Tony walks beside Anara down the hall.
"So, Princess," he begins.
"Please, just Anara. There is no need for titles here, "she interjects.
"Very well." Tony replies, thinking to himself for a moment. "So can you really do that whole Jedi mind trick thing?" Twirling his fingers in front of him he says, 'These are not the droids you're looking for... Move along."
Anara smiles. That joke has been passed down through the generations, and even after so many years, it's still funny. She wonders how he knows it.
"Yes, the Jedi have the ability to influence those with weaker minds. Tell me, in your movies, are the two Droids you just referenced named R2D2 and C-3PO?"
"Um, yeah." Tony says, surprised.
Anara stops him with a hand on his arm.
"Please, when we are done here, will you show me these… movies you speak of? I would like to know how you know so much about my history," she says, trying to keep the desperation out of her voice.
Tony resumes walking. "Sure, but I still think Thor's just playing a joke on us."
It doesn't take a Jedi to know that Tony's telling the truth and believes this is all an elaborate ruse.
Tony takes her to the large lab overlooking the bridge. It has an impressive array of view screens and work tables. She removes her cloak and drapes it over a high chair. Tony approaches her.
"So, let's see this light saber of yours. I have to admit, your demonstration was impressive, but I'm still a skeptic."
Anara removes the hilt from her belt and hands it to him, admonishing, "Be careful, a lightsaber is no ordinary blade. It is unwieldy for those not trained in the Force. One of the healers in Asgard lost several fingers when he ignited it without my supervision."
"Oh?" Tony says, clearly questioning why.
"I was unconscious at the time," she says simply.
"So amputated limbs must really be an occupational hazard for you then." Tony quips back.
Anara smiles ruefully, "Yes, they are."
Tony turns the hilt over in his hands, examining it. He finds the activation button, and Anara prepares herself to keep Tony from harm if necessary. He falters with the blade for a moment, then finds a balance with it. Swinging it around a few times, he then touches it to one of the tables. When the blade finishes cutting through it, he shuts it down and hands it back to her.
"Impressive," she says. "I do not sense the Force in you, but you handled it like one trained."
Tony, already lost in thought, replies absently, "It has a push-back similar to some components in my suit. It wasn't really that hard to compensate for."
Tony walks over to a set of view screens and starts moving things around before speaking to seemingly no one in particular.
"Jarvis, tie into the servers at Stark Tower. Set up a set of confidential files under max security. I want to keep this lightsaber stuff under wraps."
Turning to Anara, he says, "So what exactly do you need from us that the high and mighty Asgardians can't supply?"
Though he sounds condescending, she senses a deep respect for Thor.
"Most of the internal components, I'm afraid. The Asgardians don't work with circuitry like this."
She walks to a work table and sets her lightsaber on it. Using the Force, she takes the outer shell off the hilt. Removing a few other pieces, she exposes the crystal and inner workings of the blade.
"The crystal, here, is what channels the energy to create the plasma for the blade. I've been unable to synthesize one that has the correct properties. I don't think they have the necessary elements on Asgard."
Pointing to the other electrical components, she continues.
"The Asgardians also don't use solid state circuits and don't have the necessary technology to create them. And, at some point I will need a new power source as well."
Tony looks over the components for a moment.
"I think we can make what you need, but we'll need to go back to Stark Tower and my lab to make it. SHIELD has a lot of fun toys, but mine are better," he says with a grin.
They both fall into work mode, Tony asking questions, Anara answering and pointing out various circuits and components, and soon they've mapped out a plan for building components for a new light saber. The only piece left is the crystal.
"What's the crystal made of?" he asks.
"It's a complex matrix of several rare elements. Do you have any elemental diagrams? It may be easier if I can find the right picture instead of searching for translations."
They walk over to a view screen.
"Jarvis, pull up atomic diagrams of the elements. Start with ones that form crystalline matrixes first."
A series of atomic diagrams appears on the screen. Anara looks them over but doesn't see the right elements. She shakes her head.
"Ok, let's try metals," Tony says.
Another series appears. Again, there is no match. They've soon exhausted almost the entire periodic table.
"Jarvis, show me all of the man-made elements."
"Of course, Sir, but you know they are not stable enough to form a crystalline structure," Jarvis cautions.
"I know, just pull them up anyway," Tony says.
Again, nothing. Thinking, Tony addresses the unseen Jarvis.
"Jarvis, pull up the alien and top-secret elements in the SHIELD database."
"One moment, Sir," Jarvis replies.
Within that screen, Anara finds one of the elements she's looking for. Pointing, she says, "That one there, that is one of the elements."
Tony looks at her, one eye brow raised.
"Adamantium are you sure? Our only known form of it is as a metal."
"Yes, in my galaxy it is found as a metal as well. However, when combined with Lanthanum and subjected to the proper conditions, it forms a crystalline structure. There are only a few places in my galaxy where they grow naturally, but we have developed methods to grow them in a lab."
Tony thinks for a moment, his hand stroking his van dyke.
"SHIELD doesn't have the technology here to scan the crystal to find that other element's structure. We'll have to take your lightsaber back to my own labs."
He looks at Anara. "Fancy a trip to New York?" he asks, just as Thor and Natasha enter the lab.
"We figured we'd find you two holed up in here," Natasha says. "You know you missed dinner."
Tony quips back, "Oh and a fine one I'm sure it was… MREs again?"
"Not exactly," Natasha says. "They were actually serving steak tonight."
Thor adds, "And it was quite good."
He looks to Anara, and she smiles at him. Tony ignores Thor and addresses Natasha.
"I'd like to take her highness back to Stark Tower. I have equipment there we need to build some components for her lightsaber. Can you get her and Muscles there on a plane tonight? I didn't exactly bring the private jet."
Natasha raises an eyebrow but nods.
"I can get them transport off the carrier but not till morning. New York airspace is closed down due to a Presidential visit."
Tony turns to Anara, "Sorry princess -". Anara raises an eyebrow at him.
"Anara…sorry, I guess your visit to New York will have to wait a few hours."
Thor approaches Anara but addresses Tony.
"Then maybe we can watch these movies you were all talking about earlier? I am curious to see one of these recorded plays."
Anara chimes in, agreeing, eager to see these movies as well. She can only guess from the talk that somehow these humans have come across some ancient holocrons, a type of Jedi recording device, and she's curious to see exactly what they contain.
Natasha says something quietly into a microphone in her wrist, then motioning everyone to the door, she leads them to one of the carrier's movie theaters.
Due to their VIP status, they're given access to the Officer's Theater. More cozy and casual than a normal theater, a few large couches are arranged around tables, interspersed with groups of recliners facing a large movie screen. They are joined shortly by the rest of the Avengers and Agent Coulson. Rearranging the seating so that everyone can sit together, they settle in with drinks and several large bowls of popcorn.
A debate on which trilogy to start with goes on for several minutes, with Agent Coulson winning with basic logic – just start from the beginning. As the theater lights dim, Anara snuggles in against Thor on one of the couches.
From the minute the first images appear on the screen, she's floored. The transport ships match the designs of the times, and the depiction of the Neimoidians is exact. Even Qui-Gon Jinn looks similar to the statue of him in the Jedi Archives on Coruscant. Every detail fits what she knows.
When the lights come up at the end of the movie, all eyes are on Anara.
"SO?" Tony asks.
It takes her a minute to find her voice. "These movies, who is responsible for them?"
Agent Coulson responds, "George Lucas was the writer and director. Why?"
"I would speak to him," she says, the demand clear in her voice. "I want to know how he knows so much about my world. He may know a way for me to get back there."
Hawkeye leans forward, taking his arm from around Natasha's shoulders in the process.
"So how did you get here anyway? We haven't heard that story yet."
Anara takes a deep breath. "I don't exactly know. I was on my way back to Coruscant from a trade negotiation in the Outer Rim. Something happened while I was in hyperspace, and the next thing I know, I'm waking up in a hospital room in Asgard."
Thor adds, "She was lucky her ship almost hit Loki. If he hadn't been there to pull her out of the wreckage, she would not have survived."
There is general shock at hearing that Loki saved her. Knowing their past history with him, she's not surprised. Not eager to discuss Loki, Natasha changes the subject.
"So how far in your past was what we just saw?"
"About 7 generations." Anara replies. "I'm afraid my generation is doomed to repeat the path my ancestors walked so long ago. My galaxy is again at war, and only the names of the players have changed." Sadness colors her voice. "I can only hope that Darth Daeva is still imprisoned at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Only with her out of the picture can there be hope for peace."
The night growing late, everyone heads off to bed. Agent Coulson escorts Thor and Anara to their rooms. Stopping outside a pair of doors, he hands them access badges.
"I didn't know if I should get you separate rooms or not, so I erred on the side of caution," he says, looking a little embarrassed. "These ID badges will get you into your rooms and access to common areas of the ship like the mess hall and workout facilities."
He demonstrates, swiping one of the cards over a panel by the door to open it. Entering the room, he shows them the com panel and basic features of the room.
"If you need anything, just hit this button on the com panel."
Backing out of the room, he gives them a nod of the head. "Thor, it is good to see you again, and it is a pleasure to meet you, Princess. Good Night."
Left alone, Thor gathers Anara into his arms. Kissing her on the forehead, he asks, "Are you all right?"
She looks up at him. "Yes, it's just a lot to take in. But it gives me hope that others from my galaxy are here, and maybe they know a way home."
She can sense Thor's worry that he'll lose her if that happens.
"Worry not, my love," she tells him, touching his face. "You have my heart now, and I cannot leave that behind. There are a few things I need to take care of back home, that is all. I would not be gone forever." Thor smiles softly and kisses her.