Samson sat with Agent Phil Coulson in a small conference room; Elsa's file rested on the table between them.
She was terrified at first," Samson reported. "She kept asking 'If we knew?'. After a moment, it clicked in to wonder how we knew about him."
"And what did you tell her?" Phil asked.
"That he had mentioned him in her sleep," Samson said, disgusted. He hated lying like this. If he'd thought that SHIELD wouldn't continue to keep her isolated, he might have told her the truth. "If we could reunite her with someone from her own era…"
"We would probably cut off the last chance we have of getting to the truth of what happened in Arendelle," Phil cut off smoothly. "What's your diagnosis?"
"Other than the culture shock," Samson replied, "PTSD and a severe case of… Ms. Romanov," he said, nodding. The red haired woman had appeared just inside his field of vision. He wondered just how long she'd been there.
Phil nodded his acknowledgement of Natasha's quiet presence. "She's been read in," Coulson said. "Please continue."
That bothered Samson. Fury was known for only giving people information that he thought they absolutely needed. That he thought the Black Widow should know about Elsa most likely meant he was considering the woman out of time as a potential asset. Alternatively, Black Widow was an on call executioner. Neither thought gave Doc any confidence.
"And a severe case of Self-Guilt," Samson finished. "She thinks she did something to, quite literally, damn her."
"That's interesting," said Coulson, "Agent Leall's report suggested she was quite concerned for Agent Martinez."
"...and it has something to do with that piece of ice she's wearing. I'd stake my license on it." He frowned. "Not much else that wasn't already part of the briefing. She admitted that her parents died three years before her coronation, and she also claimed credit for the ice palace near the mountain mentioned in the Arendelle Glacier report." Dr. Samson tapped the file folder. "She was very surprised to hear it was still standing. Now, if I could have her in a stable environment for a month or so, I might be able to coax whatever happened to create the glacier out of her."
"No time," Romanov said. "Director Fury has been watching your interview, and believes giving her something to focus on might be the best way to snap her out of self pity." She turned to Phil. "We take off as soon as Mr. Rogers and Dr. Banner arrive."
Coulson's eyes went momentarily star struck.
"You're excused," Natasha said, allowing herself a slight grin. Then she turned back to Samson and acknowledged his outraged expression.
"Focus on?!" Samson fumed. "History? Comics? Video Game? A Bejeweled knockoff?"
"A mission," Natasha replied calmly, "Yes. We're that desperate."
Doc's mouth snapped shut as his mind continued to process everything she had just said. "Wait, Dr. Bruce Banner?" he asked. "Is Fury actually that crazy?"
Natasha gave him a thin smile, then a pack of gum. "It'll be her first time in a pressurized environment," she said. "She'll want something to help her ears pop."
Elsa had finished eating when the Doctor returned. His face was a mask to mirror Elsa's own. "The food here isn't anything to be proud of," he admitted. He reached into his coat, and pulled out a small package. From it he withdrew a small stick. He eyed it critically, mumbled something, then unwrapped it and popped the contents into his mouth. Then he held it out for Elsa. "Take one," he offered. She did.
She looked over it, her English was rusty. "Extra Chewing Gum. Winterfresh flavor," she read phonetically. She looked at Samson, puzzled. In the distance she could hear a gentle hum startup.
"Don't swallow it," he warned her. "You'll want something to chew in a moment."
Elsa looked at it suspiciously, then unwrapped the paper and metallic wrapping. She put the unwrapped item in her mouth and chewed experimentally. It was cool and sweet in her mouth. It wasn't chocolate, but she decided she liked it.
Which is when her ears clogged. She swallowed instinctively, and the uncomfortable feeling passed. Elsa looked at Samson, who was making his own uncomfortable swallowing motions.
"What was that?" Elsa asked.
She was answered by a knock on the door. It opened a second later. "It'll be easier to show you," the woman said.
Elsa looked to the speaker. She was a lithe woman in form fitting black leather, not unlike the uniforms she had seen earlier. Her curly red hair just touched the collar. Her brown eyes locked onto Elsa's. There was a piercing intelligence to them, but she just gave a bow. "Queen Elsa," she began formally.
"Elsa will do," Elsa interrupted.
"Elsa," She began again. "My name is Natasha Romanov. Captain Nicholas has requested your presence on the bridge."
For a change, these were terms Elsa understood. "Is this a ship?" she asked, confused.
"It is a sort of ship," Natasha said. "If you would follow me."
Elsa stood and followed her through a maze of twisty little corridors that looked mostly alike. When they emerged onto the bridge, Elsa got a good view of all the people working in front of some mysterious artifacts, and outside the large window… Elsa gave a gasp, and the temperature in the room dropped four or five degrees despite her bracers. She closed her eyes and repeated her mantra. Clearly they believe this is safe. I can control it. She felt a hand on her shoulder and flinched away, but the hand remained. Opening her eyes and looking at her escorts, she saw a man in a black leather jacket. He held the hand up apologetically, and as she turned back forward, she caught him out of the corner her eye shaking the hand out.
"How is this possible?" she asked. "Not even the North Mountain is this high."
A man in front of her cleared his throat, and Elsa stepped back again. She'd heard of Africans, but had never actually seen one. This one had an eyepatch like a pirate.
"That would get very technical, Ms. Elsa," he said, giving her a nod. "I'm Captain Nicholas Fury, director of SHIELD, and let me offer you a belated welcome to the SHIELD Helicarrier." He continued in a crisp, confident tone. "I understand you've done some things you regret. Most of us here have. Some of them very recently."
Elsa regarded him curiously, absently fingering the piece of ice around her neck.
"I can't offer you absolution. The past is, as they say, in the past. But maybe I can offer you redemption." He turned to face the sky for a moment. "The world is getting stranger. People with strength and technology beyond most people." He turned back to Elsa. "An alien called Loki has stolen an extremely powerful energy source and has promised to bring war to our planet. I believe you've met."
Elsa gave him a surprised curt nod, but no further reply. Alien?
"I'm gathering some people with the abilities to catch and stop him. The fate of our whole word is at stake. I'd like… and I probably need, your help. Are you willing to give it?" He looked past her, giving her a moment to think.
"Mr. Steven Rodgers, Dr. Bruce Banner? Allow me to introduce Elsa Arendelle: the Ice Sorceress."
From behind her, the jacketed man strode past her, and handed a green piece of paper to Captain Fury.
Fury put it in his pocket without saying anything.