As Natasha and Banner exited the small house, I couldn't keep the smile off my face at seeing the real, live Doctor Banner in real-well, relatively-life! I also finally processed that not only was I seeing THE Black Widow, but I had talked to her! And given her suggestions on how to do her job! How was I alive? I guess it was my knowledgeable, business attitude. If I wanted to maintain enough respect from her to have her consider my suggestions-come to think of it, part of it was probably fear of Hulk as well-I couldn't act frightened of her now. Once they got close enough to the group of guards I was surrounded by, I spoke.
"Agent Romanoff, since the man you are standing by has proven he is not a threat, could you give authorization to the boys with guns to let him through?"
It took a minute for Agent Romanoff to accept my statement, but it also meant she was taking it seriously. According to her, Doctor Banner was less of a threat than he was before. It was nice to know I had that affect on people.
"Doctor Banner is authorized to approach Ms Christenson." I winced a little at the formal nature of my name. I didn't miss the slight, slight exasperation in Natasha's tone though. Once Banner was close enough, I extended my hand to shake his.
"I am so excited to meet you, Doctor Banner. Call me Rachel."
"Then you should call me Bruce." I shook my head in chagrin at the similarities between Captain and Banner.
"I'd love to earn the familiarity of calling you by your first name, Doctor Banner, but since your intelligence is vastly more substantial than mine, I like showing my respect." Yes, I definitely was not the typical teenager while growing up. "If it helps at all, I had to give the same speech to Captain Rodgers."
"Captain Rodgers?" He looked like the name was familiar, but he wasn't sure from where. And with his record with the military, he was probably thinking it wasn't from a good place.
"Better known as Captain America?"
"Why are we talking about him?" For such a smart guy, I think I had confused Banner. Or maybe he was thinking he had misheard me compare him to the good Captain.
"Because he tried to get me to call him Steve just like you asked me to call you Bruce and I told both of you I respected you too much to do so."
Bruce looked rather dazed as we climbed into the helicopter. Soon it was just me, Banner, and Natasha in the plane. I was getting settled in for sleep-I knew I would not be getting any for a while- while I reviewed the plan when I realized Loki was going to causing problems at basically the same time as we were going land on the helicarrier. People were going to be dead if I waited that long. I reached for my phone and was trying to find Coulson's number when Natasha spoke up.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to call Agent Coulson." I looked to see her reaction, and it was a little incredulous. "If you want to, you can speak to him first, or you could just look at the number." She simply stared at me, so I went back to finding the number.
"Agent Coulson here. What's wrong?" Why would he assume something was wrong? Right, because why else would I be calling? I kind of wanted to be sarcastic, but it was true.
"Can you give me some phrase so Agent Romanoff will trust me?" Coulson made an incredulous noise as I realized how poorly worded that was. "I meant trust that I'm actually talking to you and not like a terrorist organization." He took a moment to respond.
"I don't like Super Nanny." Chuckles rolled off me and I was silently shaking. It was obvious he had told her about his remark to Tony.
"Agent Coulson doesn't like Super Nanny," I choked out to Natasha.
I thought I saw a small smile in the corner of her mouth, but there was no other reaction than moving somewhere else on the plane. Once I was as far away from both Natasha and Banner as possible, I continued speaking to Coulson.
"So things are going to be happening very quickly from now on. The rest of the information can wait until we are on the helicarrier, but some events are going to be happening too soon. I don't have specifics so bare with me as I try to give you as much information as possible."
"What am I doing with this information?"
"Saving people's lives."
"Alright, hit me." I was about to launch into information download mode when I realized I had one question first.
"Do you know who stole the cube?"
"Loki, from Asgard. He kind of announced himself." Evidence of low self-esteem exhibit A.
"Alright then. Loki is looking for a mineral called iridium. He's going to get it from somewhere in Germany, and yes, I do have more information, but its kind of roundabout. Somewhere in Germany-I know, very vague-there is an art museum on a street called King's Street, in German. There is a large gala being held there tonight, and the man hosting the event has access to a lab where the iridium is held. Also, the lab has an eye scanner. I'm pretty sure iridium is rare enough that that is enough information. Hopefully." There was a long pause as Coulson digested the flood of information that I had rambled at him.
"And what do you want me to do with this information?" Oops. Forget the important part.
"I need there to not be any guards at the lab and for Loki's henchmen to be able to break into the lab without them suspecting anything. Especially..." Crap, Natasha was in the plane and I was sure she would start listening if I said his name.
"Agent Barton?" Bless you, Coulson.
"Yes. The tricky part is..." well, Loki would be more comfortable knowing the iridium had been obtained, but I'm sure he had some kind of back up plan. And them not getting the iridium didn't mean they couldn't still rescue him. That was a convoluted thought grammatically. Grammar Nazi. And now my thoughts have drifted to Captain. Back on track Rachel! "Actually, not so tricky. Just make sure the guy who has access to the lab doesn't show up. And make sure the police aren't near the museum at all. Then we can send Captain Rodgers to pick Loki up."
"And Loki is going to just come quietly?" I pretended to ignore his incredulous tone.
"Well, relatively. He wouldn't want you to become too suspicious, would he?"
"So he had a plan to escape?"
"Yes. I want the escape plan to arrive, but not be successful."
"Agent Barton?" I loved Coulson. Brilliant man!
"Yes. At that point I can use my knowledge to make him uncompromised."
"So he became compromised to get the iridium. Why do you want Loki to have iridium?" This is when his brilliance becomes annoying. How was I going to explain it without causing more panic? I took the time I needed to sort my thoughts.
"Because Loki wants to open a portal to let in a large alien army." That was the best way to start I came up with? "I have a way to stop them so they won't be coming back another way. Since I know when and where Loki will have this portal, I can plan things like that."
"You will make sure no one gets hurt?" Good old Coulson, keeping the priorities. I really did appreciate his determination and single mindedness in this situation.
"I am working at 120% to make sure no one gets hurt."
"Good. I'll get on that then. You are so lucky Iridium is so rare." I let myself have a little chuckle.
"Well, that's what I am. A good luck charm. Not that you believe in such things."
"You'd be surprised how many SHIELD agents believe in luck."
"Not Director Fury, and I'd be surprised if you did. Not shocked, but surprised."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Tricky question.
"Not believing in luck is good because well...how to put this...you plan and take action thinking of whatever could go wrong. Its a very good thing for a man in your line of work."
"Are you sure you are not older than you look? No genetic manipulation?" Well, since technology wasn't that advanced were I used to come from, I was certain that wasn't the case.
"No, but I've always been told I act mature for my age."
"That I would believe," Coulson sincerely stated.
"Well, I'm in a plane with Agent Romanoff and Doctor Banner, so I'm going to talk with them, as long as you don't have anything else you need to tell me?"
"Just one thing. Rachel, I know you are doing your best to protect others, but don't forget to protect yourself as well. Especially since I know you know more than your saying." Had there been a pause before that last sentence? It had made his caution of my safety more of a protection of intelligence, but it had seemed very sincere.
"Will do, Agent Coulson." I waited till he hung up to do so myself, in case he still had more to say.