8 Setting the Stage

High Atmosphere

Tony Stark read over the police report regarding one of his shipments from New York. He arrived at the scene as soon as he was alerted of the matter. While he was thankful that someone was able to help the cops and the civilians at the time, he did not expect to see 'Thor' and 'the devil' in the final report. As much as he would like to look into that as well as the remains of the crude ED-209, he had bigger fish to fry. Apparently, the Wrecking crew attempted to steal his cargo. One that wasn't supposed to be on that freighter in the first place.

The Gamma Energy Emitter was a highly classified piece of tech in his Research and Development department. It used to be part of a joint Military contract until Stark decided to leave the weapons business. However, that didn't stop the government's own experiments which led to the creation of the Hulk and other radioactive weapons. Regardless, someone outside or inside his company was smuggling his tech, and he was going to get to the bottom of it.

Jarvis updated his helmet's HUD. "The tracking signal has been located. Location: the Turlock Mountain Range in Slovakia."

"Eastern Europe? Ah, great. As if that shortens the list." Tony sighed. "I swear if it's the Russians again... " He shook his head. "Switch to Infrared." His sensors highlighted ambient energy emanating from his destination. "Got em."

Within an energy dome, numerous people set up operations on the mountain. The group wore yellow uniforms reminiscent of a beekeeper's suit. The commanding officer walked out of a tent with a woman with long black hair and purple eyes. "Just tell us Latveria's needs, Miss Varbartmis, and A.I.M can supply you with anything you desire." He gestured to an energy rifle on his left, "With any one of our weapons, you can crush an army." As a demonstration, the scientist targeted a distant boulder and fired. In an instant, the object was reduced to cinders.

Seeing the potential, the woman smirked. However, her thoughts were interrupted.

"Well good thing I didn't bring an army then." Everyone on the ground backed away as Ironman landed in front of them. Upon raising his head, Tony's HUD highlighted all the stolen technology in sight. "Wow. Some kind of sale you have going on here? There's a lot of neat stuff." The hero's voice grew stern. "Unfortunately, a lot of it has my name on it."

The armed soldiers quickly fired energy beams at the current threat.

Without worry, Iron Man erected a blue energy shield and laughed. "You know, for calling yourselves the Advanced Idea Mechanics, that was a really bad idea." Puffing out his chest, his suit's arc reactor unleashed repulsor waves, destroying the enemy's firearms. The resulting explosions knocked A.I.M out of commission, falling to the ground.

The woman glared at the defeat of her arms dealer.

Iron Man turned her, recognizing the robot's design. "Give your master a message for me. Buyer beware. You steal my tech, you answer to me, even him."

The woman's glare darkened before she walked off with her security forces.

Seeing the non-violent retreat, Iron Man relaxed, opening his faceplate. His gaze shifted to the defeated scientists. "Jarvis, contact the Vault. Let them know they're about to get a few new guests."

"Very well, sir! Also, Miss Potts called. She wished to know if you were out playing superhero or if you were going to come to the office to do some actual work."

"I am doing actual work. I'm securing private company property from a third-party." Iron Man smirked and closed his helmet before he took off.

The Cube

Leonard Samson walked past several cells containing various criminals.

Wrecker drove his fist into the wall before glaring at the doctor.

The electrical being known as Zzzax strained against his tesla coil bindings.

Carl Creel AKA the Absorbing Man floated helplessly in the middle of his cell unable to touch anything. "Samson? Samson! You can't do this to me! Do you hear?"

The doctor finally arrived at his destination, the Hulk's room. "And how are we today, Bruce?" He looked through his clipboard. "No episodes in the last thirty-six hours, I see."

Still shirtless and in torn pants, Bruce Banner frowned at him. "This is a disaster waiting to happen Leonard."

Leonard rolled his eyes, "I've told you, again and again, Bruce. We'll find a cure for the Hulk." He went over Bruce's X-Rays and CT scans. "The Cube is the most advanced Gamma Radiation Research Facility on the planet. The work we've done with Sterns and Bolonski is-."

Bruce cut him off, shaking his head. "You're wrong. SHIELD and Ross are lying to you. They don't want cures. They want to know how to control these monsters." When Leonard didn't say anything, Bruce continued. "Trust me, I have seen it happen. They will twist everything you do. You want to know what the Cube is really. It's a Gamma Bomb ready to go off."

Leonard sighed. "I'm sorry you feel that way Bruce. I can only ask for your faith in us." With that, he left the cell while Bruce simmered in his worry..

New York

Thor waited atop a skyscraper when a portal opened behind him, and Balder walked out, "Hail Thor Odinson!"

Thor smiled, "Hail, Baldur the Brave!" They grasped each other's shoulders. "I see that you made a full recovery since the recent invasion."

"The friend of yours still has my regards for his service to our people. He still owes me a good tussle at the feast hall."

"Indeed. Now, what brings Asgard's shining light to Midgard?" At that Baldur's face fell a bit and Thor narrowed his eyes. "Or is the better question, who sent you?" He already knew the answer.

"You left Asgard without resolving things with your father, and now he has entered the Odin Sleep. Despite your words, he still had faith in you, asking for your return home before he faded to dream." He raised a fist. "You must defend Asgard while Odin replenishes his energy."

"Nay." Thor turned away from him to watch the city.

After a second, Baldur looked over the city with him, "Thor, you are like a brother to me. We have fought wars together, but I do not understand your connection to this place. Don't you care about the safety of our people."

"Here, I can make a difference. In Asgard, the endless cycle of fighting, it is meaningless. On Earth, everything matters. I am needed here Baldur."

"You are saying that our people don't matter to you?"

Thor sighed. "No. Never. I will always cherish them, but there needs to be more than me just being a prince at my father's side."

"Nothing lasts forever, not even your father. You will eventually take the throne before Ragnarok will come for us all."

A smile came to Thor's face. "If I am destined to lead our people one day, perhaps it's best that I experience the outside realms as much as I can and understand it all better."

Balder smirked at Thor's logic. "Perhaps." Siren soon echoes through the streets, and they both looked down. "Troll?"

Thor shook his head. "Nay, Baldur. Just someone who needs help." He flew down to the gathering, leaving Baldur to return to Asgard.

Down below, a leaking oil tanker spilled its contents all over the road, causing several vehicles to pile up in the middle of the intersection. EMTs were the first to arrive on the scene.

Jane Foster rubbed antiseptic over a man's head injured. "Good news is that you're going to live." She pointed to the overturned green car. "Bad news, you better get used to taking the Subway."

Just as officers were on their way to secure the area and redirect traffic, an unlucky taxi driver was too late to try and stop. The cab's tired swerved into the pile-up, causing it to flip into the air towards the two.

Hearing the noise, Jane turned to see the oncoming car, diving herself over the patient to protect him in some way.

Much like before, the blond god of thunder came down, catching the cab in the nick of time and placing it down. "Are you alright, Jane Foster?"

Getting back up, Jane let out a sigh of relief. "I-I yeah. You just saved." Taking a moment to catch her thoughts, she realized something. "Hey." She raised a brow with a smirk at the god. "Have you been following me?"

Thor looked away and started feeling for his Hammer Mjolnir. "Uh… Perhaps… You intrigue me. Mortal lives they're so fragile." In a nearby car, a woman attempted to get out only to trigger the airbag. "Yet, you do not seem to accept that."

"Would you?"

Thor thought about that before smiling. "Nay."

Jane crossed her arms and smiled as well. "Say, Thor. Once I'm done here, would you like to go for a drink with me and the… changeling? He wanted to ask you before you split up after saving Asgard, but he forgot."

"Really? I'm surprised he didn't try to find me again on his own."

"He said that I would have a higher chance of seeing you again than he would."

Thor coughed into his fist. "I wonder why he would think that."

She rubbed her neck in a bit of embarrassment. "He had a gut feeling."