Marcus Benson

Doctor Marcus Benson is the former Director of Natural Sciences at Culver University. He was recruited by Alphonso Mackenzie and Melinda May to become a Department Head at S.H.I.E.L.D..
==Biography==
===Early Life===
====Loving and Losing Tom====
Benson was a Natural Sciences professor in Culver University, and notably counted Andrew Garner, who he later befriended and worked with, among his students. Benson also fell in love with a man named Thomas, and they eventually married.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 6.01: Missing Pieces However, Benson's husband was caught in a severe car crash. Unable to bear his suffering, and knowing that his husband would refuse to live on a hospital bed for the rest of his life, Benson argued with his husband's family and eventually made them accept that he would euthanize Thomas. However, Tom's family never forgave him.
Being convinced that he had made the right choice did nothing to ease Benson's devastating grief. As a result, Benson fell into depression and alcoholism. Moreover, his job conditions also worsened as his classes were cancelled and Benson was slowly pushed towards retirement.
===Joining S.H.I.E.L.D.===
====Recruitment====
Benson got called by Melinda May for help in S.H.I.E.L.D. activities. Benson finally agreed when May kept talking. Benson went to the bar and was met by Director Alphonso Mackenzie, who wanted Benson to spearhead an agent school dedicated to their late former director. Benson was initially reluctant, but agreed to join them.
====Studying a Body====
When Benson got to the Lighthouse, he was tasked with studying a body who was stuck in a wall. There were no legs; it was like the person was built into the wall. Benson then noticed a lens. As he got closer, the body woke up and started screaming, saying that Pachakutiq was coming and there was no stopping it. The body then died and dropped a tablet with a date and time on it. This allowed S.H.I.E.L.D. to attempt to intercept a convoy. Benson then watched as the convoy plowed through S.H.I.E.L.D. forces.
The agents returned, claiming that the enemy looked like Phil Coulson. Benson looked further into Coulson and also researched terms like Inhumans, Fear Dimensions, and Life-Model Decoys, noting that he wanted to meet the idiot who designed them. Through his research, he was able to find that the new enemy had an exact DNA match of Coulson, and argued that Coulson never really died. Melinda May grew angry, saying that he was dead and Benson had no right to question that.
Later, Benson walked into Alphonso Mackenzie's office and said that he felt like it was his job to ask what Coulson was to May. Mackenzie said that everyone had their own pain, and May's was going around killing people. Benson was then able to understand May as he felt the same about Tom Benson. He then fidgeted with Tinker's tablet and was able to uncover a video. Seeing the video, he poured himself a glass of alcohol and showed Mackenzie a video of "Coulson" leaving a prior planet as it was being destroyed by certain bat like creatures.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 6.02: Window of Opportunity
====Dangerous Autopsy====
Benson was tasked with performing an autopsy on a crystallized person. Benson was able to figure out the man was Harold Simcoe and his blood was filled with a neurotoxin. He and Damon Keller opened up the body together and found an alien critter nestled inside of him.
Studying further, Benson took out the dagger which was imbedded inside the Shrike. However, the Shrike was not dead like they thought. The alien flew up and about the room. Benson tried to take cover behind Keller. When they searched, they found the Shrike had gone into the vent. The group looked further until the alien came out and flew into Keller's body, nestling itself inside him. Benson brought Keller to an operating table, but had no idea what to do.
As he thought of ideas, Keller flatlined. Benson went to check the pulse, but keller awakened, grabbing Benson as he was under the influence of the Shrike. Yo-Yo Rodriguez pushed Keller off of Benson and quickly took straps, super speeding to put them on. Benson was confused on how she did that, not knowing about her power. Rodriguez simply said it was another day at S.H.I.E.L.D.. Benson then had to cut Keller open, even when he was conscious.
When Benson used the dagger, Keller skin burned him, causing Benson to back away. Keller then woke up and moved to the hallway as the Shrike took him over. Suddenly, Keller started crystallizing, shooting crystals all over the place. Benson told Rodriguez to get out of there, but Rodriguez took the dagger and stabbed Keller in the chest, killing him.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 6.04: Code Yellow
====Studying Incan Myths====
Benson studied Damon Keller's body, but grew sad. He asked Alphonso Mackenzie if he could take a day off, but Mackenzie said he could cope however he liked as long as his head was in it. Mackenzie brought up how Yo-Yo Rodriguez had concerns about Benson and Mackenzie wanted to know he had him at his best. Benson told Mackenzie that his best was twenty years ago.
Benson walked in on Rodriguez, angry at her. He asked if she was there to spy on him, but she brought up how she saved his life. Benson said that the Lighthouse was coming down if she did not. Rodriguez then said that even when she does the right thing, she could not help from feeling bad. Benson softened up, saying that he knew what she meant. He told her about pulling the cord on Tom Benson and how it was the hardest decision he had to make. However, he kenw it was the right thing and she should too about Keller.
Benson then showed Rodriguez the specs and she realized it was similar to the Monoliths. Mackenzie shoed Benson the Monoliths, intriguing him. Benson then did research on Pachakutiq and the Monoliths. He figured out it was in Incan word and related to where the first monolith was discovered. Benson asked Mackenzie for a Quinjet so he could explore this lead.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 6.05: The Other Thing
====Encounter with Izel====
Benson did his research and was soon called in by S.H.I.E.L.D.. Benson was picked up by Alphonso Mackenzie, but was surprised to see that only Mackenzie and Yo-Yo Rodriguez were there. Benson said that he was expecting more. Benson then showed them his research on the Di'Allas. Suddenly, Izel popped out of Mackenzie because she was controlling him.
Izel wanted the location of the temple Benson was talking about, but he refused to tell. Izel then brought out the Gravity Containment Device and explained that it showed people their fears. When it opened, Tom Benson materialized. Marcus almost broke down right away seeing his husband before him. Tom talked about how he could hear Marcus right before he pulled the plug and he also heard Marcus go against his family's wishes.
Marcus started crying as he said that was not what happened. Mackenzie and Rodriguez, who were in the Containment Module, told Marcus that it was not real. As Marcus talked, Izel killed Tom, causing him to disappear. She then said that he could replay it in his mind everytime, but he would have always killed Tom. She also said to either give the location or be stuck in this loop. Not wanting to experience it anymore, Benson gave the location and told S.H.I.E.L.D. he was sorry. Mackenzie understood as Benson walked into the module. Mackenzie then tricked Izel and was able to drop the module back down to the ground. Once landed, Benson called S.H.I.E.L.D., telling them where Izel was going.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 6.11: From the Ashes
==Personality==
Benson, of his own admission, is known more for his honesty than his sensitivity with difficult topics.
==Abilities==
*Genius-Level Intellect: Benson has an IQ of 160, which led Melinda May to suggest for Alphonso Mackenzie to recruit him as a fitting substitute to S.H.I.E.L.D. in the absence of Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons.
*Master Scientist: Benson is the Director of Natural Sciences at Culver University, and was Andrew Garner's favorite teacher. He claims to have built the department "from the ground up." He theorized the existence of certain fields, which Melinda May and Alphonso Mackenzie had pressing questions about. And though he both claims and believes that he is way past his prime as an intellectual and scientifically inclined individual, with the best version of himself as a bona fide scientist being a couple decades back, Benson was nonetheless able to cover and determine several cases on the behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D. Namely the existence of a second Phil Coulson, reality warps surrounding this doppleganger and the fact he's biological, dismissing the suspicion that they are dealing with an LMD; Benson, in particular, managed to crack the encryption on Tinker's hard drive despite of this advanced piece of technology's obviously alien features and origin.
==Facilities==
*Culver University: To be added
*Lighthouse: To be added
==Relationships==
===Family===
*Tom Benson † - Husband and Euthanized Victim
*Father-in-Law
*Sister-in-Law
===Allies===
*Culver University
**Andrew Garner † - Former Colleague and Friend
*S.H.I.E.L.D.
**Alphonso Mackenzie - Director
**STRIKE
***Melinda May - Colleague
***Yo-Yo Rodriguez - Colleague
***Damon Keller † - Former Colleague
**Fox † - Former Colleague
*Tom Benson † (Recreation)
===Enemies===
*Sarge's Squad
**Pachakutiq/Sarge †
**Tinker †
**Jaco †
*Izel †
**Shrike
==Appearances==
In chronological order:
*
*
*
*
* (mentioned)
*
==Behind the Scenes==
*The casting notes had the character listed as Professor L.
==References==
Category:Characters
Category:Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Characters
Category:Humans
Category:Males
Category:Gray Hair
Category:Brown Eyes
Category:Scientists
Category:Professors
Category:Culver University Staff
Category:S.H.I.E.L.D. Consultants
Category:LGBTQIA+ Characters