Pain. Pain beyond anything he had ever endured, constant and un-abating. It was all over his body, in every part of his being from his chest down.

Torture. Torment.

Agony.

The man called Fitz didn't exist anymore. There was only a creature that looked like him, filled with thought-stopping fire. And everywhere the fire moved it changed him.

Screams tore from Fitz's lips as the serum burned through his body, scorching his veins and attacking his muscles. He felt himself growing stronger, faster than a human body should. His muscles tore and reconnected, expanding. His heart was hammering madly in his chest, circulating the serum quickly and efficiently; his heart itself was getting stronger, the serum administered directly to it the only reason it was still functioning with all the stress his body was currently putting on it.

Fitz didn't know how long the process lasted. At first it was blind pain, the only thing he was able to think of the burning (when he could think) and the only thing he could do scream. Then he managed to bite his lip and merely grunt and gasp, his body convulsing on the table. He understood why he had been strapped down. If he hadn't he would most certainly end up on the floor.

When the fire had burned out and his body started cooling down, he leaned back against the table and closed his eyes, breathing heavily. He was covered in a sheen of cooling sweat, his muscles twinge-ing uncomfortably. It didn't feel like his body anymore. He tasted blood from where he had bitten his lip to hold in the screams.

"It worked." He heard someone say.

They were quiet again, and when Fitz opened his eyes a few moments later he saw the two men watching him. He had to act soon, before they knew what was happening. Just another minute to get the feel for his new strength and –

"If you're thinking of trying to escape, I wouldn't." the first man said.

Fitz stopped an instant before moving and looked at the man, startled.

He laughed. "Oh yes, I know you're now strong enough to fight your way out. You think you have no reason to listen to me. But you do." He turned to the other man. "Do it."

"What?" Fitz asked.

"We have agents following your team, Mr. Fitz. With one call they can kill someone."

Are they bluffing? Fitz thought. It was probable that they were, but what if they were telling the truth? He'd never been one for unplanned action.

"Start with the girl. The scientist."

"NO!" Fitz yelled, pushing himself up and ripping through one of his bonds. He struggled to stay in his place so the men wouldn't act. "Stop!" he glared at the man, breathing heavily. "I'll do what you say."

"Stay close, Archie, but tell them to stand down. If Mr. Fitz acts accordingly, our men should be gone very soon."

Fitz hated these men. They knew exactly how to make him do what they wanted. He had to keep Jemma safe. If there was even a slight chance the man was telling the truth, and they had men positioned to kill her, he couldn't risk it.

"Slowly get up and walk to the door." The man said.

"Why don't we just do it here?" Archie asked.

"We don't have the materials we need."

"What materials would those be?" Fitz asked.

"You'll see."

Walking, Fitz noticed how different his body was. He had been somewhat strong before, but that was nothing compared to his strength now. His legs were heavier as he lifted them to step. His shoulders were broader, his arms wider. He felt the strength, and was worried it would get the better of him. There was an impulse he hadn't felt before, to test his new abilities blindly and rid some of the pent up energy inside him. He had been exhausted immediately after the transformation, but for some reason that feeling was gone now. He felt like he could run miles.

They led Fitz to a room down the hall. It looked about the same size as the lab they had just been in, but that was where the similarities ended. That room had looked empty, relatively nonthreatening. This one had four computer stations and a chair in the middle, connected to a huge generator that stood behind it.

"Welcome to the Alteration Room, Mr. Fitz."

Fitz swallowed. Whatever they planned on doing to him next, it was not good.

"Please, sit."

He was shoved forward and sat reluctantly. Archie walked up and strapped his arms down, bringing a strong band over Fitz's forehead that forced him to stay in the same position. Fitz tested it subtly, seeing how strong the bindings were. If he tried he could get out of them pretty easily.

Then the first man walked in front of him and turned on the large screen that took up most of the wall. Fitz hadn't noticed it before.

"This room was repurposed." He said. "We used to use electricity to wipe a person's memories and make them obedient, but that's proven to be too unstable. Now we have a better method. One we like to call Compliance." He walked over to one of the computers and started typing something. "Now make sure to keep your eyes on the screen Mr. Fitz. Otherwise we'll force you to."

It was very hard to listen when for the first time in his life, Fitz could use brute strength to get out of a problem. But he managed.

The screen was bright blue, with a fluctuating pattern. They kept reminding him to stay focused on it and listen to the first man's voice. Fitz knew what they were doing. He would become a slave like Agent 33.

But he let it happen, because whenever he started to fight it he pictured Jemma, and the danger she would be in if he tried to fight.

It was impossible not to let it happen, he realized. It could take longer for some, but even May couldn't have done it.

After trying to let the words slip over him, he felt himself focusing on them. That, with the combination of the blue screen, had the intended effect. He felt his memories slipping away, his allegiances and emotions. His identity.

"Compliance will be rewarded." The man said after some time.

"Are you ready to do what we say, Mr. Fitz?" he asked, walking in front of him.

He looked at the man with blank eyes. "Happy to comply."

The man introduced himself as Dr. Nast. The other man, Archie, called him Doc. They led Fitz out of the room he was in and to another, with a bed. More accurately, they carried him to another room; his legs didn't seem to work, and he was barely able to keep his eyes open.

"Why didn't we make him comply before he got so heavy?" Archie asked.

"The transformation could have snapped him out of it; any truly stressful situation could. This way we know we're safe." He looked at Fitz, whose eyes were half closed. "He won't even remember most of it this way."

They brought him into a room and set him on a bed.

"Sleep." Doc said. "You've earned it."

"When do we get started?" he asked, barely awake but fighting his exhaustion.

Doc smiled. "Once you're rested." He said. "Then we'll talk."

A/N: Hey guys! Hope you liked this chapter! Did you see the reference to the Winter Soldier? I thought about making Fitz obedient that way, but decided against it. Compliance seemed better.

Thanks for all your support so far, and keep it up! Favorite/follow/review please!