Chapter Summaries

Evenson sealed Nahash inside Lena after learning of a possible Kree presence on Earth, while S.H.I.E.L.D. and Bangalore parted on friendly terms. In Los Angeles, Gabriel met Mephisto and argued that humanity’s growing population was wasting resources, even suggesting Project Insight might have been beneficial.

• Evenson considered whether the Kree had attempted to invade Earth and asked Nahash to confirm his account, but Nahash reminded him that he was a liar.
• Evenson sealed Nahash inside Lena’s body, and Melinda, Skye, Coulson, and Bangalore emerged in time to mistake his actions for harassment.
• Bangalore revealed she was a woman, offered S.H.I.E.L.D. her contact information, and gave Skye a card with her private number.
• Gabriel met Mephisto at the Demon King Bar and asked for his perspective on humanity’s problems.
• Gabriel argued that the world had too many people and that excess population drained resources, then said Project Insight might have been a good thing if it had succeeded.

Gabriel told Mephisto she intended to use Project Insight to eliminate humanity’s useless and fallen people, arguing that this would spare the world the ruin of future wars. Mephisto realized her plan came from her enduring love for humanity, and Gabriel declared she would bear the world’s hatred and sins herself.

• Mephisto tried to dismiss his meeting with Gabriel as a dream, but Gabriel struck him and forced him to face her.
• Gabriel revealed that she wanted to wipe out every useless human using Project Insight’s method of identifying and killing its targets.
• Mephisto argued that Project Insight would eliminate humanity’s valuable people, but Gabriel said its swift, painless execution was what she valued.
• Gabriel explained that she feared war would cause needless deaths and could lead to humanity’s annihilation or endless cycles of hatred.
• Mephisto concluded that Gabriel could not bear to see the world and humanity destroyed, and Gabriel vowed to bring calamity upon them and bear their hatred and sins.

Gabriel revealed her plan to avert a world-ending catastrophe by purging humanity’s harmful elements, while Evenson persuaded her to wait for a possible alternative. Five days later, Gospel Company’s board meeting began with powerful investors and unexpected representatives arriving.

• Gabriel explained to Mephisto that she intended to become a common enemy by bringing a targeted calamity upon humanity, and Mephisto declared that Hell’s monarchs would unite against her.
• Gabriel told Evenson about her plan, and he convinced her to postpone it until after Gospel Company’s upcoming board meeting, where new developments might offer another solution.
• Five days later, Gospel Company prepared to complete its financing and go public as representatives of major financial families and Pepper Potts arrived for the board meeting.
• Gabriel’s invited representatives entered wearing badges from the Bloody Tongue, the Thule Society, and the Valdemar Family, astonishing the other attendees.

The Eredar Twins hosted Gospel Company’s board meeting and presented its medicines to potential investors, including a treatment for Ebola. Peibo recognized Moira as Maya Hansen and challenged the company over alleged human experimentation, but the attendees dismissed her concerns.

• Elizabeth asked why the Thule Society, Bloody Tongue, and Valdemar family had come, and their representatives said they had gathered to advise or invest in Gospel Company.
• The Eredar Twins took charge of the meeting, while Evenson left to watch the surveillance feeds.
• Moira introduced Gospel Company’s medicines, and Valdemar endorsed their civilian and military treatments and its Ebola medicine, which had an eighty-percent cure rate.
• Peibo recognized Moira as Maya Hansen, but Moira denied the identity and continued presenting the company’s products.
• Peibo accused Gospel Company of unethical human experiments, but Elizabeth and the other attendees showed little concern, and Moira defended the experiments as necessary to develop life-saving medicines.

Moira presented Gospel’s Human Completion Plan, which aimed to improve humanity through gene editing so people could approach the physical capabilities of Asgardians. The investors accepted that the technology could create social upheaval but focused on funding it and arranging loans for future gene modifications.

• Moira argued that public condemnation would not matter if Gospel’s medicine was the only treatment available to dying patients.
• Moira introduced the Human Completion Plan and described humanity as physically inferior to the Asgardians.
• Moira proposed gene editing as the practical way to improve human physical constitution, dismissing ethical concerns and accepting the likelihood of social competition.
• Aurelles explained that the first research stage could prevent congenital diseases, strengthen immunity, improve memory and reaction speed, and extend lifespan by about ten years.
• Saloras and Aurelles argued that technological change inevitably favored the wealthy at first and that displaced people could not be protected from competition.
• Aurelles proposed that Elizabeth’s family offer gene modification loans in exchange for a discount, and Mord DuPont and Zola Rockefeller demanded that their families be included.

Peibo recognized that the Human Completion Plan could turn gene editing into a debt trap, while the Eredar Twins warned that population growth and environmental collapse threatened humanity. Saloras then revealed Bio-Dome technology as a way to transform hostile environments, ultimately announcing that it was developed to prepare for interstellar colonization.

• Peibo judged the proposed genetic loans to be a new form of exploitation, while the gathered financiers considered the profits from upgrading weapons and security forces.
• Gabriel asked whether Earth could support a larger population, and the Eredar Twins warned that humanity faced overpopulation, climate disasters, famine, and possible extinction.
• Gabriel imagined creating a controlled apocalypse and preserving selected humans, but Aurelles interrupted her as she snapped her fingers.
• Saloras introduced Bio-Dome technology, which could use electricity to transform environments and shield large areas from harmful radiation.
• Peibo said she would need to discuss Stark Industries' Arc Reactor technology with Tony before agreeing to invest it.
• Aurelles revealed that Bio-Dome technology was intended to prepare for interstellar colonization by making new places in the Solar System habitable.

Elizabeth and the financial conglomerate representatives questioned whether the proposed interstellar colonization plan was possible until Franklin of the Thule Society endorsed the Bio-Dome technology and spacecraft project. The meeting left Elizabeth convinced that Evenson’s small company represented a powerful organization preparing to reshape human civilization, and she considered whether her family should join its plans.

• Elizabeth and the financial representatives doubted that humanity could afford or achieve interstellar colonization with its current technology.
• Elizabeth recognized Franklin’s presence as a sign that the Thule Society had a stake in the plan and considered its long history of advancing astronomy and aviation.
• Franklin said the Bio-Dome technology and construction plans were sound and predicted that the company could soon build a spacecraft capable of making a round trip between Earth and Mars in under a month.
• Elizabeth and the other representatives inferred that Evenson’s company was backed by a vast organization with alien technology and debated how their families could adapt to its rise.
• Elizabeth reflected that she had attended only a routine business meeting, but Mr. Scott’s presence had sent it toward a discussion about the transformation of the world.

Elizabeth learned that Bloody Tongue had become active to support the Eredar Twins’ plan for interstellar colonization, and Mr. Scott offered their help and investment. The Eredar Twins argued that private funding would let them sell their technology worldwide and balance the major powers, though Peibo warned that doing so would be dangerous.

• Elizabeth explained that Bloody Tongue was an ancient, globally dispersed organization of political manipulators whose members had recently become active again.
• Mr. Scott said Bloody Tongue would serve as strategic consultants and invest in the Eredar Twins’ company, explaining that its leader’s television project had drained their savings.
• Mord DuPont asked why the Eredar Twins would seek private partners instead of working with NASA, and Aurelles said a private company could avoid political interference and sell services to the whole world.
• Elizabeth warned that the United States might seize the technology, while Saloras and Aurelles argued that competition among nations and the promise of upgraded technology would protect the company.
• Peibo doubted the Eredar Twins could maintain their balance among the world’s powers, but the twins insisted they had the ability to control countries.

The Eredar Twins laid out a phased plan for interstellar colonization, beginning with satellite launches and lunar helium-3 mining, while Elizabeth and the other investors considered whether to back it. After the meeting, Elizabeth decided to test the Gospel Company’s ability to handle international scrutiny by anonymously alerting S.H.I.E.L.D. to Bloody Tongue’s contact with them.

• Elizabeth and the other financial representatives agreed to invest in the new drug research and gene-editing projects but deferred a decision on interstellar colonization.
• Saloras and Aurelles proposed funding colonization in phases, starting with a low-cost satellite launch and then lunar helium-3 mining to finance later expansion.
• Zola Rockefeller accepted that the Rockefeller family could lead the energy business after Aurelles offered to entrust the project to them.
• The Eredar Twins summoned Evenson after the meeting, and Scott warned that some investors would make moves once they returned home.
• Peibo weighed the benefits and risks of the Gospel Company’s plans while riding with Elizabeth, who remained concerned about its ambitions.
• Elizabeth ordered an attendant to anonymously tell S.H.I.E.L.D. that Bloody Tongue members had contacted the Gospel Company.

Scott and Evenson discussed how to handle the wealthy families’ test of their operation and S.H.I.E.L.D.’s investigation, while Scott offered help from an ally inside the agency. After receiving an anonymous report about Bloody Tongue and Gospel Company, Alexander Pierce decided to raid the company, but Sitwell objected.

• Scott argued that S.H.I.E.L.D. should investigate so the families would stop testing the operation, and he said a Brahmin inside the agency could help manage the inquiry.
• Scott explained that he wanted Gospel Company’s plans to succeed, and the Eredar Twins offered to recommend him to Ancestor Nasaya.
• Alexander Pierce connected Bloody Tongue’s contact with Gospel Company to Umbrella Corporation and concluded that they were targeting Hydra and Project Insight.
• Pierce ordered Sitwell to detain everyone at Gospel Company, but Sitwell said the action would be inappropriate.

Sitwell persuaded Pierce to avoid provoking Umbrella Corporation and proposed a superficial investigation of Gospel Company, earning Pierce’s trust and a place aboard the coming ship. Pierce then ordered Sitwell to report on John Garrett, whose supposed loyalty gesture against Coulson’s team struck Pierce as a cover-up.

• Sitwell argued that Umbrella Corporation was powerful and that openly escalating against it would endanger Hydra’s plans, so Pierce agreed to proceed cautiously.
• Sitwell proposed leading a limited, official investigation of Gospel Company, and Pierce approved the plan and offered him a position aboard the ship.
• Pierce questioned Sitwell about John Garrett and reviewed his suspicions that Skye, Melinda, and others connected to Coulson’s team were linked to Umbrella Corporation.
• Sitwell reported that Garrett had lured Coulson’s team into a trap in Spain and had Ian Quinn critically wound Skye as a supposed gesture of loyalty.
• Pierce suspected Garrett had staged Skye’s injuries to prompt Coulson to seek the resurrection medicine, and he sent Sitwell to observe Garrett and report back without acting.
• After leaving, Sitwell kissed a tie clip bearing a featureless winged-cat design.

Moira and Gernos began excavating the collapsed Tahiti base with Umbrella Corporation’s gravity-altering Demolition Helper while Evenson monitored them remotely. Meanwhile, John Garrett’s attempt to manipulate Coulson’s team into seeking the resurrection treatment for Skye backfired, and Melinda called Evenson with an emergency aboard the Bus.

• Moira and Gernos arrived at the hidden mountain base with Umbrella Corporation’s soldiers while Farrell patrolled nearby in Pharaoh’s Eagle.
• At Evenson’s direction, Gernos used Demolition Helper to clear the rocks covering the Tahiti base and search for the buried Kree corpse.
• John Garrett’s resentment over Coulson’s resurrection drove him to pursue the secrets of the Death Warrior Project and plant Ward in Coulson’s team.
• After suspecting Ward and the team had fallen under Umbrella Corporation’s influence, Garrett changed his orders and plotted to wound Skye so Coulson would seek the treatment at Tahiti.
• Garrett arranged for Ian Quinn to capture Skye, shoot her, and leave her for Coulson’s team, then boarded the Bus to push Coulson toward Tahiti.
• Melinda called Evenson from the Bus and told him to get there immediately because of an emergency.

Melinda called Evenson to stop Coulson’s unauthorized trip to Tahiti and save Skye, whose injuries were critical. Evenson arranged for Stephen Strange to treat her and teleported her to Gospel Company, while Coulson continued toward Tahiti with Ward and John Garrett.

• Melinda urgently summoned Evenson and explained that Coulson had taken a plane to Tahiti to find a cure for Skye.
• Evenson concluded that Coulson’s interest in Tahiti was also tied to uncovering the truth about his resurrection, and agreed to help Skye instead of stopping Coulson by force.
• After seeing Skye’s severe injuries, Evenson warned that healing magic could cause unpredictable changes and proposed seeking treatment from Stephen Strange, the new Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj.
• Simmons agreed that Skye could be disconnected from life support briefly while Evenson teleported her for treatment.
• Evenson teleported Skye to Gospel Company, where Moira and Helen Zhao awaited them.

Moira and Helen Zhao treated Skye after Evenson stopped them from using a risky whole-body reconstruction, though they planned to replace her damaged organs instead. Evenson then obtained the name of a skilled hacker from Miles Rhydon, killed him, and ordered that Skye receive the Edge of Tomorrow system once she recovered.

• Moira and Helen Zhao proposed rebuilding Skye's body, but Evenson insisted they repair her injuries without using the Life Restoration System or other drastic methods.
• After Evenson left, Moira and Helen Zhao discussed replacing Skye's damaged organs with identical ones and keeping the removed organs for research.
• Evenson went to the company's underground security room, where the Eredar Twins were holding Skye's former boyfriend, Miles Rhydon.
• Evenson asked Miles for the name of a hacker close to Skye's level, and Miles provided Sambora's contact information in Mexico.
• Evenson gave Miles a painless death and told the others to install the Edge of Tomorrow system on Skye once she had fully recovered.

Coulson learned that GH325 came from a Kree corpse and feared its effects would torment Skye, but Evenson took her to Stephen Strange for treatment. As Coulson prepared to face Nick Fury over the destroyed Tahiti Base, Moira and Gernos unearthed a Kree communication crystal whose faint signal coincided with another crystal flashing at a circus in the southwestern United States.

• Coulson returned to the plane and learned that Evenson had taken Skye to Stephen Strange at Kamar-Taj for treatment.
• Coulson admitted to Melinda that he feared GH325 would subject Skye to the same mental torment he had suffered, after finding a decaying Kree corpse at Tahiti Base.
• Coulson called Evenson, learned Skye was out of danger, and discovered that Tahiti Base had exploded after its guards failed to stop its self-destruct system.
• Evenson ordered Moira and Gernos to excavate Tahiti Base and search for Kree remains, and they uncovered a crystal that Gernos identified as part of a communication device.
• The crystal in Gernos's possession pulsed faintly, while an identical crystal flashed inside a chest at a circus in the southwestern United States, where Minerva was introduced as the ringmaster.

The Black Badge Division discovered an alien communicator while searching for an alien corpse, then learned that an Asgardian had secretly arrived in the United States. Evenson identified the energy signature as Loki’s secret passage and prepared to let Asgardians handle the fugitive, but first worried about how to transport his people.

• Moira reported the alien communicator to Evenson, who told her to store it and return without delay.
• Evenson and Saloras discussed how the US government hoped to use the Black Badge Division to curb S.H.I.E.L.D. after growing dissatisfied with its power and spending.
• The Black Badge Division analyzed the energy readings and found they were weaker than the Bifrost, leading Evenson to identify Loki’s secret passage.
• Evenson reasoned that the arrival was likely a fugitive close to Loki and said the pursuers and S.H.I.E.L.D. would soon reach out.
• Evenson suggested coordinating with the Asgardians, but worried that his transport ships were away and he could not send his people by long-distance bus.

Evenson brought the recovering Skye to S.H.I.E.L.D., where her electronic spine was mistaken for ordinary rehabilitation equipment. As Ward suspected a hidden Umbrella Corporation plot, Gospel Company activated a remote program in another woman and began the Edge of Tomorrow plan.

• S.H.I.E.L.D. detected a second Bifrost-like energy reading and assigned Coulson's special operations team to contact the Asgardian, summoning Evenson.
• Evenson brought unconscious Skye to the base and told Melinda and Simmons that Dr. Strange had operated on her and that she was out of danger.
• Melinda and Simmons discovered Skye's electronic spine and prosthetics, and Evenson explained that the system would support her rehabilitation while her nerves recovered.
• Melinda directed Ward to inspect Skye's equipment for surveillance devices, and Ward privately concluded that she was testing his loyalty to Umbrella Corporation.
• At Gospel Company's laboratory, Gernos activated the Remote Subconscious Overwrite Program on an unconscious woman and announced that the Edge of Tomorrow plan had begun.

Skye recovered in the hospital while Evenson and Simmons watched over her, unaware that Skye’s thoughts were being used to overwrite the consciousness of a kidnapped hacker named Sambora. Meanwhile, Melinda led a S.H.I.E.L.D. team toward high-energy readings, where McNair and an armored woman arrived just as the Bifrost descended.

• Simmons stopped Skye from leaving her bed, and Evenson explained that her mechanical spine was a temporary rental as Skye thanked him and fell asleep.
• At Gospel Company, Gernos watched Sambora twitch while Skye’s thought patterns were transmitted into her through their linked electronic spines.
• Melinda led the agents toward the high-energy readings while Coulson stayed away, troubled by Nick Fury’s silence about his insubordination and resurrection.
• McNair caught up with the convoy carrying an armored woman, who leapt from the motorcycle and sprinted ahead toward the source of the energy.
• The armored woman stopped in a battle stance as Asgard’s Bifrost landed in front of her.

Sigrun challenged Sif at the Bifrost arrival point, then joined Sif, Evenson, Melinda, and Coulson aboard the Air Bus to discuss Sif’s mission. Sif revealed that Frigga now governed Asgard because Odin was blind and dizzy, while her mission was to capture a fugitive.

• Sigrun confronted Sif and recognized her cape and medal as signs that Sif was an Inner Court Privy Councilor and commander of the Valkyrie Corps.
• Sif confirmed her new titles, and Sigrun reacted with surprise that the Valkyrie Corps had been reestablished.
• Sigrun declared that the Valkyrie Corps appeared only for war, prompting Melinda to question whether Sif’s arrival involved an alien threat.
• Evenson greeted Sif, joked about the Bifrost damaging the road, and persuaded Melinda to bring the Black Badge Division agents aboard the Air Bus.
• Sif learned that Coulson had survived Loki’s attack, then told Coulson that Frigga had sent her to capture a fugitive.
• Sif explained that Odin had suffered dizziness and blindness since the Dark Elves’ invasion, leaving Frigga to manage Asgard’s military and state affairs.

With Odin feigning illness and Thor absent, Frigga took over Asgard’s government with Sif as her chief aide and commander of a new investigative force. She consolidated her authority, began purging officials, and sent Sif to Midgard to contact Evenson Richter and obtain more books.

• Sif persuaded the ministers to ask Frigga to rule as proxy, and Frigga secured Odin’s approval.
• Frigga took power as Heavenly Queen and appointed Sif to lead the Inner Court Privy Council.
• Frigga restored the Valkyrie Corps, dividing it into an Operations Department and an Acting Department under Sif.
• The Acting Department secretly arrested and tried a minister, and Frigga warned officials that misconduct and lax military discipline would be punished.
• Frigga gave Sif Book of Lord Shang to study and Luo Zhi Jing for the Acting Department, then ordered her to visit Midgard and contact Evenson Richter about collecting goods.