- "You didn't have a choice? You drugged me, you restrained me, and you cut into me."
- ―Daisy Johnson to Leo Fitz[src]
The Ambush on Daisy Johnson was an assault orchestrated by Leo Fitz during his psychic split, as his darker side was aware that giving Johnson her powers back by removing her Inhuman Control Device was the only way to create a successful Gravity Containment Device. Although the attempt proved to be successful, the incident heavily affected the friendship between Johnson and Fitz.
Background[]
- "Okay, you don't need to beat yourself or the computer up over this. Are you okay? Have you even slept?"
- ―Daisy Johnson to Leo Fitz[src]
Due to an explosion at the Lighthouse that destroyed the Monoliths that were stored in the facility, a rift to the Fear Dimension was opened, which required a Gravity Containment Device based on Gravitonium to be sealed.[1] However, the first version of this device was not powerful enough to permanently stop the illusions from being generated, forcing S.H.I.E.L.D. to go and find more Gravitonium on the ship Principia.[2]
S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Leo Fitz dedicated his efforts to find a way to compress this new bulk of Gravitonium to craft a more reliable device. However, the difficulties he met in this endeavor, the amount of stress and the lack of sleep were too much for him to bear, resulting in Fitz suffering from a massive psychic split. This caused Fitz's dark persona, Doctor, who Fitz heard in his head since he had left the Framework, to resurface with one idea: removing Daisy Johnson's Inhuman Control Device, which she had kept out of fear of causing the destruction of Earth, so she would reclaim her powers, which could be used to compress the Gravitonium.[3]
Ambush[]
- "I will never forgive you."
"I suspect you won't be the only one." - ―Daisy Johnson and Leo Fitz[src]
Initially, Leo Fitz was unaware of his personality split, therefore he performed the actions that would lead him to capture Daisy Johnson without being fully conscious. He began by reprogramming a Sleeper Mechs, and knocked Deke Shaw unconscious when he approached, offering to help him with the androids since Shaw was unaware what Fitz was up to. Still not realizing what he was doing, he then arranged for two cameras to be deactivated, which caused Johnson to go alone to investigate.
Leo Fitz begins to fully experience the psychic split
It was at this moment that Fitz began to fully experience the psychic split. However, upon interacting with his persona of Doctor, he believed the latter to be another illusion generated by the Fear Dimension. Meanwhile, one Sleeper Mech was sent to attack Alphonso Mackenzie and Yo-Yo Rodriguez, causing Mackenzie to be wounded in the leg before the android was disabled. Fitz joined his fellow agents and warned them that Doctor was present in the base.
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Daisy Johnson before being attacked by a Sleeper Mech
Meanwhile, another Sleeper Mech sent by The Doctor found Johnson as she was still working on the cameras and incapacitated her by choking her. Doctor then tied up Johnson to an operation table and explained his plan: removing her Inhuman Control Device so that she would regain her powers, which she could then use to compress the Gravitonium and complete the new Gravity Containment Device. Johnson, being still afraid that her powers could lead to the destruction of Earth, begged him to stop, but The Doctor continued nonetheless, convinced by the validity of his hypothesis.
Leo Fitz realizes that he is The Doctor
At this moment, Fitz still did not realize that he was the one having captured Johnson. Therefore, his two personas began to argue, with Fitz refusing to follow Doctor's plan, and The Doctor in return calling Fitz weak for not being able to do what was necessary. Then, Jemma Simmons arrived and saw Fitz alone with Johnson, which led to the realization by the former that The Doctor was not an illusion created by the Fear Dimension, but none other than himself.
Leo Fitz removes Daisy Johnson's inhibitor
Despite this realization, and the fact that The Doctor was no longer heard by Fitz, Fitz could only come to the conclusion that Doctor's plan was viable and that he had to carry it out. Simmons advised against it, but was forced to comply as the Sleeper Mech arrived and held both Shaw, who he had brought along, and her at gunpoint, threatening to shoot them. Feeling that the had no other choice, Fitz carried out the painful operation and forcefully removed Johnson's inhibitor, understanding that she would never forgive him.
Daisy Johnson regains her powers
Once the operation was completed, Fitz gave Johnson a shot of adrenaline so that her powers would be reactivated more quickly, enabling her to effectively compress the Gravitonium. Upon completion, the Sleeper Mech was automatically deactivated, and Fitz, knowing that he had to pay for his actions, surrendered himself and agreed to be arrested by his fellow agents.[3]
Aftermath[]
Leo Fitz is locked in a cell
- "You are not leaving this cell. You are Hydra."
- ―Daisy Johnson to Leo Fitz[src]
Despite the intense suffering caused by his actions, Leo Fitz's plan proved to be successful, and the new Gravity Containment Device appeared to be resistant enough to permanently shut down the Fear Dimension's rift, thus ending the generation of illusions across the Lighthouse. Imprisoned in the Lighthouse, Fitz understood the consequences of his actions on Alphonso Mackenzie and Daisy Johnson, but remained convinced that he had made the right choice, albeit in a very hard one. His relationship with Jemma Simmons was also heavily affected, although the two of them remained together, especially after Deke Shaw revealed to Simmons that he actually was their grandson.[3] Shaw, on the other side, expressed approval for Fitz's actions despite having been hurt as well.[4]
Leo Fitz is freed
Johnson understandbly profoundly resented Fitz for what he had done to her. Since she was leading S.H.I.E.L.D. in Phil Coulson's absence, she gave strict orders that Fitz should not be released under any circumstance.[5] Fitz, however, would eventually be allowed to walk free after Simmons and Yo-Yo Rodriguez tricked Mackenzie while Johnson was away from the Lighthouse.[4]
Although she had suffered a lot in the process, being once again in full possession of her powers enabled Johnson to take part in various field missions, once again becoming one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s firepower's main elements. For instance, she was able to effectively duel against Ruby Hale when helping Coulson and Glenn Talbot to escape from Hydra.[6]