Anara goes back to Earth several times to work with Clint and Natasha, continuing their Force education. During one of her visits, Agent Coulson requests a meeting. Though he doesn't give Pepper a reason for wanting to meet with Anara, he does request she dress in civilian clothes and sends a car to pick her up.
Curious as to why Coulson wants to speak with her in so covert a manner, she acquiesces. Dressed in jeans tucked into her soft boots, a black long-sleeved t-shirt, and black leather trench coat, she slips into the backseat of a black SUV that's come to pick her up. A short drive through the city brings them to a large park. Anara can sense the change in life from the city to a more wild and natural energy. The park must be enormous.
The driver parks and turns in his seat to look at her. "Agent Coulson is waiting for you down by the lake. He said you'll be able to find him easily. I'll be here when you're done to take you back to Stark Tower," he says.
She nods and gets out of the SUV. Taking a moment to get her bearings, she can sense the lake down to her left. Heading towards it, she finds Agent Coulson sitting on a bench near the water's edge. She sits down next to him, and he silently hands her a cup of coffee. She sips it, savoring its warmth, and waits for Coulson to speak.
"SHEILD would like you to train more agents as Jedi," he says without preamble. "If your sister is as big a threat as you say, we're going to need more people with that skill set to fight her," he says as he finally turns to look at her.
She takes another sip of coffee before answering, "No."
Surprise flashes across Coulson's face before his agent mask returns. "No? Why not? You're already training Barton and Romanoff. If you can train a dozen more, they can train others. It wouldn't require much of your time," he says.
She smiles at him ruefully. "Did you learn nothing from the story of Anakin Skywalker?" she asks. Not waiting for an answer, she continues. "Training adults in the ways of the Force is not only difficult, it's dangerous. Agents Barton and Romanoff are somewhat of an exception. Both have used the Force innately most of their lives, and both have exceptional character. There is little risk of them being seduced by the dark side." She pauses for a moment for another sip of coffee.
"To train even a few more people to the level it would take to be effective against my sister would take all of my time and attention, and it would take years. It cannot be done in a few short months. What I am doing with Clint and Natasha is simply giving them tools to enhance the skills they already have. Though they might one day reach the level of Jedi Knight, they will be lucky to equal most padawans by the time my sister reaches this galaxy." She shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Agent, but it cannot be done, and it would be dangerous for all of us. My sister has proved herself adept at corrupting the young and less skilled of the Jedi ranks. Were I to train more of even your most trusted and skilled agents, I'm afraid I would only be creating more targets for her."
Coulson nods his head. "I understand, though it might be hard to convince my superiors of the validity of your reasons," he says.
She sees an idea flash across his face and speaks quickly to quell his thought. "Do not think to have Clint and Natasha train others. It would be disastrous. AND if you or your superiors insist on taking that course of action, I will be forced to create a mental block in each of them that will prevent them from passing on any knowledge of the Force."
Coulson looks at her sideways. "That sounds like a Sith move, my lady. Would you really go that far?"
Anara looks him in the eye. "I am not afraid to use the Force in whatever way is necessary to protect innocents from my sister. Do not underestimate me," she says, her voice deepening to drive home her point. Coulson unconsciously leans back from her, his hand straying towards his gun before he recovers his composure.
"Forgive me, but I had to ask," he says as he straightens up and readjusts his black suit jacket to cover his weapon. She nods and takes another sip of coffee, sitting back against the park bench.
Coulson watches the ducks on the lake for a few minutes before speaking again. "How's the Captain doing?"
"He is doing well." Anara says after considering for a moment. "Steve has adjusted quickly to life in Asgard. He prefers to bunk with some of the officers in the army instead of staying in the palace, which I find curious, though he joins Thor, myself, and the Companions frequently in the Mead Hall for meals and socializing. He spends much of his days discussing tactics with Thor and some of the generals and joins the Companions in their daily workouts. He is equal in strength and endurance to the Asgardians, and I can tell he enjoys being able to spar with them without having to hold back as he does against opponents here. However, I believe he may return here soon. I can sense he is homesick, though he will not admit it."
Coulson nods, a small smile playing across his face, his admiration for the Captain having not diminished with his absence. "Thank you, my lady for coming to see me on such short notice," Coulson says as he stands and holds his hand out to her.
Anara takes his hand and rises.
"I won't take up any more of your time. Give my regards to Thor and the Captain?"
"Of course. And give mine to Director Fury."
Coulson nods and says goodbye before turning and walking away down the path along the lake.
Anara turns and heads back to the SUV. The agent inside says nothing as she slips into the back seat. Checking through the rear view mirror to make sure she's settled, he turns his attention to the road and takes her back to Stark Tower.
She's met at the basement entrance by Clint, who's curious to know how her meeting with Coulson went. Clearly, he knew the topic of discussion and was able to keep it hidden from her. She's impressed.
"So, what was your response to Agent Coulson?" he asks as they step into the elevator.
Turning to face him, she says, "I'm impressed you were able to keep the subject a secret from me. You are progressing well."
Not reacting to her statement, he simply looks at her, waiting for her answer.
"I told him no. It's too dangerous. The seductions of the dark side are too great for those who come so late to training. I worry even about you and Natasha, though I know with all you've both been through, my sister's tricks will have less pull," she explains.
Clint nods, and they ride the rest of the way to the training level in silence.
Natasha is waiting for them in the small dojo Tony had set up on the level reserved for physical training. Motioning for both of them to sit, Anara joins them, taking on her normal cross-legged meditation position.
Looking them both in the eye before speaking, she says, "I warned Agent Coulson, and I am warning you. Should SHIELD insist upon you training others in the ways of the Force, I will not hesitate to return here and place mental blocks on you both that will prevent you from doing so. If we survive this, I may consider creating a training academy for beings of this galaxy, but not now. Not when doing so will only create more fodder for my sister's machinations." She looks at each again in turn to drive home her point. "Do I make myself clear?"
They reply in unison, "Yes, Master."
Sensing they both do understand the gravity of her words, she says nothing more on the subject and picks up their training where she last left off.
Anara returns to Asgard, her mood dark after learning of SHIELD's desire to rush into training Force-enabled warriors. Thor, waiting for her next to Heimdal in the Bifrost dome, sees her mood clearly on her face and rushes forward to find out what's wrong.
"My love, what's wrong? You've a dark look to your face."
Attempting to banish her bad mood, she smiles at Thor. "Forgive me. I am simply troubled by a request made by Agent Coulson. SHEILD desires to create warriors with the ability to use the Force. While understandable, it is not something I am willing to help with. I do not wish to create warriors that could be so easily turned by my sister. But I fear they still may try to do so without my aid."
Thor nods in understanding, taking her hand in his as they leave the Bifrost.
Heimdal and I witnessed your discussion with Coulson. I agree that under the circumstances, it is a bad idea." As they approach a pair of horses waiting quietly on the Rainbow Bridge, Thor says, "If you are not too tired, I would show you the prison that's been constructed to hold your sister, should we capture her. Our engineers would like you to test its ability to hold her."
Anara nods her agreement. Though she's not physically tired, the anticipation of her sister's arrival has her mentally exhausted, and she realizes her mood has a hint of the dark side to it. Maybe working on bringing down the walls holding the dark side back wasn't the best idea, considering what may be coming. Silently chiding herself for letting the dark side color her thoughts, she mounts the horse Thor holds for her and follows him into Asgard.