The surge of energy came fast — and vanished just as quickly. In only a few breaths, everything was calm again. The warehouse and the ground around it were marked with deep scorch lines, evidence of the power that had just erupted.
"Mm. Looks like it's done."
Lucas stretched out his senses, confirming that the surrounding energy had completely dissipated. Once certain it was safe, he darted toward the warehouse — his body flickering like he was teleporting, a faint green wind swirling in his wake.
When he arrived, the sight that met him was both reassuring and worrying: Skye lay unconscious on the ground, the Obelisk resting beside her.
Lucas ignored the artifact and hurried over, scooping Skye into his arms. Just then, Natasha and Coulson burst into the warehouse behind him.
"Lucas!" Natasha shouted, fury flashing in her eyes. "What the hell did you do to her?!"
In an instant, she drew her pistol and pressed it against Lucas's forehead. Years of walking the line between life and death told her that Skye was still breathing — otherwise, Lucas would already be dead.
"Easy," Lucas said calmly. "She just fainted. Nothing's wrong. I told you — I wouldn't let anything happen to her."
He could feel it — a strange, harmonious energy flowing through Skye's body. It wasn't chaotic or violent; it was like a steady river, merging naturally with her life force.
"The rest is up to you," Lucas said, glancing at Coulson. "The Obelisk's served its purpose. You can take it back."
He started toward the exit, Skye in his arms.
"Oh, right!" He turned back and called over his shoulder. "Tell Fury to send my one million. I'm in a hurry~"
Coulson couldn't help but smirk slightly. "I'm sure the Director won't forget."
At that very moment, Fury was watching everything live from S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. From the moment they'd entered the warehouse, every sound and image had been transmitted back in real time.
Lucas nodded, satisfied, and disappeared with Skye in a swirl of green light.
Inside the warehouse, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents swarmed in to collect samples and data. Every sensor reading, every energy trace had already been uploaded to their systems. In the labs, teams of scientists were poring over the results, their excitement barely contained.
But Fury wasn't focused on the data. His attention was locked on the playback — on the girl who had touched the Obelisk and survived.
He replayed the footage again and again. The energy burst, Skye collapsing… but no petrification.
"Motherf—" Fury slammed his hand on the table. "What the hell is that girl?"
His mind was racing. He was dying to ask Lucas directly, but that was impossible. Lucas was unpredictable — powerful, detached, and dangerously indifferent toward S.H.I.E.L.D. One wrong move could turn him into an enemy they couldn't afford to make.
Fury pulled the old pager from his pocket, his thumb running over its worn surface as he weighed his options.
---
Meanwhile, in Lucas's personal realm — the Chocobo Space — things were quiet.
He hadn't returned to the office. Skye's body needed time to adapt; the awakening process required her system to synchronize with the new energy within her. When she woke up, it would mean her transformation was complete.
Other Inhumans didn't usually fall unconscious during Terrigenesis — their crystals were pure. But the Obelisk contained more impurities than Terrigen itself, which forced Skye's body into a longer adjustment phase.
After setting Skye down to rest, Lucas wandered into the small garden in front of his cabin. The Sakiel greens had fully matured, and he decided to harvest them. Once the crops were cleared, the chocobo "Onion" could finally regain its fighting form. For now, the bird was only good as a mount — it had zero combat ambition.
He gathered the vegetables, watching as new seeds automatically sprouted in their place, and re-planted them with a flick of his wrist.
After that, he soaked in the hot spring, sighing in satisfaction.
Three days passed. The agency remained closed, and Lucas stayed inside the Chocobo Space, keeping an eye on Skye.
On the fourth day, while he was preparing dinner, he heard faint footsteps from upstairs. Peeking around the corner, he saw Skye wobbling down the staircase, weak from hunger but awake at last.
Her face was pale, her steps unsteady, but when she spotted the food, her eyes practically lit up green.
She devoured her meal like she hadn't eaten in weeks. Only when she finished did she finally slump back, sighing contentedly.
"So," Lucas asked with a teasing smile, "what kind of ability did you awaken?"
He already knew the answer — but he wanted to hear her say it.
"Vibration," Skye said, eyes bright with excitement. "I can create shockwaves… kind of like—"
"—an earthquake?" Lucas interrupted, grinning.
Her eyes widened. "Exactly! It's like an earthquake, just smaller in scale. But…"
Her voice dropped. "There's a downside. The vibrations affect me, too. If I push it too hard, I can literally shatter my own bones."
Lucas was impressed. She'd learned that much in only a few hours of awakening — much faster than he expected. This wasn't how it went in the version of events he remembered.
"Don't worry," he said. "I can fix that. I just need the right material… once I get it, your body will be able to handle the power safely."
And that material, of course, was vibranium.
Skye nodded. Together, they stepped outside to test her powers.
Lucas pointed at a nearby tree. "Start with that. Try channeling your vibrations through it."
She placed her hand on the trunk.
Buzz!
A low hum pulsed — and the entire tree exploded from the inside out, splintering into pieces before collapsing.
Lucas swallowed hard. Holy hell. That kind of power, focused on a human body, would mean instant death.
Skye looked equally shocked. She hadn't expected it to be so strong — or for her hand to go numb afterward.
They tested next on stone, then water, and finally the ground itself. Each time, the results grew more astonishing. A boulder the size of a bathtub shattered into gravel. The lake's surface rippled violently, as if a bomb had gone off underwater. The earth itself cracked beneath her feet, miniature earthquakes rolling outward.
Only her attempt to vibrate air failed — the medium was too diffuse for her current control.
By the end, both of her arms were shaking uncontrollably. She could barely lift them.
Lucas examined her with a focused look, pressing a hand lightly to her forearm. Through his magic, he could sense the strain in her bones.
"Based on what I can tell," he said, "you can safely use this power maybe ten times before your arms give out. Any more, and your bones will literally snap."
Even that warning couldn't dampen Skye's excitement. For the first time, she had power.
Later that night, they returned to the office — Lucas heading straight to bed, while Skye lay awake, still giddy at the thought of what she could now do.
Meanwhile, back at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, the lights burned late. Dozens of analysts were dissecting the collected data, trying to uncover the secrets of the Obelisk — or the girl who survived it.
Across the table, Fury sat in silence, his one good eye narrowing as he looked at Coulson and Natasha. His expression was darker than ever.
The age of Quake had begun.
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