The fundamental particle mediating electromagnetic interaction is the photon — the carrier of electromagnetic force. Photons can be obtained by multiplying Planck's constant by the oscillation frequency of a light wave.
Photons exhibit wave-particle duality: they behave like discrete particles and like waves simultaneously.
Daisy's control over magnetism required a two-step process. First — and to Lorna it looked like she was about to transform — she violently vibrated at a frequency matching that of light waves, generating photons along with positive and negative charges. Then she used the resulting oscillation wavelength to manipulate magnetic force.
In a pure particle-to-particle comparison, electromagnetic repulsion was ten-to-the-forty-second-power times stronger than gravity. The two weren't even in the same league. But magnetism had a far narrower range of applications than gravity. Universal gravitation wasn't called universal for nothing — it could trap even light, and its strength scaled with mass, giving it enormous potential.
At Daisy's current level, though, magnetic force far outstripped her gravitational abilities. Her control over it was clumsy at best.
"Watch carefully." Demonstrating magnetism in front of someone who actually controlled it gave Daisy a deeply satisfying thrill.
Too bad her technique was rough. Otherwise she'd march straight to Magneto and give him a show.
A coin lifted effortlessly, drifted along her predetermined path, and landed in Lorna's palm.
Feeling that familiar force wash over her, Lorna's head swam. "You can control my kind of power too? I thought you were a gravity controller?"
Daisy just smiled. First she applied a gentle gravitational pull to Lorna's body — a force the girl recognized instantly. Then she layered on a small magnetic field, letting magnetism drive the flight. That force was even more familiar.
Carefully feeling out the subtle changes in the magnetic force, Lorna felt something click into place.
"Practice on your own." Sustaining magnetic flight for a living person was enormously taxing. Daisy's magnetic control needed far more refinement before it could be combat-ready. She dropped out of the magnetic state almost immediately and wandered off to rest.
Vacations always ended too quickly. The one-month leave following the Stark rescue operation was over before she knew it, and Nick Fury called an emergency assembly of all senior agents at headquarters. Daisy drove straight in.
Walking into S.H.I.E.L.D., she ran into Hill right away.
"Huh? They called you in too?"
"Yep. Might get to test out the new power." Hill's tone carried a hint of anticipation. She'd traveled all the way from the New Zealand carrier back to Washington — not exactly a short commute.
Daisy knew she was itching to try the White Tiger Amulet. Still, she threw a little cold water on the excitement. The amulet was impressive by normal-human standards, but it was a long way from invincible.
As they walked, senior agents streamed past from every direction. Their relationship was close enough that Daisy figured Hill had to have inside information. She lowered her voice. "What's Fury calling this many people in for?"
Hill glanced left and right. "Word is it's about the green giant. General Ross went through the Pentagon and sent an official request — wants S.H.I.E.L.D. to deploy its best operatives to assist."
Daisy burst out laughing. "Deploy the best operatives — so the ones they sent last time were small fry?"
Hill coughed and nudged her with an elbow. Daisy turned to find Victoria Hand watching them from a few paces behind.
Treating the old woman as an enemy was Daisy's long-standing policy — and a necessary one. The so-called S.H.I.E.L.D. loyalist faction and the HYDRA faction were both tight-knit, their positions locked in. But the neutral faction was internally chaotic, which meant room to maneuver. Only by unifying Victoria Hand's people under her own banner could Daisy ever hope to swallow the other two blocs.
A director appointed from above could hold the chair temporarily, but without loyal subordinates at the middle and lower ranks, the moment the higher-ups changed their minds, you were out. In the original timeline, Daisy Johnson, Maria Hill, Tony Stark, and even Norman Osborn had all held the directorship — none for very long. The root cause was always the same: no grassroots support.
So Daisy wasn't just going to butt heads with Victoria Hand. She was going to grind her down.
She scoffed. "Twelve agents dead, heavy casualties, and certain people haven't even resigned to take responsibility."
Victoria Hand, who'd been about to stride past them, nearly exploded. She despised Daisy — a wild woman who'd appeared out of nowhere. The two had clashed from day one, and minor friction had compounded into full-blown animosity.
"As if your mission went so brilliantly! I heard Tony Stark escaped on his own — you never even laid eyes on his kidnappers! You're a disgrace to S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
"That's rich, coming from someone who watched the Hulk on a military satellite from a kilometer away (about half a mile)!"
"Still better than the agent who didn't even see the hostage-takers—"
The two went at it, tit for tat. Daisy was partly performing — but chemistry was chemistry, and she and Victoria Hand were the kind of people who simply could not be in the same room without sparks flying.
Passing agents were treated to the spectacle of two senior operatives airing each other's dirty laundry at full volume.
Hill was profoundly uncomfortable. Walking away felt disloyal — her bond with Daisy demanded she stay. But jumping into the fray to back Daisy up wasn't her style either. She hovered awkwardly, pretending to see and hear nothing.
"We're all colleagues here, let's keep it civil—" When Victoria Hand started insinuating that the funding for Daisy's villa couldn't be accounted for, Hill finally stepped in. Daisy had her flaws, but making money was genuinely one of her talents. Buying a villa was hardly suspicious. The accusation reeked of mudslinging.
Two against one, Victoria Hand's momentum collapsed. She scanned the hallway, grabbed a passing bald man by the sleeve, and hauled him into the fray — Jasper Sitwell, Daisy's old acquaintance.
"Agent Sitwell, you've gathered plenty of evidence about someone's unexplained financial sources, haven't you?" Her voice was icy.
Sitwell's face went blank. He'd been minding his own business, walking down a hallway, and now he was somehow a prop in somebody else's argument.
As a HYDRA operative, he had zero interest in this nonsense. He played peacemaker instead. Hill, realizing she'd been a bit aggressive herself, helped smooth things over.
The bickering didn't fully stop until they filed into Fury's main briefing room.
Sitwell mopped cold sweat from his forehead. Director Pierce shot him a frigid look from across the room — Why are you cozying up to the neutrals? Do you want to keep your job?
Daisy surveyed the scene. The atmosphere was grim. Fury's office was packed with every senior agent S.H.I.E.L.D. had — Level 7 and above, the elite of the elite.
Many were long-term overseas station commanders who'd been recalled from around the world for this one meeting.