SVALBARD

THE PRESENT DAY

In the fading afternoon light, the helicopter skimmed low along the landscape. The last village of any size had flashed by beneath them ten minutes ago. Now there was only mile after mile of mountains and sparse looking tundra. Sitting beside the pilot, Henry Haddock stared out the window as the coastline swept past. There weren't even any roads in this area, at least none that he could see.

Not the sort of place you'd expect someone to be bankrolling an archaeological dig.

However, Henry Haddock was not an ordinary person.

Henry Harrison Haddock III (an admittedly irrelevant title; however, one he couldn't fail not to add) was twenty-four years old. From childhood, his technological aptitude and genius-level intellect had been apparent. He had moved higher and higher in the world, culminating with, at the age of nineteen, him founding Haddock Industries, a front-runner of the scientific world. He had been well-known for his many innovations… and he never let anyone forget it. Time Magazine had called him, "Genius billionaire playboy philanthropist… and slight egomaniac."

The reason why he was here was not for business. Haddock was well known for his all-encompassing hobbies; in which he poured billions of dollars annually into. In fact, he was fundraiser of the Svalbard dig. He also owned the helicopter. And paid the pilot's wages. A fact of which the pilot was totally aware.

Sitting next to Haddock was a short, thickset man with black hair. This was Jorgenson; if he had a first name, Haddock didn't know it. Jorgenson was Haddock's bodyguard, chauffeur and confidant; basically, Haddock never left home without him.

Haddock clicked the radio mike and said to the pilot, "How much farther?" The pilot turned to him and said, "Five minutes, Mr. Haddock." Haddock turned and said, "It won't be long now." But the tall man folded up in the back seat of the helicopter didn't answer, or even acknowledge that he had been spoken to. He merely sat, with his hand on his chin, and stared frowning out the window.

Haddock shook his head; that was Hans Westegard. Westegard was a business associate of Haddock's; Westegard had asked to accompany Haddock to the archaeological dig for reasons he had never been quite concrete on. In an immaculate business suit, he didn't look like the sort of person who would be heading out here. As the helicopter cut over the hill, they noticed a small collection of tents near the side of a massive mountain. And, as the helicopter got closer, Haddock noticed the dig team continuing their excavations.

A tall blonde woman, about the same age as Haddock, stood, waiting for the helicopter. As the helicopter landed and Haddock got out, she extended her hand, "Dr. Astrid Hofferson, at your pleasure." Haddock smiled wryly, "Dr. Hofferson, it's nice to finally meet you. And I believe you've already met Jorgenson. Have I introduced you to my colleague, Hans Westegard?" Dr. Hofferson's eyes narrowed, "No, I don't believe you have. It's a pleasure." Westegard gave a smug little smile, "It's a pleasure."

Several members of the team looked at each other. There'd been whispers around the dig site that Haddock was looking for something specifically. There had been talk about cursed treasures, ancient secrets and other things. Astrid looked and said, "So, what's our fundraiser doing here?" Haddock shrugged, "Eh, just visiting… You said you'd made some 'interesting discoveries'"

Haddock looked around; there were a couple of people missing. He decided to throw caution to the wind and asked, "And where are the rest of the team?" Astrid shrugged, "A underground scan came up with unusual results; they're investigating that." Haddock gave her a weird look, "And what have you found so far?" She smiled, "I'm glad you asked; Ingerman, show our fundraiser what we've found."

Ingerman, a stocky man with dirty blonde hair, about the same age as Haddock and Astrid, walked up to Haddock and Westegard, and said, in his distinctive fast-talking voice, "We've found several runic writings and carvings of unknown origin." He gestured to the table which had a rock with runes carved on it and a crude stone carving of a dragon. Westegard sneered, "Wow, what great discoveries. I think I was expecting something a bit more… impressive."

Ignoring his sarcasm, Ingerman continued, "Oh, you can't understate what we've found here. We've found runes that match no known runic alphabet, as well as carvings that match no known culture, although there are similarities to Nordic carvings…" At Ingerman's monologue, Westegard narrowed his eyes and said, patronisingly, "Speak English." At the dismissal, Ingerman's eyes widened, "Well, we appear to have found a lost culture. Totally unrecorded by history; until now, that is." Jorgensen smirked, "Cool."

Suddenly, a loud, Scottish accented voice came from nearby, "Is that Henry Haddock?" A large, blond-haired, bearded man walked up to Haddock, took his hand and said, in a bone-crushing handshake, "Glad to see you again, laddie." Haddock smiled, "It's good to see you again, Gobber." Haddock had known "Gobber" since childhood; whilst "Gobber" was not his real name, it was the name everyone knew him by. Gobber smiled wryly, "So, are ye the seventh richest man in the world, now?" Haddock smiled and he said in a tone of false modesty, "Eighth. Close. Anyway, it's not every guy who discovers the last relics of a lost civilisation…"

Astrid gave a cold smile, "Well, I wouldn't jump to conclusions... we don't have much yet." Suddenly, Reidun Thorsten's voice crackled in from the radio, "Uh, boss… we've found something. Something big. As in, really big." There was something in her voice… something that indicated they'd found much more than runes and carvings. However, they had to be sure. Astrid reached the radio first and asked "Please define what you mean by 'really big'?"

Deep within the mountain, Reidun stood, mute with awe, with her brother, in front of their discovery. What they had found was a gigantic door, some 100 feet high, with runes carved along its length. She lifted her walkie-talkie and said, "Huge."

Sorry this seems rushed.

If you haven't guessed it, a lot of Henry Haddock's personality is based on Tony Stark; in fact the Time magazine summation of him is quoted directly from Tony Stark's summation of himself in the first Avengers (apart from the slight egomaniac bit). What can I say? I like Iron Man.

I deliberately didn't mention the whereabouts of Haddock's parents. 'Cos a) it diverges it from cjupsher's version, who was very Batman/Bruce Wayne-inspired and b) I really don't know if I want (an equivalent of) Valka to appear at some point.