Chapter 20: Greetings with the Avengers

The Quinjet touched down on the helicarrier, the colossal flying fortress of S.H.I.E.L.D. The engines quieted, and the doors opened to reveal a bustling hive of activity. Alex, Captain America, and Agent Hill stepped out onto the deck, greeted by the sight of agents scurrying about their duties.

As they made their way through the corridors of the helicarrier, Alex couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. They were led by Agent Hill, who guided them to a meeting room. Upon entering, they were greeted by Agent Phil Coulson, who was currently on duty managing the agents.

"Welcome to the helicarrier," Agent Coulson said warmly. "Glad to have you here, Mr. Ghost."

"Thanks," Alex replied, returning the smile. He couldn't help but feel respect seeing Agent Coulson, knowing how tiring it must be to be employed under Nick Fury.

Seeing how dark the shadow under Coulson's eyes was, Alex shook his head in sympathy.

'This guy must've been worked to death by that one-eyed baldy, poor guy...'

Inside the meeting room, Alex's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the assembled Avengers. Dr. Banner, Tony Stark, Thor, Black Widow, and the legendary Nick Fury himself were all present. It was an awe-inspiring gathering of heroes.

With his mask on, Alex stepped forward and introduced himself. "Greetings, everyone. I am the Ghost, and I'm honored to be among such esteemed company."

Dr. Banner's eyes flickered with recognition as he looked at Alex, but the memory of their past encounters as the Hulk seemed to elude him. Alex, unaware of this, approached Dr. Banner with enthusiasm.

"Dr. Banner, it's good to see you again!" Alex exclaimed.

Dr. Banner, slightly taken aback, replied, "Um, hello. Have we met before?"

Alex's excitement deflated a bit, realizing that Dr. Banner didn't remember their previous encounters. "Oh, never mind. It's just... Hulk stuff. You know."

Dr. Banner nodded politely, still a bit unsure of what Alex meant.

Thor, ever the god of thunder, sensing a powerful force within that lean body of Alex couldn't help but feel amazed. He didn't expect to meet such a person within Midgard.

"Ah, a warrior from Midgard!" Thor extended his hand for a firm handshake.

Alex accepted the handshake, feeling a mixture of awe and amusement. "Hi, I've heard of you. Thor Odinson from Asgard. It's an honor to meet you. Your hammer is quite something."

"A true warrior indeed!" Thor beamed his chest swelling with pride. "Indeed! Mjolnir is a mighty weapon."

Tony Stark, known for his sharp wit and keen observational skills, couldn't help but feel a strange sense of familiarity upon seeing Alex. He furrowed his brow, trying to recall where he had encountered this masked vigilante before.

"Hey, wait a minute," Tony interjected, interrupting the ongoing banter. "You...you look strangely familiar. Have we met before?"

Alex, slightly taken aback by Tony's comment, chuckled and replied, "Well, I've been doing my thing in the neighborhood, so maybe you've seen me running around or saving the day."

Tony scratched his head, trying to dig deeper into his memory. "Huh, running around..." Gaining nothing from his memory, he just shrugged his shoulder. "...whatever then, good to see you!"

"Good to see you too, Mr. Stark!"

Alex was kind of disappointed Tony didn't remember their encounter, but it didn't diminish his mood in the slightest.

Natasha Romanoff, known as the Black Widow just nodded to Alex in recognition. Alex smiled as he nodded back.

Nick Fury, the man in charge, stepped forward and addressed Alex. He gave a brief overview of the situation, explaining how Iron Man and Captain America had captured Loki during the chaos in Stuttgart.

"Loki is now under our custody," Nick Fury stated, his voice filled with a mix of satisfaction and caution. "But we're still trying to figure out what he's up to. The Tesseract, a powerful energy source, was stolen by him, and we need to understand where he hid it and how he plans to use it."

Nodding at Nick's explanation Alex's curiosity got the best of him as he spotted the gleaming scepter resting quietly on a nearby table. He turned to Nick Fury, raising an intrigued eyebrow.

"Hey, what's the deal with that fancy-looking scepter?" Alex asked, nodding towards the mysterious object.

Steve, standing nearby, glanced at the scepter and chimed in, his tone casual and friendly. "Oh, that? That's Loki's scepter. It's got some serious power, and we're still trying to figure out all its tricks."

Nick Fury, observing the exchange, added a touch of seriousness to the conversation. "That scepter is no ordinary prop. It might hold the answer we are looking for."

"Alright, I guess that's a serious problem, I understand now," Alex said, absorbing the gravity of the situation. He looked at Nick Fury, seeking clarification. "But what's my role in all of this?"

Nick Fury tilted his head toward Alex, signaling for him to elaborate.

Shrugging his shoulders, Alex continued, looking at the busy Tony Stark and Dr. Banner, doing their expertise, even conversing in a complicated technical language.

"Well, I'm not exactly a genius like Tony Stark or Dr. Banner. My IQ is decent, around 120, but I don't have their advanced knowledge. So, I guess my main contribution here is my strength."

Indeed, compared to the brilliant minds of Tony Stark and Dr. Banner, Alex's intellectual abilities paled in comparison. He was more of a physical force, relying on his muscle power rather than scientific expertise.

"Loki has an army," Thor interjected, walking up to Alex and patting his shoulder. "You're one of the strongest Midgardians I've ever encountered. You'll do well in the battle against them."

Nick Fury stepped closer to Alex, standing directly in front of him. "Your role, for now, is to await further instructions. Do you understand?"

Alex raised his eyebrows, slightly speechless at the simplicity of his assigned role. "Alright, I guess."

With confirmation from Alex, Nick turned to Natasha, nodding at her, to which she reciprocated with a nod of her own. Their silent communication intrigued Alex, leaving him feeling both impressed and bewildered.

'Were they talking in some sort of code?' he wondered.

Natasha walked towards the door, which automatically slid open. She turned back to Alex, gesturing for him to follow. "Come with me, Mr. Ghost."

Nick Fury added, "I'll introduce you to our villain so you can understand our threat."

Alex shrugged his shoulders and followed Natasha, curious to meet Loki and see the challenges ahead.

---

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