"You know, it's one thing to steal my ideas, Ian. But stealing me?"
Franklin Hall to Ian Quinn[src]

The Kidnapping of Franklin Hall was a successful attempt by Ian Quinn to abduct Franklin Hall and use his expertise to restart their experiments with Gravitonium.


"I built a full-size generator, but I need you to tell me how to control the gravity fields. You can complete your life's work. I plan to do this with or without you, but I know you. I know you'd want it done right."
Ian Quinn to Franklin Hall[src]

During their time in the Cambridge University, Franklin Hall and Ian Quinn befriended and spent a lot of time speaking about Gravitonium, a theoretical element of high atomic level capable of altering gravity around it. Quinn also designed the Gravity Field Generator which would rely on the element. However, due to Gravitonium's existence being highly hypothetical, the design was never put into practice.

Quinn never gave up on finding Gravitonium. Having built an immense fortune, Quinn dedicated years to open mines all around the world and finally found Gravitonium in one of them. In order to use it at its full potential, Quinn decided to enlist his old friend's assistance. Having figured out that Hall was a consultant for S.H.I.E.L.D., Quinn decided to stage his kidnapping.[2]


"A few minutes ago, a S.H.I.E.L.D. transport was attacked while carrying a priority red protected asset off route 76 near Sterling."
Phil Coulson[src]

While secretly transporting the scientist Franklin Hall in a truck on route 76 near Sterling, S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Mack was informed that his escort was on the way. Mack saw two SUVs approaching his truck. However, he soon witnessed a first SUV being sent in the air and violently crashing on the road. Mack informed S.H.I.E.L.D. about the situation and the second SUV was sent away as well.

Mack unsuccessfully tried to identify the threat, unaware that the attack was due to Gravity Field Generators. As the truck continued his journey, it was affected by another gravity field and began to fly. The truck then violently crashed, knocking Mack unconscious. Then, an armed squad forcefully opened the truck's door and abducted Hall, who had remained largely unaware of the attack.[2]


"You said you could go in with a man inside."
"And you want to be that man?"
Skye and Melinda May[src]

Upon being informed of the attack, S.H.I.E.L.D. instructed Coulson's Team to head for Colorado in order to investigate. Once on site, Coulson's team questioned Mack so he could tell them what had happened. Jemma Simmons and Leo Fitz then located a Gravity Field Generator and took it back to the Bus for further study. In parallel, they also identified the connection between Hall and Ian Quinn. As a result, Coulson's team decided to sent his latest recruit Skye to infiltrate Quinn's compound in Malta to investigate.

Meanwhile, Hall was transported to Ian Quinn's Mansion, where he was reunited with his old friend, who explained his plan to build a full-size Gravity Field Generator and needed Hall's assistance to do so.[2]

