Marcus Benson

> I've already lost everything that matters. Death doesn't scare me.
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Doctor **Marcus Benson** is the former Director of Natural Sciences at Culver University. He was recruited by Alphonso Mackenzie and Melinda May to a Department Head at Coulson Academy.

## Biography

### Early Life

#### Loving and Losing Tom

> I used to share a cocktail with the love of my life. But when he died, this became a way to remember him. Or forget. I don't know.
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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.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.

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

> S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy. Not overnight – we won't open it for a year or two – but we need you to build it from the ground up. In his name. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s second chance. And from what I can gather, yours, too.
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#### Studying a Body

> Is it too late to turn down this job?
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#### Dangerous Autopsy

> The blood panel on our friend Mr. Simcoe yielded some surprising results. His body is flooded with a neurotoxin, possibly secreted by that alien critter. It's inert, but highly combustible. Nasty stuff.
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#### Studying Incan Myths

> Benson's research is all over the place, but he said this stuff gave him the chills, and I can see why. What does this look like to you?"
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> "Birds?"
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> "Not Shrike?
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#### Encounter with Izel

> You can create Thomas again and again. And each time, his death will be your fault. Care for a second try? A third?"
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> "Please, no."
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> "Dying would be a relief now, wouldn't it? But it's not an option.
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## Abilities

> An IQ of 160.
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* **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 May and 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, Marcus 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; Marcus, 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

* Father-in-Law
* Sister-in-Law

Allies* Culver University
	+ Andrew Garner † - Former Colleague and Friend
* S.H.I.E.L.D.
	+ Alphonso Mackenzie- Director
	+ S.T.R.I.K.E.
		- Melinda May - Colleague
		- Elena Rodriguez- Colleague
		- Damon Keller † - Former Colleague
	+ Fox † - Former Colleague
* Tom Benson † (Recreation)
	+ Pachakutiq/Sarge†
	+ Tinker †
	+ Jaco †
* Izel †
	+ Shrike