1 Hour Later, S.H.I.E.L.D. OP Van #57, Road I-78, New Jersey
"Objective complete, sir. Team intact, with an addition. En route to base now." If any of the other cars on the interstate would happen to be paying any particular attention to the nondescript van, they wouldn't see anything out of the ordinary. Inside a young woman in dark clothes seemed to be talking to a man around her age, perhaps her husband, while checking her reflection in the drop down compact mirror. Inside the van, an entirely different scene was taking place.
"An addition, Agent Romanoff?" Fury's face was severe, even slightly distorted by the screen.
"Yes sir."
"Pray tell, what kind of an addition. Last time Agent Barton had an addition I ended up with you." Fury's comment silenced the vehicle. Due mostly to the fact that Tony had complained about it, they had kept their previous seats. In doing so, it inadvertently gave Agent Mason the coveted spot of being able to see the screen, while still being out of the camera's line of sight.
She took a deep breath and stopped Fury's inevitable rant before it started, "It's an 0-8-4, sir." Agent Mason said calmly and shifted a few inches to allow Fury to see her face. It was the Director's turn to be silent.
"Do you require an escort to the Slingshot, Agent?"
"No sir, with all due respect- I don't think that will quite work here." Fury glanced at the other two official agents before speaking.
"I want the full story in 15 minutes. Don't be late." Only when the screen had reverted to its mirror-like appearance did the passengers allow themselves to talk.
"What's an 0-8-4?" As usual, Tony was never left speechless long.
"It's an unknown object, they can get pretty interesting." Clint didn't take his eyes off the road, but they could all see the smirk on his face in the mirror.
"Interesting how?" Steve sounded apprehensive. Agent Mason smiled wryly at him before answering.
"The last one was a hammer."
...
"What the hell am I looking at?"
"With all due respect, sir, we don't know. That is after all what an 0-8-4 means." Agent Mason said that last part quietly, but not quietly enough.
"You would do well to hold your tongue Agent, I have enough probable cause to take you off of active duty without too much trouble from the Council." Looking properly chastised, Agent Mason bent her head slightly in apology- but never broke eye contact with Fury. "Now, Romanoff, Barton- report." With a sideways glance at each other, Natasha stepped forward.
"The operation was a success, sir."
"Hostiles?"
"Yes, sir."
"I expect a report on my desk by tomorrow, understand?" Natasha nodded once and melted back into the small group. They were, ironically, in the same room that they had been briefed for the mission in.
"Agent Mason," she straightened and clasped her hands behind her back at Fury's words.
"Yes, sir?" She seemed to be focused on a point slightly over Fury's shoulder.
"Is there any chance that this is the piece of alien technology we discussed?" Agent Mason turned her gaze directly on Fury before answering.
"Yes, sir."
"Good. I want to know everything about it, all of your other assignments are hereby cancelled until we have this sorted out."
"Yes, sir."
"And I'm sure you'll have Mr. Stark and Dr. Banner's full cooperation, and and others, should you need it." Bruce nodded seriously, but Tony snorted derisively.
"And where do you propose we research this threatening alien technology, sir? It wouldn't be in the stone age cave you call a lab, would it?" Tony rolled his eyes, leaving no doubt to what he thought about that idea.
"What are you saying, Stark?" Fury asked, suspiciously.
"I happen to have ten floors of R and D, right here in New York. Plenty of lodging, I would, of course, be compensated for my hospitality." He grinned and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Fury looked at him warily, sighing- before he made a decision, "Romanoff and Barton, you'll be on security- all of the usual rules apply. Thor, Banner, and Rogers- you may leave if you wish, but do try to limit your contact with anyone outside the tower. Mason-"
"I'll be commuting, sir." She ignored the looks she was getting, focussing just on Fury.
"Very well, now if there's nothing else-"
"What of my brother?" Thor had been quiet during the conversation, but there was no way he was leaving without Loki.
"He could be useful, sir. There's no telling what kind of encryptions we will be facing." Agent Mason again ignored the staring, but gave Fury a slight nod.
"You'd better hope you have a good security system, Stark. He gets out and it's on you. You're all dismissed." They began to file out, with Clint and Natasha at the back. "Romanoff, Barton," he called out before they could leave, "keep your eyes open." They both nodded solemnly before shutting the door.
Fury sat silently, glaring at empty space.
"That went well." Agent Maria Hill slid back a fake door in the wall behind Fury and stepped out.
"She knew you were there, didn't she?" Fury rubbed his face, not bothering to turn around.
"Looked right at me, when will you stop testing her?" Hill's voice wasn't scolding, just curious. When he didn't answer, her tone became cold, "Mind telling me just what you're playing at here...sir."
"Saving the world."
"And at what price?"
"Mason knows the risks."
"Does she?" Agent Hill's voice was bitter. "You're betting lives, her life, everyone's lives on this idea of yours."
"I still believe in heroes, Coulson died believing in them."
"This is all poetic irony to you, isn't it? What about the promises you made?" Fury wheeled around to face her, his eyes cold.
"I'm doing what is best for this world, Agent Hill. You'd best remember that." Agent Hill straightened and clasped her hands behind her back.
"Yes, sir."
...
Stark Tower, Parking Garage, Level B; New York, New York
"Yes, sir?"
"Is Pep home, JARVIS?" Tony asked, leading the small group to the elevator. The blacked-out S.H.I.E.L.D. van would remain parked at the tower, just in case there was a need for it. The two Asgardians had been rather taken by the city, it being the first time that they had been able to see it without the world hanging in the balance- or at least any more than it usually was.
"Miss Potts is currently in the penthouse living area, sir. Would you like me to put her on?"
"That won't be necessary, probably better to tell her this in person. She can hardly say no to guests when they're already here, right JARVIS?"
"As you wish, sir."
"Make sure there are..." Tony did a quick head count, "ah, seven guest rooms prepared."
"Six," Agent Mason spoke up from her place between Clint and Thor.
"Miss Mason, what a pleasure to see you again."
"Likewise, JARVIS." Mason smiled serenely at Tony, but he was saved from answering any embarrassing questions as the elevator doors opened.
"Tony?" Pepper's voice was unmistakable, though slightly muffled. She appeared through one of the doorways, completely engrossed in the tablet she held. When she did look up, she was speechless.
"Hey Pep. Uh, this is Clint, Nat, Bruce, Steve, Kat, Thor, and Loki. They'll be staying with us for a while. JARVIS is making sure there are rooms for everyone, but would you mind giving this group a tour? We need to get working on this." He held the black briefcase up as way of explanation and practically threw Bruce and Agent Mason back into the elevator.
"Scared, Stark?" Agent Mason smirked as the doors closed. Bruce chuckled at Tony's expression.
"A little fear is healthy." Tony turned, trying unsuccessfully to ignore the laughter from behind him. Determined to wait it out for some type of childish payback, he was silent for the rest of the trip.
Unfortunately for him, twelve floors later- the mirth hadn't subsided.
...
"Not a bad set-up, Stark."
"The best money can buy." Tony walked into the center of the enormous lab. "Flip the switch, JARVIS." Across the room monitors, walls, and surfaces around the room flickered to life.
Bruce let out a low whistle. "You've been holding out on me, Tony."
"This was office space last week, I figured I should get my money's worth if the construction people were going to be here anyway." Tony hopped on to one of the counters and sat there with an angelic smile on his face. "Make yourself at home," he gestured to a rather large island workplace.
"No use delaying the inevitable," Agent Mason sighed, and with a deft movement had the black briefcase out of Tony's hands and on to the counter. With a few clicks and a hidden thumb scanner, the lid popped open. Using gloves, Agent Mason carefully lifted the metal sphere on to the table. "I don't suppose x-ray will do anything, right JARVIS?"
"You would be correct, ma'am."
"Nothing quite like jumping in head-first." Agent Mason mumbled to herself, speaking louder she said, "Ready, boys?"
Tony nodded, but Bruce looked thoughtful, "What are the chances of you passing out or needing a doctor?"
Agent Mason looked at him for a moment before chuckling, "They were right Doctor, you don't miss much. But to answer your question, the worst that could happen is I'll be tired after a few hours- and possibly have a very large headache from being with him," she pointed to Tony, "for too long." Bruce still looked apprehensive, though he had agreed with the last part.
"If it'll make you feel better..." Agent Mason pulled a small metallic rectangle out of her pocket, "JARVIS, is there an omnisensor in here?"
"The screen to your left ma'am."
After feeling the bottom of the paper-thin screen, Agent Mason seemed to find what she was looking for. When she placed the box on the screen, it sprang to life. There were now several animated graphs and charts filling the screen, all constantly moving.
"New test suit, bit of a pet project of mine, those are real-time vitals. Ignore any slight drops or non-fatal anomalies, nothing is abnormal as far as I'm concerned. Is there anything else, or shall we get started?" Agent Mason asked, settling herself back on the stool. When she didn't hear any objections, she closed her eyes and carefully placed her hand on the sphere.
After a few seconds, she pulled her hand back sharply and looked at her confused companions. "Got any paper?" she asked Tony.
He opened a small drawer, and after a bit of searching, placed a slightly doodled-on piece of paper and a pencil in front of her. A few moments and several scribbles later, Agent Mason flipped the paper around to face them.
"Well, gentlemen, how familiar are you with Eternity Codes?"