most of the in-depth medical examination report.

"At least we're still alive, May." Agent Coulson sat down and sighed. He meant it; he was genuinely grateful his team hadn't suffered any losses. As for the newly established S.H.I.E.L.D. by the US government, he no longer cared. One section of their area was used as a mess hall. According to the manual, they received their own food each day from a window. The food was prepared by master nutritionists based on their daily medical examination results, ensuring their bodies were healthy enough to participate in the mission. Therefore, they couldn't get any snacks from vending machines, and even drinking water was rationed.

This is easy to understand. Surviving in outer space is like sailing in the Age of Exploration. Food and fresh water are essential resources for life, and clean air is an invaluable asset. The manual also indicates the location of emergency equipment such as oxygen candles in each room to ensure that they have the ability to save themselves in the event of a disaster.

"As long as we're alive and together, we haven't failed." He used words he himself didn't believe to instruct the other agents, and the result was predictable. Daisy Jensen looked around, her fingers constantly rubbing the metal collar against her skin, as if it made her very uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, I had to conceal the true situation at Lighthouse Base," he said to Daisy Jensen and Alfonso McKenzie, who had finished their search. Everyone could sense his deep apology and the weariness hidden in his eyes. "Only by getting you back to Lighthouse Base can the others survive. We can't lose any more agents."

“I understand what you did, Coulson. It was the only option at the time,” Alfonso McKenzie said before Elena Rodriguez could speak. He placed one hand under the table, pressing down on his girlfriend's palm, while extending the other towards Agent Coulson to show his stance. “But I hope you’ve already made up your mind. I don’t want to be involved in some pointless mission and then be shackled like a slave…” He looked at Elena Rodriguez. Alfonso McKenzie knew his girlfriend was furious about the explosive collar, but she dared not use her abilities to remove it until she had sufficient intelligence, because judging from the behavior of the woman in the power armor, she really was going to order their execution.

“I will share intelligence with you, just as I promised. There are no secrets in SHIELD now.” Agent Coulson looked up at the cafeteria's surveillance equipment. His next words were pointed, as if addressed to the monitors. “We are about to carry out a mission concerning the future of humanity, and only we can participate in it, so we are extremely important.” He looked at the belated Leopold Fitz and Gemma Simmons. “From a temporal perspective, we have already completed one mission, and now we are about to fulfill that destiny. Fitz, do you remember your theory about destiny?”

“I remember, but that was just a… rough and inaccurate statement.” Leopold Fitz looked at Gemma Simmons beside him. As one of only two highly intelligent members of the group, only Gemma Simmons could understand his explanations of fundamental relativity concepts like time and gravity using intuitive language and scientific terminology. “If I didn’t use that stack of A4 papers as an analogy, you would have a hard time understanding me,” he admitted frankly. “While the conclusions weren’t wrong, the details certainly wouldn’t be entirely accurate.”

"Wait, you mean we're going to risk everything because of a prophecy?" Alfonso MacKenzie raised an eyebrow. "Whose prophecy? The android's or the genetically modified soldier's master?"

"Enoch, that android. He's been on Earth for over 30,000 years, and in principle, he's not allowed to interfere in human affairs. But it seems someone has influenced him, causing him to cooperate with S.H.I.E.L.D..."

"Nick Fury! No one but him could have placed that android at Lighthouse Base. Lighthouse Base might even have been established because of that android!"

Melinda May spat out a name with a fierce edge, voicing a long-held suspicion. Except for Phil Coulson, all the other agents cast surprised glances at her. To them, the name Nick Fury represented endless mystery, practically a legendary figure, especially Daisy Jensen and Elena Rodriguez, who, as newcomers, had never encountered this unseen yet omnipresent king of agents.

"Could this be related to Nick Fury?"

“I don’t know, May, I really don’t know.” Agent Coulson sighed again. “I seem to have been designated as the main executor of this mission. Before we set off, I was reviewing Enoch’s past experiences. He showed me the wars of the ancient Greek city-states, the rise of ancient Rome, the Crusades, and even the Hundred Years’ War between England and France…” He hesitated for a moment, deciding not to reveal the anomalies he had discovered in Enoch’s life trajectory, because there were simply too many surveillance cameras here, and there was some information he didn’t want to disclose to the enemy. He made a concealed gesture, and the other agents understood that he had more to say, even the somewhat irritable Daisy Jensen gave up on pressing him for more information.

Even the most foolish person could tell that Agent Coulson was protecting everyone's lives.

"So what are we facing, Coulson?" Alfonso McKenzie hesitated for a moment, but finally asked the question that everyone was concerned about: "What kind of disaster are we facing?"

Agent Coulson tapped on the data panel. "I think this manual will explain it."

"See? They've never realized their mistakes!" Tita said smugly. "As far as I know, Melinda May's instigation of the riot at the Lighthouse base resulted in the deaths of several agents. This was even after Our Lord had promised the agents a guarantee of their safety. Melinda May deliberately broke the agreement, leading to the agents' deaths, but I don't see any remorse in her eyes now."

She looked up at Amon, but the Imperial Guard did not show much emotion.

“Because in her eyes, we are the murderers,” Amon pointed out the key issue. He looked at the surveillance array of hundreds of screens. These monitors primarily focused on the interior of the space station, while external monitoring of cargo and passenger ship dockings was conducted in another control room. “She doesn’t trust us, so she won’t trust the agreement. Subconsciously, she doesn’t want to realize the real contradictions and the true cause of the agents’ deaths. Coupled with the heavy casualties from our previous attack on the Lighthouse base, Melinda May’s thought process easily leads her to blame us.”

"Is it because of guilt?" Tita asked. "She's aware of the truth, but her subconscious doesn't want to accept it."

“There’s some connection, Tita. But I’m not a psychology expert, so I can’t offer a diagnosis of the psychological reasons behind human behavior.” Amon nodded, but Tita knew the scholarly nature of the Royal Guard disguised as warriors. Although Amon had presented himself as a psychology novice, she didn’t believe that a genetically modified warrior who had undergone subconscious indoctrination wouldn’t understand the unique psychological model developed by the Immortal City. Amon, however, hadn’t guessed Tita’s thoughts. He was merely an envoy of the Emperor at Skysword Station to observe the training of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, ensuring they possessed the necessary expertise before departure and could survive arduous missions. “What are you planning to do?” he asked. “I think these agents will definitely find a way to escape. Do you have a plan?”

“The only language some people’s brains can process is violence,” Tita said proudly, gesturing with her fist. “When you demonstrate far greater violence than they can handle, they’ll start to reason.” Amon gave her a disapproving look, but Tita couldn’t see it because of his glasses. Even if Amon wasn’t wearing a helmet, Tita wouldn’t care about his opinion, because all power over the Skysword Space Station had been entrusted to her by the Emperor, and even the Imperial Guard didn’t question it.

"I suggest adding a communication element," Amon said. "I can act as the communicator."

"But we must consider the possibility that the enemy may kidnap the negotiating experts."

"I had no idea you had such a good sense of humor, Commander Tita," Amon laughed. "I'll create a communication chart, outlining when it's appropriate to use force and when it's appropriate to use words. This chart won't undermine your authority, Commander Tita."

“I’m willing to communicate, Amon.” Tita turned and left the monitoring room. As the gate closed, the guards were already standing beside her. Amon had no idea why the homunculus always maintained such a proud demeanor, but he didn’t want to argue with the Sorority over it. The Royal Guard understood the entire process of creating the Sorority’s homunculus—provided they were willing to understand the complex and obscure alchemical magic—but even without in-depth study of alchemy, all the Royal Guard members shared an unspoken consensus: the Sorority’s homunculus were highly susceptible to magical corruption. The homunculus were humanoid beings created from philosopher mercury crystals extracted from the Red Dragon Path (mercury, referring to wet aether preparation). The essence of magic resided within their souls; they could accept magic. However, because the Emperor’s power had shielded them from corruption, the homunculus had not been corrupted by magic. Nevertheless, the Royal Guard unanimously believed that the Sorority’s emotional management rituals were likely to veer off in another uncontrollable direction.

"I am willing to communicate with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and I am also willing to communicate with you."

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(End of this chapter)