"What do you want Fury? I'm busy." I didn't look at the man standing in front of my makeshift desk. I concentrated on the skull in front of me. It was massive and though it appeared humanoid I was certain if enough DNA remained in the bone that it would come back not human. It had a large cranium and three bone ridges that ran from where the hairline would start to the back of the skull. It gave it an almost reptile like look and no human birth condition could cause such features.
"We've been over this, you know what I want." Fury answered leaning on the old worn table making it so that he was eye level with me. I looked up after a moment in irritation but gave in with a frustrated sigh. Putting the skull down on the table I folded my hands in front of me.
"Well as you can see I have plenty of work here so my answer is no." I stared at him defiantly refusing to budge on the issue at hand.
"Work that can easily be picked up by another anthropologist. Earth needs your level of expertise else where." Fury argued.
I snorted leaning back in the metal folding chair I sat on, "Expertise? Really? Is that what you're calling it now?" I shook my head in mock disappointment.
"Yes, Aria, your expertise. I'm looking at your other traits as more of a bonus." Fury said plainly. "I need someone who can accompany a team on a mission to Asgard. That someone needs to be able to handle possible intense situations with a calm head and who can gain the trust of the Asgardians to study their culture. I can't think of anyone more qualified then you. So are you going to get in the helicopter or are you going to spend the rest of the field season trying to secure new grants." My jaw went slack.
"That's low, Fury, really low. You know that I cannot seek support from other institutions. After the New York fiasco no one wants to be tied to research that could prove aliens were here long before Goldie Locks came for a visit." I retorted. Fury shrugged, stood, and walked to the opening of the canvas tent. He turned back to me when he was half way out.
"We leave in fifteen minutes." Fury said before leaving. I sunk my head into my hands and slide them down my face in frustration.
"Damn it!" I whispered to myself.
"Dr. Raynor, please come with me." A red headed woman said holding a large file in her arms. We had just landed on the deck of the SHIELD Helicarrier moments ago and I was still in a defiant mood over the whole situation. I hated being told what to do and I especially loathed being black mailed with grant money. "Here's the mission file for your review." She handed me the large folder that turned out to be heavier then I expected. She was much shorter then me despite her wedge heeled boots and by the gun she wore on her right thigh I guessed this was the infamous or famous (which ever you prefer, really) Black Widow. Her stride was as confident and quick as her words, she didn't waste time waiting for me to gather myself after the 12 hour flight. I grabbed my large duffle bag and had to jog a few steps to catch up with her as I tried to find the specifics of my inclusion on the mission. "Don't worry about reading the file now, the portal is scheduled to open in 10 minutes."
"Wait, are you serious?" I said closing the file and stuffing it into my duffle. She didn't respond. I looked up to see a group of individuals gathered in a bare area of the deck. There were several crates and suitcases gathered around each person.
"Dr. Raynor, I'm glad you could make it." Fury greeted breaking off a conversation with a tall handsome blonde man.
"What's this about a portal opening in 10 minutes?" I asked impatiently.
"It's a portal to space that is going to open up and take us to Asgard in…" Tony Stark looked at his watch for a second before continuing. "8 minutes. Hi, Tony Stark. No offense but when Fury told us he was sending an anthropologist along for the ride I was expecting more Henry Jones and not as much Lara Croft." He offered me his hand with a sly smile.
"None taken, Mr. Stark." I shook his hand briefly. "My apologies I'm just a little behind the curve apparently since I only just now received the mission file." I eyed Fury with suspicion.
"I didn't feel the need to tell you every aspect of the mission until this moment, Aria. You can be very stubborn when you want to be and I really needed you on this. The team will fill you in on the rest when you arrive in Asgard." Fury stated in a final tone.
"Six minutes." Tony piped in.
"So is this the team?" I said looking around the group. Besides Fury and Tony Stark I didn't recognize anyone else.
"Natasha and I wont be going with you but yes this is the team." Fury said moving to join the Black Widow at what I guessed they deemed a safe distance from the rest of us. "The team consists of Tony Stark" He pointed to Tony, " Astrophysicist Dr. Jane Foster" A young brunette woman waved at me, "Physicist Dr. Bruce Banner" A man with curly black hair gave me a timid salute, "Captain Steve Rogers" the blond man offered me his hand to shake, "And Dr Aria Raynor forensic anthropologist and expert on Norse mythology." I waved hello to everyone.
"3 minutes gang." Tony informed us all. Lightening cracked over us in the clear blue sky.
"I think maybe we should all gather a little closer together." Dr. Foster suggested.
"I still think this a seriously bad idea." Dr. Banner worried.
"Just breath Bruce, we are all going to be fine. Thor said this shouldn't make you turn as long as you stay calm." Captain Rogers said calmly. I instantly realized where I had heard the name Banner before, the Hulk! Now I was even more nervous but I did as everyone else did and moved in closer together as another crack of lightening ripped through the sky followed by a loud boom.
"1 minute." Tony said getting giddy. We all looked up to see the sky grow dark in the spot just above our heads then swirl like black liquid being emptied down a drain. I stood in awe of what I was seeing until a bright light shot out of the center of the swirl straight towards us. None of us had time to react as it sucked our stuff and us upwards. I wasn't able to place time or space during the journey. Before I could quite grasp the sensations I was feeling in my body we landed hard. I heard most of the group let out whispered cries of pain as we all smacked into quartz like ground that undulated with colors of the rainbow.
"The first time is always the hardest." A booming deep voice said. I looked up to see a giant man in golden armor standing over me. He stared down at me with piercing golden eyes that seemed to cut straight to my core. I quickly got to my feet and looked around at the rest of the group. The others were slowly getting to their feet but next to me Jane looked pale and nauseas.
"Hey are you okay?" I asked helping her to her feet. She took a moment to steady herself. "Don't look at the ground it will only make your vertigo worse."
"Good idea." She said closing her eyes and taking deep breathes. "Thanks, I think I'm ok now."
"Are you sure?" She nodded so I let her go and took stock of our situation. Everyone else had faired better then Jane. Everyone was staring at the site that lay ahead of us at the end of the rainbow bridge we stood on. Towering in the distance was a golden building that looked like a manmade mountain. The whole landscape was breathtaking from the waters that surrounded us to the green lands we could see and other buildings of gold, white, and silver.
"Welcome to Asgard." The golden man said with a smile. "I am the gate keeper, Heimdal. Prince Thor has sent carriages for you." Heimdal pointed to a spot in front of us that none of us could see at first but then the sound and feeling of thundering hooves could be seen and heard coming towards us. We did not have to wait long for the horse drawn golden carriages to arrive. We packed equipment and luggage in one and stuffed our selves into the other. Our entry into Asgard was taken at a slower pace so that we could see the town. People of fine human features bustled around houses and markets much like the way ancient Romans or Greeks would have. There was no real hurry to the daily commerce. It was a far cry from our modern technology driven lives on earth though technology was obviously present and far superior to our own. Jane and I pointed out various interesting sights as we were driven through the town to which the men smiled at our girlish interest. We finally reached the mountain building after what felt like an hour in the carriage.
"Welcome friends!" A large long hair blonde man shouted walking quickly out of the entrance of the building, which was large white sandstone like gateway.
"Thor!" Jane cried in excitement jumping out of the carriage and running to him. She jumped into his arms and they embraced for several long seconds.
"Jane is Thor's girl." Tony informed me with a smile.
"I got that impression but thanks for the clarification." I said pertly, getting out of the carriage.
"Ooo, smart-ass. I like it." Tony said jumping out of the carriage behind me. Steve chuckled as he walked past us.
"Careful Dr. Raynor, you may end up regretting that fact." Steve laughed starting to unpack the other carriage. Tony followed him and they started a friendly spat that I had a feeling was common.
"Oh no my friends, please the servants will get those for you. They know where to take your belongings. Come I'll show you to your rooms." Thor said beckoning us forward with one hand and holding Jane's with the other. She was glowing she was so happy to be in his presence. I felt a great deal of happiness for her, despite having just met her. She seemed a kind-hearted person and as an anthropologist the human emotions were something that fascinated me. I followed the group through the gateway and into the golden stone hallways of the palace of Asgard as Thor called it. I listened half heartedly as the other members of the group caught up with Thor about their lives since they had last seen each other. I was more interested in the people I saw and the architecture. Everything was covered in gold or was made of white stone. The servants of the castle dressed in neutral toned clothes of light flowing fabrics while Thor stood out in his silver, dark blue, and red armor. Slowly an image of Asgardian palace life was beginning to form but was not solid enough yet to put into words. "Dr. Raynor." I heard Thor call my name but it took me a second to register a response as I examined a potted plant that had orchid like flowers blooming from its branches
"Hmm…oh yes." I said coming to my senses. The group was smiling and silently snickering at my obvious curiosity.
"These will be your chambers Dr. Raynor." Thor said stepping aside so a servant could open the nearly 10 foot tall doors. I moved forward to peer into the room. It was massive with a large bed set on a platform and a fire pit inset into the floor. "Once you have settled in a guard will take you to the prison area where you will be working with my brother Loki." I was half way through the doors when Thor finished his sentence innocently. I stopped and backed up quickly.
"Loki, the war criminal? The alien being who brought the chitauri to earth? The one who wanted to subjugate and rule the human race?" I asked trying to manage my tone into something peaceful.
"Y…yes. Is there something wrong, Dr. Raynor. I was told you were sent to educate Loki on the histories of your realm so he may better understand your peoples as part of his punishment." Thor stated calmly. I looked to the rest of the group who didn't seem shocked by this information.
"I was under the impression I was here to study and cataloge the culture of Asgard for use in better understanding our new alliance." I thought for a second. " Damn it all, Fury, that bastard, tricked me. And right when I was about uncover something of great significance." I said to myself in frustration. I envisioned another anthropologist uncovering the remaining skeleton to the skull I had held in my hands only a day ago. Would they understand the importance or would they dismiss it as disease or mutation?
"I apologize for your situation but I can see to it that you are able to study and…. catalogue Asgardian culture during your time not spent with Loki." Thor compromised.
"It's not your fault. Fury has a nasty habit of manipulating me to do his dirty work by threatening the grants SHIELD issues me for my work. I'll educate your brother the best I can and I appreciate your willingness to allow me to study your culture even if it's not for SHIELD's sake." I said offering my hand to Thor as a deal sealer. He took it enthusiastically.
"It is a deal, Dr. Raynor." He turned to the rest of the group who had started to recline against the walls. "Friends, Bjorn will show you to your chambers. Jane, my sweet, your chambers are this way." Thor took Jane down one hall while the servant Bjorn led the way down another hall.
"Hey don't take it too hard. This will be a good thing in the end." Tony said offering me some encouragement patting me on the shoulder. I nodded and watched as everyone left me to my new digs. I entered and closed to door with my back then slide down the smooth door until I was squatting with my elbows on my knees and my face in my hands. Fury was going to pay for this when I got back to earth and I mean seriously pay, momma needs new equipment. I smiled at the thought of brand new toys.