C32 World's Best Paperweight

Waiting no longer, we ride off into the night, going to our next destination.

--- [A/N: I had a power outage and had to end the chapter in the middle of a scene.

It's not really a cliffhanger so much as it's just a crappy ending.

I recommend you wait until the next chapter is released to read this one.] ---

Money. It makes the world go round.

'I always thought it was gravity, but I guess that's just my naive mind trying to think,' I thought of a billboard I saw this morning outside a bank.

Speaking of money, that's why I'm going to ESU, to make some. Well, not so much for money, as what I really need is influence.

I have a goal.

There's something I want, and it's one of the main reasons I'm even staying in this death trap of a universe,

While I could get it in a much simpler and straightforward manner, I want to do it the Big Brain way. And, it will take a large amount of economic and political might IF I want to stay above board too.

'Well—maybe a little hanky panky—It's not like anyone got to the top without a little subterfuge here and there.'

The way I'm going to do this is by getting my smithing to level 100.

I decided to make my dissertation focused around material science, and it's about to be completed—in the form of a dagger.

"And—done." A dagger made from a new steel alloy.

One that will garner some attention, but not enough to mean anything in the long run, as it's not actually useful for anything.

'Not useful for anything—except finishing my dissertation and getting out of this damn university with a degree that's supposed to make people think I'm smart.'

It didn't even take me long to do either, since I already knew how to make this alloy and just had to make it look like I worked hard and then got lucky discovering it.

Now it's time to GTFO and start phase two.

'Oo, maybe I'll get invited to look at Thor's hammer after discovering this.'

He should be falling within the next couple of months, and I wouldn't mind examining one of the strongest weapons in the universe.

It would also be a good test to see how the girls would handle being alone for a week.

'After that, I could take them to Hell for a little incursion. Nothing like waging war for a vacation, am I right!'

They have grown a lot over the last year, and while still little compared to me, they are over five feet tall now and have started to hit that 'phase.'

They will be going to high school after this summer as well.

"Were you successful?"

Snapping me out of my thoughts was my supervisor. He was, unfortunately, not that well versed in the practical side and more of a theory guy.

I showed him the results and gave him the dagger.

"This—this will revolutionize the entire industry! We have to get this to the committee and then published as soon as possible!"

"Yeah, let's get it done fast," I encourage him. 'The sooner I can get out of here, the better.'

He nods and starts to jog away, excited.

I shake my head, muttering, "And, he's running with a knife—smart."

---

I was right.

A month after receiving my Ph.D., I received a call about consulting for a 'certain' government organization. They said an unknown metal fell from space and wanted to see what I could find out about it.

I was currently crouched down in front of said 'unknown metal.'

"No wonder you kept it so vague. I would have thought it was just a prank call if you told me a hammer fell from space."

"We appreciate you taking the time to come and have a look at it. None of our specialists have been able to find much this far." Next to me is Phil Coulson, one of the best supporting characters of all time.

"No problem, Mr. Coulson. I'll get to work now and let you know what I find."

"I leave you to it then. If you need any equipment, just ask Agent Barton over there." He pointed at Hawkeye before leaving, probably to get some other scientist.

Nodding, I go back to examining the hammer. I didn't really have a chance to look at it in depth last time I saw it, but I can still tell that something's different.

Besides the uru and enchantments that give it its battle power, I can tell two other enchantments control who can use it.

One evaluates 'worthiness,' and the other, the holder's attitude towards Asgard.

Right now, both are in full effect and being enhanced by Odin's will for only the 'worthy' to able to lift it.

I was able to throw it around before since I didn't hold ill will towards Asgard, and I'm quite pure-hearted—most of the time.

But now, with the will of Odin added on top the enchantments, no one can lift it unless he would've allowed them.

'And it looks like it's only keyed into one person's signature.'

Seams this whole thing is just a trial for Thor.

'I think I know a way to move it, though.'

I stand up and turn to Barton, "You guys said that no one was able to move this?"

"Uh, yeah," he stands from the wall, "before we got here, people were trying to pull it with trucks. We even tried to move it with a crane, but not even the dirt underneath budged."

"Hmm," I looked around for a shovel.

Finding one, I tap the dirt underneath the hammer a few times. Sometimes it would bounce off, and others, it would sink in slightly.

"Cool."

Then I give the shovel a good shove and lift up a pile of dirt that just so happened to have a hammer on top of it.

"You got a place I can put this dirt?"

"Uh—y-yeah. Follow me." Barton turns around, leading me to a laboratory.

He would still look at me 'carrying' the hammer every now and then until we go there.

---

"Indestructible."

"Indestructible?"

"Yes. By any means known to mankind, there is no way to even scratch it. You can put this hammer in the center of a nuclear blast, point the strongest laser at it, even throw it in the sun, and nothing will happen to it."

I'm talking to Coulson, who just bought another scientist here. He's currently looking at my findings.

"On top of that, it's also better at conducting electricity than the best superconductors we can make."

The other guy looks up while rubbing his eyes, "It's true. If we knew how to make this, it would solve countless problems we currently face."

"Unfortunately, there seems to be something—extra—going on," I went up to the hammer and leaned against it.

"This hammer only weighs around forty pounds, but even if I lean on it, it won't budge. And I already checked, there's no magnetic, electrical, or any other known influence keeping it in place."

I stand straight, "The only way I got it in here was by lifting the dirt underneath, and even then, it only worked if I ignored the hammer's existence—It's almost like it knew what my intent was."

"Are you saying that—"

Cutting the guy off, "And if you think that's ridiculous, you can try it for yourself. Barton also 'lifted' the hammer that way."

He nodded after I said that, "Yeah, I even pulled a muscle because I thought about the hammer while lifting the dirt."

"Is there a way to synthesize the metal, to make more of it or something similar?" Coulson may not be a scientist, but he still has to be knowledgeable enough to ask good questions.

I answer, "Make more of it? No, It's a completely new and unknown material, and whatever force that's keeping it from moving is also compressing the molecules closer together. That means without more advanced equipment, we can't even get a completely accurate reading of its makeup."

I sit down, sighing, "That also means we can't improve existing materials much. Not without getting a better look at its 'innards,' which will take a real lab, and not this field equipment."

Coulson tries to summarise what I say, "You're basically saying this is the world's best paperweight until we get better equipment?"

I nod, "Yeah, pretty much. The only thing I can tell you for sure is that it's fairly safe to be around—as long there's no electricity involved."

Barton winces after I say that.

Coulson thinks for a moment before saying, "Well, how about you and—"

Barton interrupts him when he gets an alert on his pager, "We have an intruder."

---

It pretty much went like in the movie.

Thor broke in, eventually made it to the lab, tried lifting the hammer, failed, then fell on the floor like a sack of comatose potatoes.

Only this time, it wasn't outside, and he was still dry.

I didn't want to interact with Thor, so I just went to my room until the whole scene was over, then went back to work.

I did get a visitor a bit later, though.

Working on the other side of the lab was the new guy, but he eventually froze in place while someone walked in.

I kept myself concealed.

It was Loki, who I assume just got done traumatizing Thor even further. He walks in and eventually tries lifting the hammer, but it doesn't work.

Before he can get all broody, I speak, "Yeah, even if you're worthy, it won't work."

"Who's there? Show yourself!" He spins around, looking everywhere—except for where I am.

"Loki. I'm right here." I wave my hand. I'm sitting in a chair with my feet up on the table.

"Z-zadkiel?"

"Yep. How you been?"

Relaxing, he replies, "Not much worse than normal, I suppose. Why are you—no wait, what do you mean it wouldn't work?"

I stand up and move in front of Mjolnir, "I take it you're at least familiar with energy structures, if not runes?"

"Yes—what's that have—"

I clap my hands and then spread them wide. A projection of the effects the two controlling enchantments have appears, "Look for yourself."

//Note//

As I said, I had a power outage so the ending is abrupt.

No way I'm writing or editing this on my phone.

--

I have ideas for the next world, it's just that I don't know if he should go when he's done with Marvel or while it's in progress.

It really comes down to time. Will time 'stop' or be slower here, while he's over there?

I don't usually like time foolery, so I haven't decided yet.

--

Yeah, here Mjolnir had wielder enchantments before Thor came to Earth. They just had slightly different effects that Odin could manipulate to let others wield.

Is that important for the story?

Only if you like Thor enough to be wondering about it.