While Tony and Lucy were watching the old videos of Howard and the Stark Expo, down in Puente Antiguo, New Mexico, Jane Foster, an astrophysicist, and her college intern, Darcy Lewis, were camped out in their all terrain vehicle monitoring their equipment. At the same time in a different part of Stark mansion, Coulson was directing his team.
"Enlarge screen seven." He requested. "That's the third flare today." Coulson remarked.
"It's within earth's atmosphere, sir." One of his team members added.
"I see that," Coulson agreed, "I also see that each incident has resulted in some gravitational lensing.
"I know!" another agent added, "I've never seen lensing this severe. It's almost as though there's something trying to push through the space time continuum."
"It is almost like that." Coulson inspected the data.
The agent laughed, "But…that would be crazy, right?"
Coulson looked up and grinned dryly, "Insane."
Taking out his phone he dialed a number, "Agent Coulson. Voice print verified." A robotic voice notified him, "Transferring to Director Fury."
"I need face-to-face." Coulson requested.
"I posted you here with one simple task!" Fury grunted pointing to the destroyed house, "And already you've let Stark break perimeter!"
Coulson replied, "Lucy is with him, he'll be find. Besides, I've had my eyes on a different perimeter."
Fury scoffed, "Yeah? And what perimeter is that?"
"Earth." Coulson answered plainly. "Director Fury, remember that electromagnetic storm that didn't warrant your attention yesterday?"
"How am I supposed to remember something that didn't warrant my attention?" Fury replied sarcastically.
"Regardless." Coulson pressed on, "The activity has intensified to where there are now atmospheric flares, all of which resulted in large scale gravitational lensing. There is the possibility that this could be the precursor to the opening of an Einstein-Rosen bridge."
"A what bridge?" Fury blinked.
"An Einstein-Rosen bridge, also known as a wormhole. In layman's terms, a portal to another universe opening below the ozone layer."
"Well," Fury sighed, "I think that warrants my attention." He paused reading the rest of the findings, "This is a mighty big fish, Coulson. Are you sure you want it attached to your line?"
The agent nodded, "I am aware of how unrealistic it sounds, but I am confident in my conclusion. I am also aware that we are doing important work here and that I am a big part of that. However, this activity in New Mexico is a blind spot for us, sir and we're not the only one's who have noticed the atmospheric anomaly." He handed Fury a picture, "Her name is Jane Foster, and we just flagged a call that she made to an old mentor of her's, Erik Selvig."
"Selvig?" Fury questioned, "Banner's old colleague?"
"The same." Coulson took back the image, "Miss Foster's been on the scene for weeks and likely knows a lot more than we do."
"Congratulations. You've just got yourself reassigned say goodbye to Stark and Agent Zero if you're feeling friendly and get out to the desert ASAP." Fury started to walk away.
"Yes, Sir." Coulson smiled, "Do you mind if I ask Marie to come as well? It is something we've never encountered before and she's good in that area."
Fury shrugged, "I don't own the woman, convince her yourself." And he left.
At that moment Coulson received a text message from the lady herself.
To Coulson: Eddie and I are heading to Stark Industries. I'll watch over him. Phil can you come pick me up? I'm going to let him work alone for a bit. –M
To Marie: Be there soon. –C
To Natasha: I'm heading to New Mexico, sorry for the short notice. Think you can handle things here on your own? –C
To Coulson: What could possibly go wrong? – N
-permafrost-
"An Einstein-Rosen bridge?" Lucy queried over a quick dinner, her interest piqued. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." Coulson grinned signaling for their check. "So, do you want to come with me?"
"Please." She slapped away his hand and gave her card to the waiter, "You had me at 'anomaly'. You mentioned Selvig?"
"Yeah." He nodded as they stood to leave, "He'll probably be there. You know him?"
"In passing." Lucy shrugged on her coat. "I went to check out Banner's work with the super soldier serum. They weren't even close, so I left them alone."
-permafrost-
Later that night…
Iron Man battled the Hammer Drones at the Stark Expo with his rediscovered element; unofficially dubbed 'Badassium', as Black Widow hacked into the Hammer systems.
"Reboot complete, Tony." She communicated to him over their radio, finally freeing James Rhodes from the control of his suit, "You got your best friend back."
"Thank you very much, Agent Romanoff." Tony's voice cracked over the speakers.
"There's one more drone incoming." She warned him, "This one looks different. The repulsor signature is significantly higher. Good luck, boys." She finished disconnecting their shared signal. Picking up her phone she dialed a number that was quickly answered, "I restored Rhodey's suit. But he and Tony are on their own now. T-minus five minutes until the authorities arrive. Should I vanish?"
"Hack the mainframe," Fury instructed, "and find out what else Hammer has been developing. Take anything that's worth taking and burn the rest."
"On it."
-permafrost-
Meanwhile…
SHIELD Outpost
Roswell, New Mexico
472 miles from Puente Antiguo
Lucy and Coulson had just arrived. The outpost was swarming with SHIELD agents running back and forth, sweating in their suits.
"Attention please!" Coulson yelled, his voice amplified with a speakerphone, "I would like to thank all of you for your prompt response time and your efficiency in preparing for this operation. Our target site is about twenty miles outside of a small town called Puente Antiguo. Though we will also be doing intel reconnaissance within town limits, we will always be civil and only exert authority when absolutely necessary. There is no way to be certain what we will find when we arrive, but I am 100% confident that there is nothing that we cannot manage."
-permafrost-
A bit later…
The SHIELD agents were assigned to spread out and see if any suspicious activity had been going on. Lucy had been flipping through the back woods, trucker radio frequencies when she caught something. "Hey Phil," she looked over from the passenger's seat. "Listen to this."
A few minutes later the two agents had pulled up to an enormous crater that was being surrounded by various trucks.
Coulson pulled out his phone, "Sir, we've found it."
-permafrost-
That night…
Clint Barton groaned as his cell phone went off. Rolling over he picked it up and bit out harshly, "This is the first day of the first week of the first vacation I've taken since I sighed up to work for you."
"Oh that's right, silly me." Fury scoffed, "You get yourself some rest. I don't think providing extra muscle at a possible alien crash site is something you'd be interested in anyway."
Clint sat up and sighed, "Where am I going?"
"New Mexico." Was the answer.
-permafrost-
On the drive down to the crash site, Clint stopped off at a gas station. Crime scene tape was spread in every direction. "Someone stick up the place?" he asked the lady at the cash register.
"Tried to last night." She told him as he paid for his snacks.
He smirked, "Let me guess, some mysterious guys in black suits broke up the heist?"
She stared at him in shock handing him his bag.
"Who says we don't look out for each other in this country?" he smiled in farewell.
-permafrost-
Clint pulled up to the makeshift tent base SHIELD had erected around the fallen object. Flashing his badge he gained access and made his way into the main part of the center. "Coulson." He addressed.
Coulson looked up from the monitors, "Barton. Glad you could make it."
"Clinton!" Lucy shouted from the other side of the room. Standing up she hurried to give her friend a hug. "Miss me?" she grinned.
"I didn't know you where here." He ruffled her hair, "Why'd they call me if they have you?"
"I requested you actually." Lucy admitted, "Sorry about your vacation. We don't know what we're dealing with and I thought it'd be fun for you."
Clint rolled his eyes, "Vacation would've been too boring anyway." Looking back to Coulson he asked, "So Fury told me that you caught an alien?"
"That's very inaccurate, we have encountered an extraterrestrial object." He corrected.
"Then where's the alien that it belongs to?" Clint countered.
"That's why we're here." Lucy added.
From beyond their chamber, sounds of a scuffle could be heard. Agents began to run to one particular area where a large man with shoulder length blonde hair was fighting his way, assumedly to the hammer. Clint and Lucy ran outside to watch the fight.
"I need eyes up high with a gun!" Coulson ordered through their coms.
"I got it." Clint yelled as he grabbed his bow and arrows and whipped his way on top of a crane.
Lucy shouted into her mic, "Coulson, do you want me to engage?"
"No wait." Came the reply.
"You want me to slow him down, sir?" Barton hollered as his aim followed the unidentified man's movements, "Or are you sending in more guys for him to beat up?"
"I'm going in." Lucy shook her head; regular SHIELD agents weren't going to be able to stop him.
"Wait." Coulson ordered, "I want to see this."
Lucy followed the man until he reached the hammer. She was crouched at the ready in case something was to happen. Instead the man dropped to his knees in defeat, surprising her and everyone else at the base.
"What the hell?" came Clint's confused remark. He was watching a dark shape scramble up the side of the crater and into a car.
"He's not talking is he?" Clint asked Coulson.
"Not, yet." Coulson still held out hope.
Clint continued, "Guy like that could probably take months of torture before he starts to crack. It's too bad you're not the torturing type."
"You have an idea?" Lucy piped up still trying to dry her soaked hair with a towel.
"Yeah," Clint nodded, "cut him loose."
"Let him walk?" Coulson looked at him incredulously, "Just like that?"
"After you shacked him, I saw some chick scrambling back to her car, all frantic." Clint shrugged, "Logic suggests that she gave him a ride out here and she was about as subtle in getting away as he was in getting in. I'm just saying, he maybe a pro, but the people he's mixed up with don't have a clue what they're doing. You want intel on this guy? Cut him loose and give him a tail."
"That could work." Lucy considered.
"Not a bad idea." Coulson agreed.
Back at SHIELD HQ…
Black Widow had just arrived back at base. "I got the Hammer Industries data that you…" she paused noticing Fury's disheveled state. "You don't look so hot boss."
"Haven't gotten much sleep in the past few days, thanks for noticing." Fury looked up, "I need you to get to Culver University and put eyes on Doctor Banner. I got word that General Ross is about to make a move on him."
"I thought Sitwell was on Banner?" she remarked confused.
Fury sighed, "He was but I had to send him to New Mexico."
"Why?"
Fury stood but and shouted, "Because I got an alien object in New Mexico, that's why!"
Natasha observed his frazzled state and replied, "I'll get right on it."
Culver University, Virginia
Natasha was currently undercover as a student at the school.
"Hey!" a voice called behind her, "Excuse me, wait up! You're in my psych class." An over confident blonde boy walked up to her.
"I think you're mistaken." She replied turning away.
"No, I recognize you. You really stand out." He continued trying to flirt with her.
Natasha wasn't paying any attention to his poor attempt at catching her eye. Instead her gaze was locked on something far more interesting. Soldiers could be seen congregating around a building. "Funny" she muttered to herself as she broke into a run, following the men, "I was trying to blend in."
From behind her a faint call form the boy could be heard, "Hey! Where you going?"
Hidden behind a corner she could hear the men speaking to one another, "He's locked in. Put two canisters in there with him."
First there was silence, then the Hulk tore his way out of the building.
Quickly pulling out her phone she dialed a number, "Banner….uh…changed." she reported.
"$#*%." was Fury's response.
"Yeah," she agreed, "It's quite a sight."
"And General Ross is there?" he clarified.
"Yes, sir." She watched the battle unfold, "They're going at it pretty fiercely. What are your orders?"
"Stay close and no matter what do not let Ross take Banner. Dead or alive."
"Copy that." She dived away from the fight that was coming nearer.
"Blonsky! You're up!" a voice shouted.
Back in Malibu…
Tony had just entered the room where he would be meeting Director Fury. As he moved toward the table, he spotted a folder; it read 'Avengers Initiative'. As he was about to open it a hand came down to stop him.
"I don't think I want you looking at that." Fury sat down, "I'm not sure it pertains to you anymore. Now this on ther other hand," he held up a different file, "Is Agent Romanoff's assessment, of you. Read it." He handed the papers over to Tony.
"Uh…pshhhh." He skimmed, "'Personality overview: Mr. Stark displays compulsive behavior.' In my own defense that was last week." He reproached, "'Prone to self destructive tendencies' I was dying! I mean please, and aren't we all? 'Textbook narcissism'' Tony paused, "Agreed. Ok here it is, uh. 'Recruitment assessment for Avenger Initiative, Iron Man: yes' I've got to think about it." He put down the file.
"Read on." Fury commanded.
"'Tony Stark not…not recommended' that doesn't make any sense. How can you approve me but not approve me? I got a new ticker, I'm trying to do right by, uh, Pepper. I'm in a stable-ish relationship." Tony listed.
"Which leads us to believe at this juncture we'd only like to use you as a consultant." Fury smiled at him.
"What like what Arie, does?" Tony questioned.
"I think you and I both know she's more than that." Fury smirked.
"Yeah." Tony sighed, considering his options. Then he stood up and offered the Director a handshake. "You can't afford me" he replied walking away, "Then again I will waive my customary retainer in exchange for a small favor. Rhodey and I are being honored in Washington and we need a presenter."
Fury nodded, "I'll see what I can do."
Tony left and Fury stood and gathered his papers. The door slammed open again, "We need to talk." Spoke an irritated Black Widow. She was covered in cuts and scrapes, twigs were in her hair, and dirt all over her clothes.
"Did Banner do this?" Fury asked inspecting her condition.
"A building that he knocked over, yeah." She put her hands on her hips.
"You need a doctor?"
Natasha rolled her eyes, "Maybe a psychiatrist."
Fury nodded, "Did General Ross get him?"
"No. Banner made it out. But, they enhanced Blonsky." She finished seriously.
The Director's phone buzzed at that moment, "Fury." He answered.
"Sir, it's Coulson." There was a battle raging in Puente Antiguo. "We've got a small problem."
"What's the situation?"
Coulson jumped up to warn the fellow agent "Sitwell! Come on we've got to move." Allowing the other man to lean on him Coulson pulled him to the side, "It missed the artery. Apply pressure here."
"I'm fine. But that thing is heading for town…" Sitwell took out his phone and handed it to Coulson. "Call for backup."
Clint and Lucy arrived a few minutes later, "What the hell happened here?" Clint studied the wreckage of multiple SHIELD cars.
"I'd be happy to show you." Coulson pointed after the Destroyer, "It's about twenty minutes that way." Turning to the medic car that just arrived her ordered, "Medics! Agents Delangey and Jackson are the most critically wounded! Stabilize them and get them en route to the nearest E.R. before tending to the others." Then to the rest of the agents he commanded, "Any field agent able to walk and fire a gun, I need you to pick a car and ride with me! Right now!"
"That's not normal." Clint observed as he and Lucy drove into town. Before them was a huge column of lighting. Then, Thor could be seen battling the Destroyer with the restored power of Mjolnir. The agents jumped out of their cars and helped usher the civilians away from the fight.
After the fight the agents slowly approached the inert form of the Destroyer, "Hey Coulson!" Clint called over, "I've just 'encountered an extraterrestrial object.'"
"You want to try to lift this one too?" Lucy finished and the two high fived for their cleverness.