Chapter 2: Homework in a Hellcarrier
Norah had spent all night memorizing all the information Coulson had given her. What she read about Bruce Banner made her heart sink. She had met him a few years previous at a convention. He was brilliant, mild mannered, and soft spoken. It was unfathomable that he could become the Hulk. Norah found herself easily able to empathize with him. People often thought the same about her. That she was quiet, gentle and polite. No one could ever think of her causing such carnage that she had in the past.
She scoffed and chuckled when she read Tony Stark's profile. She knew he was a real prick most of the time and had a ego to boot, but she couldn't deny that he had style
The profile of Captain America/Steve Rogers caught her eye. Her hand traced the edges of his picture. He was very handsome in a classic sort of way. He had very kind eyes, but they were sad. She read about the serum that had lead to his abilities and how he was in the ice for decades. She turned the page and saw that he fought against Hydra. Her face went white and her hands began to shake. She read his file over and over again in disbelief. Norah made a mental note to talk to him as soon as she could.
"I may finally find out something." She thought.
Some S.H.I.E.L.D agents returned the next morning to collect her. Norah didn't have any idea of where they were taking her. She allowed the agents take her bags to the car.
"Careful with those please!" She said as an agent picked up her 2 swords.
"Are you ready?" One of the agents asked with a smile.
"I guess so." Norah said.
They got into a black car and went to and airport where they boarded a jet like she'd never seen before. Norah winced, she wasn't fond of flying. After about an hour they touched down on a Aircraft Carrier. Or so Norah thought. She stepped out and glanced around taking in her surroundings. Memorizing the layout. She noticed Bruce Banner in the distance looking rather lost. She walked up to him.
"Hi Dr. Banner. I don't know if you remember me but-" she said offering her hand.
"Dr. Adelman hi. Nice to see someone I know here. And please, just call me Bruce." He interjected while shaking her hand.
"Okay then, please just call me Norah." She replied.
There was silence as they both looked around more and hopping out of the way of busy workman.
"So I didn't know that, well, you know, you had something going on too." Bruce said awkwardly.
"Yeah I didn't know about you either." Norah replied.
"Did they say they only wanted you for research?" He asked.
"For the most part yes. I just hope they are telling the truth." Norah admitted.
"Yeah me too."
The two exchanged concerned looks.
Another jet had landed, she noticed that it was Coulson and the Captain. They were talking to a redheaded woman. Norah had seen her before.
"Careful, she's a bit severe." Bruce said quietly.
Norah laughed "Noted."
"Dr. Banner!" Captain yelled out catching both of their attentions.
Bruce walked up and shook his hand. Norah stood back, she couldn't make out their conversation that well.
"It must be weird for you. All of this." Bruce said as they started to walk towards her.
"Well, this is actually kinda familiar." Rogers replied.
The redheaded woman followed closely behind them.
"Captain this is Dr. Norah Adelman." Bruce said gesturing at Norah.
Captain Rogers was much more handsome in person. "Pleasure to meet you ma'm." He said shaking her hand.
"Oh, Captain my Captain." Norah said with a sultry grin. She could tell that she had made him uncomfortable. The woman and Bruce chuckled. "Please just call me Norah."
"I-uh, you can call me Steve because, um, that's my name." Steve wasn't used to women being so forward. And he definitely wasn't used to them flirting with him.
"You might wanna step inside in a minute. It's going to get a little hard to breathe." The woman said with a grin.
At that moment the boat shook underneath them and loud mechanical sounds filled the air.
"Is this a submarine?" Steve asked.
"Really? They want me in a submerged, pressurized, metal container." Bruce asked.
Norah walked with them towards the edge and looked down. Giant propellers emerged from the water and they started to lift up as they spun faster and faster. All three of them took a few steps back. Norah felt like she would be sick as the whole structure rumbled.
"No, no, this is much worse." Bruce said sarcastically.
Norah nodded. They headed inside passing all the workman securing the equipment to the surface. They entered a hallway and followed the redhead.
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch your name." Norah said to her.
"Name's Natasha." She replied not even bothering to look back at her.
"Well okay then." Norah said.
Bruce leaned forward and whispered "Told ya."
Norah chuckled and smiled.
They entered a giant control room where everyone was talking. Norah, Bruce, and Steve all looked around in wonder. Natasha looked over her shoulder and smiled at them. After memorizing the room Norah heard a very deep voice that could only be Nick Fury.
"Let's vanish." Fury said. He turned around and faced them. "Gentlemen..." he paused and looked at Norah. "...and lady."
Steve walked passed Fury handed him a ten dollar bill. Norah was curious what for, but she didn't ask. Fury walked up to Bruce and shook his hand. "Doc thank you for coming."
"Thanks for asking nicely." Bruce replied. "So uh, how long am I staying?" he looked uneasy.
"Once we get our hands on the Tesseract, you're in the wind." Fury replied. He seemed to be telling the truth. Norah sat down in one of the chairs and listened to the banter between Bruce and the crew. Natasha took Bruce to his laboratory. There was a moment of silence before Fury approached her.
"So what am I here for?" Norah asked. "You seem to have everything covered with Banner being here. I'm not sure why I'm needed."
Fury sighed.
Norah placed her arms on the table and leaned forward. "You said you needed me for my research."
"We do..." Fury said.
"So why do I get the feeling that's not the real reason you asked me here." Norah didn't break eye contact with him. Her look was stern, she didn't like to be jerked around.
"We needed insurance." Fury said lowering his voice.
"Insurance against what?" Norah asked sharply.
Fury looked around and leaned in. "Banner."
"Jesus Christ Fury." Norah scoffed as she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.
"What did you expect us to do. We have a cage, but let's be honest, there's little chance we could get him in there in time if something does happen."
"And what do you expect me to do? Yes, I could take him out, but if I lose control while doing so, I'll take him out and everyone else on this...whatever the hell this thing is."
"Hellcarrier." Fury replied.
"Whatever." Norah snapped. She was quiet for a moment. "Okay, I'm going to stay. I'm going to help Bruce with finding the Tesseract and whatever else I need to do while I'm here." Norah stood up and got in Fury's face. "But if you lie to me again I'm out of here."
"Fair enough." Fury said solemnly.
Norah stormed off to find the lab. She found Bruce there already working. Norah took off her jacket and placed it on one of the counters.
"You okay?" Bruce asked looking up at her through his glasses.
"Um, yeah. I just don't like flying much."
"Still better than a sub." Bruce chuckled.
"Ha, yeah. You're right about that."
Norah and Bruce got to work finding the Tesseract. It was nice to finally be able to work with a colleague. They both bounced theories off of each other and discussed past research while working. While figuring out the exact type of gamma radiation the Tesseract gave off Bruce noticed something strange.
"Huh, that's weird." He said look at a screen.
"What is?" Norah asked walking over to him.
He pushed his glasses up with his thumb. "There is a small amount of gamma radiation on the ship."
Norah looked at the numbers on the screen.
"Wow, it's almost identical." Norah said peering at the screen. "Do you think the Tesseract was ever on board? If so, it could be residual."
"Maybe, but it's such a weak amount it would've dissipated within minutes." Bruce replied.
Just then someone dropped something in the hallway creating a loud bang.
Both Norah and Bruce were startled. Bruce then looked in awe at Norah.
"What?" She asked. Norah looked down and noticed her violet force fields dissipating around her arms. "Oh, um sorry. That happens sometimes." Norah said trying to brush it off.
Bruce walked over and picked up a radiation reader from the table and started twirling it around her.
"Bruce? What are you doing?"
He placed the reader down and started reading the results. "Norah..." his voice was quiet. "...I think it's you."
"Me? Why would I give off the same gamma radiation as the Tesseract?" She asked confused and slightly panicked.
"I don't know, I was hoping you could tell me that." Bruce said eyeing her.
"Your guess is as good as mine." Norah said.
"What exactly can you do?" He asked taking off his glasses.
Norah shifted her weight and looked at the floor. "I can teleport anywhere as long as I have a visual of the place. And I have, I guess what you can call force fields. But in all honesty, they're more complex than that."
"I see." Bruce said quietly. "When you say they are more complex, what exactly do you mean?"
Norah sighed. "I can control things with them."
Bruce just looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
"It's easier if I just show you." Norah backed into the center of the room and the violet light that looked like dancing water consumed her hands. She reached out with the fields and picked up a tablet that was on the table. It floated in the air covered in the light. Norah took a deep breathe and closed her eyes. The tablet was dissembled, the different parts floating in the field.
"Oh wow." Bruce said moving closer to get a better look.
"And if I know how it works..." Norah said smiling. Bruce watched in wonder as the tablet reassembled. She placed it gently in his hand. He tested it and it worked.
Bruce laughed. "Now that is incredible."
"I'll say."
Norah turned around to see Steve standing in the doorway.
"Thanks guys." Norah said with a soft smile, but her eyes forlorn.
Bruce looked up at her and his smile faded. "That isn't it. Is it?" he asked.
"I'm afraid not." Norah replied.
Both Steve and Bruce looked at her in concern.
Norah picked up the tablet again with her hands and stepped away from Steve and Bruce. The violet fields were different. They didn't look like water anymore, they resembled flames. With a bright burst, the tablet was disintegrated.
Steve and Bruce jolted back.
Norah opened her eyes and looked at their reaction.
A chill went through both of their spines when they saw her pupils dilated so much that her eyes were practically black.
Norah took a few deep breaths and her eyes returned to normal. "Well?" She asked.
"I'm rather speechless to be honest." Steve said.
"What does that do to you?" Bruce asked as if he already knew the answer.
"Gives me a hell of a adrenaline rush. I'll tell ya that." Norah laughed nervously. She didn't fool Bruce for once second.
"What else?" He asked.
"If I use it for too long and on too large of scale, it tends to..." Norah looked down at her feet. "...take over."
"You mean you lose control of it." Steve said.
Norah looked up at him. "Yeah."
Bruce looked at her with sadness and understanding. "You've lost control before haven't you?"
Norah nodded. "It wasn't pretty."
Bruce inched towards her and place his hand on her shoulder. He gave her a empathetic look. Bruce and Norah made a very special connection at that moment. They understood each other's struggles, fears, and regrets.
Agent Coulson popped his head in. "Captain, you're needed in the bridge."
Steve excused himself and left. Norah and Bruce got back to work. After a while Fury came into the lab.
"Norah, we'll need you in a minute to escort the prisoner to his cell."
"Oh, you guys got him?" Norah said looking up for a moment.
"Yeah, with the help of Stark and Thor." Fury replied.
Norah's eyes grew wide as she looked up at Fury. "Thor? As in-"
"Yes, the God of Thunder himself." Fury said.
Norah became very excited. She had always loved Norse mythology ever since she could remember. Her code name was even inspired by it.
"You might want to suit up. You never know." Fury said as he left.
Norah went to her room where she found her suit that she had worn for past missions. It was an all full body leather suit that she wore with knee high combat boots. Much like what Natasha was wearing before she left. She zipped up the front to the middle of her sternum, and slung her twin swords into her back harness. She looked at herself in the mirror. It had been a while since she wore this. Everything she wore was white which contrasted with her long jet black hair. She unsheathed her swords and gripped them tightly. She got used to the weight in her hands once again. She took a deep breath. She was ready for anything.
The door to her room opened.
Agent Coulson leaned in. "Are you ready?" He asked.
Norah looked at him over her shoulder and smiled. She twirled her swords around before replacing them in their sheaths. She looked at Coulson and gave him a single nod.
Coulson smiled and put a finger on his earpiece. "It's time to fly in the Valkyrie."
