Present Times: Interrogation #1

"So, Miss Lewis, you swear that the account of what you just told us is true in every sense of the word."

Darcy Lewis shuffled in her seat, not liking the situation before her at all. Seriously, being observed by the suits working under Coulson's department, cameras up high recording every time she took a breath, and an audio box that was keeping record of everything she said. What she wouldn't give for a PSP in her hands right now.

"Miss Lewis... can you answer the question."

Darcy looked back at her interrogators, and gave a single nod, while answering, "Yes. The project was when it all started."

"The Theoretic-Realm-Interspace-Catalyst project?"

"Yes."

A woman with blonde hair in the back rolled her eyes and hissed, "What kind of a name is that?"

Darcy straightened her glasses and said, "Eric believed that it was wise to completely lay out exactly what the project was. It never really did have a functional name."

The woman rolled her eyes, and was about to say something really nasty when:

"Besides, I still have no idea what strategic homeland intervention or whatever has anything if not any sort of ties what Shield actually does in reality. So speak for yourselves first before you bitch to us."

In the back of the room, Nick Fury chuckled a little bit, while the woman went completely rigid. The main agent controlling the audio frequency said, "Miss Lewis, Agent Danvers, can we get back to the point please."

Darcy smirked at the woman again (who gnawed at her teeth in missing an opportunity to fight back) and responded, sultry, "Yes we may."

"Good. Now, you believe, and by that, you mean have the suspicion , but not confirmation that Loki was drawn to this project with the hopes of that it was would succeed."

Darcy felt herself stiffen, before she responded, "Yes."

The man repositioned his own glasses before asking, "And what would it have done for him if it had."

Darcy hesitated for a moment, thinking about it. "I'm just an intern, but... I believe he might have been the soul-controller of the bi-frost-"

"Bi frost?"

"A local told me its the official name for the worm hole that allows for transportation between realms"

"Local?"

"Fandral... he's one of Thor's allies." Darcy suddenly loosened up a tad when she remembered that wonderful afternoon when a guy actually paid attention to her. God... what a wonderful hot-

"So, to continue, you believe Loki wanted complete control of this transported capability."

Darcy snapped out her funk in an instant, almost ashamed of herself. "Yes."

"Why is that?"

Darcy looked down at her feet, not really knowing the answer to that. She had never really met Loki. Had only seen the horrible things things the shit had done in New York through the broadcasting networks that spread like wild fire world wide to every part of the world, and witnessed first hand what he had done in New Mexico. But all that was nothing compared to what had happened. Tears began to form in her eyes... Her voice broke a little bit, before she answered "I don't know, but whatever the reason, he really wanted Jane in particular to help him."

Account: Before the incident.

"Jane, I don't doubt you, but this project might never get off the ground."

"Eric! We have never had more solid data than ever before! This will get off not only the ground, but the roof in the sears tower!"

"But without benefactors, it could prove difficult!"

"SHIELD is willing to go through with it! They are providing us with what the utilities, resources and funding that we need!"

"With finances yes, but without a decent power source and the cooperation of city officials, there is nothing that will be able to flip the switch!"

Darcy cringed, her usual flawless pattern and beat of Daft Punk being drowned out by her two superiors's constant babbling. Why apple didn't chose to add additional volume controls of their ear buds was a profound mystery indeed.

Eric sighed before he continued. "In any case, SHIELD isn't going to be as big as a help as we originally thought."

Jane looked up from smugly observing her paperwork and her jaw dropped. "What?"

Turns out the board of director's from the New York incident were the key funders of SHIELD. Now that they are out of the loop, and hold resentment towards Fury, Shield has had to prioritize their funding."

Jane took a moment to register this information. She then raised up suddenly and began fathering together her notebook and legitimate research. She shook her head and hissed, "No way... The THEO.R.I.C. project will get up in the air."

Eric, afraid of asking, inquired, "What are you doing?"

Ignoring his question, Jane continued, "We just have to find someone externally who can give us funding."

Eric ran a hand through his hair and grumbled, "Yeah. After New York and London, I'm sure as hell people are going to want to invest in inter-realm travel."

After throwing in her jacket, Jane grabbed her bag and stated, "Hitting the Coffee Bean, see you tonight."

Deciding to take her lie in the most legit way, Eric turned back towards the lab, with every intention to find an un-opening beer in the employee lounge. (the cooler next to the trailer) What he didn't notice was the reflection in the window, who had watched this scene unfold with great interest.

Surely, knowing the power he held on Doctor Selvic, even without the staff's intoxicating spell, he wouldn't seriously contemplate letting the man out of his sight. And now, his continuing intrusion had proved most useful again.

Chuckling slightly, he grinned sinisterly. "I do hope that woman is careful out there."

Deciding to go with coffee, Eric muttered mixing some creamer into his cup, "I do hope that woman is careful out there."

To be continued...

Next chapter will include Thor and his aftermath. Will probably edit this later. Betas and I act as the equivalent of Robert Downey Jr and Edward Norton (makes a Police-Academy patented explosion sound effect)