Chapter 30) – Thunderclouds

A couple hours of touring the various quarantine zone departments later, we were shadowing some of the researchers to learn more about what the 0-8-4 could be if it wasn't Thor's hammer – even if Mara knew for definite that it was.

Only half paying attention to the researcher animatedly speaking in front of her, Mara was having an internal discussion with myself, [S.H.I.E.L.D. really know their stuff. The movies I watched never really showed how competent they are behind the scenes, but I guess with this being my real world now I get to see it all first hand. I mean sure, they can't lift the hammer, or rather they haven't really tried, but just the fact that they're willing to seriously consider it plausible that the alien artifact is a weapon from legend is impressive. Not only that, but they've even arrange for a Norse mythology expert to fly in at some point tomorrow from Seville just to confirm that their theory is accurate.]

Going off everything I had seen thus far, I couldn't help but echo my host's sentiments, <Agreed, 2 Mar. They are extremely well organised considering the object landed only a day or ago. Not did they secure area, but already have running theory on what it is, as can do, top of ensuring those that came into contact with monitored for their - and everyone else's safety. With all interaction we had S.H.I.E.L.D. up until now, I see why would be key part Earth's future.>

Still not paying complete attention and just staring at the S.H.I.E.L.D. researcher, who was talking about something called a Megingjord, Mara posed a question about something she suddenly realised, [Now that I think about it, Thor shouldn't be able to infiltrate the site with how secure it is… Don't tell me S.H.I.E.L.D. purposefully made it possible for him to enter? But then what about the agents he took down? Were they all informed beforehand to let an intruder get the better of them if it did happen? It would make sense that they'd expect Thor to come for his hammer given that the myths say he's essentially a regular human without it. But there's no way a regular human would be able to get past as many agents as Thor did. Sure, he has a ridiculous amount of combat experience, but going off the myth again, it would all be with his hammer and the strength it gave him.-]

With Mara spiralling into a pit of her own contemplations, I dug her out of her musings, <Mar, you're overthinking again. Don't forget, you've got me here to bounce ideas off.>

Recovering from the self-inflicted over-analysis hole she had begun to dig for herself, Mara responded, [Sorry about that El. Just kinda happens sometimes. Where was I? Ah right, the infiltration attempt. What do you think about it El?]

Naturally I answered my host's query, <I think you're probably half right. I don't doubt S.H.I.E.L.D. would inform their agents to not put up much of a fight against an intruder they believe be Thor, but where the theory in question how exactly determine said was Thor. Since mythology can't taken as 100% factual, decide what information trust? Hypothetically, say someone broke into facility with black hair, wearing iron gauntlets, it safe assume that are Thor just from gauntlets? Or going opposite direction, if had red hair and beard, no feasible were Thor? have proven want innocents harmed through action monitoring locals interacted hammer – although may excuse monitor them order look for>

Picking up from where I finished, Mara continued the conversation, [You make a good point. I also doubt that S.H.I.E.L.D. would treat an innocent as some kind of sacrifice to see what would happen. However, I also wouldn't put it past S.H.I.E.L.D. to use the justification of 'the person trespassed onto an official government site and therefore is a criminal and anything goes for a criminal'. There was always an implication in my original universe that S.H.I.E.L.D. would do anything to ensure the safety of the masses. That includes the more… unsavoury side of things - from the general public's point of view anyways - that were only outright stated a couple of times and were never shown due to it being media for all ages.]

Not halting our back and forth, I replied, <In that case, they very well might use an intruder as a test subject. But if that's what they're going for, it doesn't explain why Coulson wouldn't just tell his agents to avoid the altogether instead of falsely attempt apprehend them.>

Taking a few seconds to think about what I had highlighted, Mara eventually found a somewhat believable answer, in our eyes at least, [Plausible deniability. If the US government, or the world council that S.H.I.E.L.D. falls under, discover that S.H.I.E.L.D. willingly sent innocents to their death as part of some experiment there would be serious repercussions. However, if they have proof that their agents 'tried' to stop the intruder, but failed, they would be able to avoid most of the fault. Of course it would make their agents look incompetent, but that's better than human sacrifice for the pensioners running the organisations I mentioned. This would also explain why the site doesn't have thermal imaging yet, even if Jasper's excuse was that it wasn't part of the standard quarantine equipment, as it gives even more credence to the argument that there was no prior warning for the infiltration - so the security staff were caught unprepared.]

Just as I was about to respond to my host, we were interrupted by a member of the security team opening the research unit's door with more force than was necessary, "Agent Mara, agent Coulson requires your presence in the command centre. He said that it's urgent. We may have a possible intruder in the site."

Nodding at the security agent, Mara turned back to the researcher that had been explaining the mythology, that she hadn't been listening to, and gave him a cursory thanks, "Thanks for the information about some of the mythology that the 0-8-4 might be related to."

Unfortunately, the researcher seemed to think that Mara's polite appreciation was enough cause to attempt to start a full conversation, even after he had overheard what the security agent had said, "Really?! It's so interesting isn't it?! What did you find the most intriguing?"

Not having paid much attention to anything the researcher had said, Mara was stumped for an answer.

Luckily for her, I had picked up some things and provided her with the necessary information, <Járngreipr and Megingjord. He mentioned they're related to Thor, but that's all I know.]< em>

Always more than willing to show her appreciation when it was due, my host gave her thanks, [That's more than enough, you're a lifesaver El. Thanks]

Making sure that there was no room for further conversation, Mara answered the researcher with finality, "Járngreipr and Megingjord were the most relevant to the current theory, so I found them the most interesting. Now I apologise, but the security agent said that Coulson needs me urgently, so we'll have to end our conversation here."

Not waiting for the researcher to respond, Mara turned her back on him and exited the unit.

Upon exiting the research unit, the weather began to change for the worse.

Thick clouds began to roll overhead and, with how dark they were, it was apparent that it would shortly rain.

The security agent that had notified us that Coulson was after us, didn't wait for us and immediately went back to his job after delivering the message.

May had spent the majority of her time with us during the tour, but had been summoned by Coulson half an hour before we had and hadn't returned since.

Based off what Coulson had told Jasper when we had first arrived, we were apparently clearance level 5. Since May was with us for the tour, it made logical sense that she was also either level 5 or higher.

Considering she was technically our superior, we leaned more towards the higher side rather than being the same level. As such, our guess was that she could have been summoned before us due to the information being too high of a clearance level for us.

During the short walk to the command centre, we both continued to theorise if the intrusion was designed to be intentional.

Mara used May's early summons as possible evidence that Coulson might have asked her how to create a contained infiltration route due to her specialist experience.

Even with the theories we were bouncing off each other, we entered the central command unit with open minds willing to accept any explanation if we were provided 1 that was logical or fitting.

Plus, if we did get an explanation, it didn't matter what S.H.I.E.L.D.'s or Coulson's justification would be for an innocent potentially dying as we knew it most likely wouldn't happen.

In all fairness, even if Mara was wrong and Thor wasn't the person that infiltrated the site - due to the butterfly effect we caused - it wouldn't have mattered to us.

Mara wasn't a crazy lady that was happy when people died... for the most part, but she also wasn't empathetic to everyone. She just genuinely didn't care about beings she had no interest in.

Naturally, I had also absorbed this mindset through our bonded connection. Thus, neither of us was too concerned if the intrusion resulted in the death of some random person.

My host was purely interested in the small details that weren't apparent in her movies, as they were what made the world feel real to her. Her goal was to try to understand S.H.I.E.L.D.'s methods and how they operated in our reality, rather than trying to prevent a loss of life.

While my goal was to assist my host in any way shape or form.

Pulling themselves out of their conversation, both May and Coulson turned towards us as we headed towards them.

Since he was the 1 that called us, and was in command of the quarantine zone, Coulson spoke first, "Mara, El, good. We've got a possible intruder in the site, but since your assignment here is to learn, and not as a part of the operations, I don't want you to get caught up in any of what may transpire. I would be more than willing to consider you a part of the on-site force, but that's for your handler to decide while you're on probation."

Mara proceeded to look over at our handler with the question burning in her eyes, ensuring that my host didn't need to verbally communicate with her. This was more-so to stay aligned with her personality, that she had shown thus far, as opposed to actually wanting to be involved.

Shaking her head in rejection of the questioning stare, May explained, "Sorry Mara, but it's a no. Unless we need to get involved, we won't. You're here to learn, and watching how S.H.I.E.L.D. operate without your interference would be a good opportunity for you and El. You can't always be around, so trust that the agents who are a part of the official assignment can do their job and do it right."

Not putting up much of a fight, as she didn't want to actually be involved, Mara accepted May's verdict, "Tsk, fine. I'll just watch like you want me to. BUT, if the intruder makes their way into the 0-8-4 site, can I get involved then?"

May and Coulson exchanged some kind of look before our handler turned back to Mara as she replied, "Fine, but only if we give you permission to do so."

Smiling at the positive reply, my host made a request of Coulson, "In that case, Coulson. Can I please go into the nest with Clint so I can get a better view of everything?"

Not thinking about it for long, the mission lead responded, "If agent Barton is fine with it, then I don't see any problem. May?"

With our handler bobbing her head once in agreement, Coulson used his communicator to contact Hawkeye before he raised the floating platform above the main quarantine cube.

Just as the call connected however, the alarm was activated which prompted a loud klaxon to start blaring all around the quarantine site.

When Coulson's call did connect a fraction of a second after, Clint's voice came through the communicator, "Sir? What's the problem?"

As calm as could be, considering his mission site was infiltrated, Coulson casually answered, "We had a possible intruder, but now it's a confirmed intruder considering agent Sitwell has triggered the alarm. I need you to get the nest into the air and yourself in an overwatch position. Mara has also requested to watch alongside you up there. Is that okay with you?"

Not hesitating for a second, Hawkeye affirmed, "Understood sir, I'll get to it. Mara is more than welcome to join if that's what she wants, and I'll contact you when I'm in position for further instruction."

Hearing what she wanted, Mara thanked the pair in front of her, "Yes! Thanks Coulson, and you too May. I'll put in the ear piece I have, so just let me know if you want me to intervene at any point. Bye!"

Not sprinting out of the command unit, Mara gave the S.H.I.E.L.D. pair enough of a chance to call out to her should they still need to tell her anything.

Since that didn't happen, she successfully exited the command centre and headed to where the nest was shown to us during the tour of the site we had.

On the walk over to the nest, the clouds tipped over the edge of their saturation levels and set about releasing all of the water they held - resulting in the start of an impressive downpour.

Mara also took the time to tap her earpiece against the communicator she had, to link them, prior to inserting it into her ear.

Arriving at the nest, Clint was already there and appeared to be nearly finished setting everything up.

Climbing into the nest, the bowman spotted us and called out, "C'mon get in. I need to get a good view of the situation."

Copying what Clint had done, Mara also hopped into the relatively small platform that was clearly only designed for 1 person to fit.

Waving his arm in the air, Hawkeye signalled to the crane operator who then lifted the nest into the sky immediately after receiving the go-ahead to do so.

As the open platform was raised into the sky, I extended a tendril from Mara's shoulders and expanded it to create a roof in order to cover ourselves as well as Clint, to shield us all from the rain.

Shortly after the nest was in position, the bowman notched an arrow on his bow and pulled it back to aim at the intruder.

Just as he got into position, Coulson must have contacted Clint on his communicator as the bowman moved the hand that was holding the drawstring back closer to his ear to press on his ear piece with his thumb, "Well the weather's not great, but Mara and El have made an umbrella for us, so they're proving how essential they are already. Oh, you meant the intruder? Yeah I've got eyes on. You want me to slow him down, sir?"

Evidently not receiving the greenlight, Clint kept his bow aimed at the intruder but didn't let the arrow fly.

Instead, he kept his bow drawn, but moved his hand away from his ear so that he could talk to us, "Thanks for the covering you 2. I wouldn't have died without it, but being soaked to the bone would make me uncomfortable."

Passing off the praise, Mara responded, "No need to thank me, this is all El. I was going to request it, but they beat me to it."

Chuckling, Hawkeye replied, "Well either way, I appreciate it. Oh, look. The intruder's bumped into the big guy. This'll be fun."

Joining in on the watch party, Mara moved closer to the bowman and grabbed 1 of her favourite popcorn packets from her thigh pouch while I removed the mouth part of her face mask.

Since Mara could see the entirety of the intruder for the first time, she was able to confirm that it was Thor - due to him looking identical to the actor that played him in her movies.

Throwing a couple of kernels into her mouth, she asked Clint, "Ew wawth swom?"

Somehow understanding my host, even as she munched away with a full mouth, Hawkeye questioned back, "I want some of what?"

Swallowing the remnants of popcorn in her mouth, my host formed a coherent sentence in response, "Toffee popcorn. I've always got some on me to snack away at. So, you want some?"

Still holding his bow drawn, Clint said, "I wouldn't mind, but I've kind of got my hands full right now. Maybe later."

Sensing the hesitation in his refusal, Mara did what she wanted, "That's no problem. Say ahh!"

Not knowing what my host was going on about, or not hearing her clearly, Clint went to respond, "Say wha-" but he was cut-off by a kernel of popcorn being pushed into his mouth when it opened wide enough for Mara to fit it in.

Showing why he was a professional, Clint didn't so much as flinch at the surprise of having something pushed into his mouth. He never broke his visual lock-on with Thor and his arms were as solid as they had been before the popcorn was delivered.

While Hawkeye was munching on the popcorn so that he could speak clearly again, Mara asked, "It's good, right? I dunno where S.H.I.E.L.D. gets it from, but it comes in these silver pouches, and it always seems to be fresh. It was part of my agreement when I joined S.H.I.E.L.D., I wanted a consistent supply of toffee popcorn and, so far, I haven't been let down. You should ask them for a snack as well! I can only imagine the amount of times you've been bored or hungry on a mission and that's exactly what a lil' snack would solve."

Punctuating the end of her sentence, Mara threw another kernel into her mouth just as Thor and the big security agent ripped through the sheeting that covered the quarantined walkways.

The pair fell directly onto the ground outside of it and, with the rain being as heavy as it was, the once dry ground had turned into thick mud that hindered their movements.

Finishing the popcorn in his mouth, Clint responded to Mara's comments, "I might have to follow your example Mara. You're right that there has been a few times I got hungry or just needed something to pass the time during a stakeout. Would it be rude if I asked for some more while we watch? Popcorn and a show go really well together."

Smiling ear-to-ear at the praise for her favourite food, Mara happily replied, "Of course it wouldn't be rude. I offered you some and I would be more than willing to share. Since you've got your hands full, I'll just feed it to you - if that's fine with you?"

Giving a brief, "Yeah that works for me, thanks." Mara continued to feed Clint popcorn while not forgetting to feed herself.

The duo's snack time didn't last too long as eventually Thor drop kicked the big agent before punt kicking the same agent's head when he tried to get up off the ground – knocking him out.

Quickly swallowing the food in his mouth, Hawkeye moved his drawstring hand closer to his ear to contact Coulson again, "Coulson, what's the play? We're starting to want this guy to get the hammer. Isn't that right Mara?"

Unlike the bowman, Mara didn't swallow the food in her mouth before affirming through Hawkeye's ear piece, "Yesh!"

Ripping the sheeting of the central cube, Thor made his way into the open space that housed his hammer in the centre of it.

Not needing to hear the response from Coulson through Clint's ear piece, the order must have been to hold fire, yet again, as the bowman continued to keep his bowstring drawn.

Grabbing a hold of the hammer, Thor tried to naturally lift it with a single hand, but the hammer didn't move.

He then started yanking it with 2 hands, but Mjolnir still didn't budge.

After a few more seconds of pulling, the blonde man stepped back from the hammer and looked at his hands in confusion. Not knowing what else to do, he then tilted his head back and screamed up to the sky in frustration or despair - or both.

Once he had vented, Thor fell to his knees in front of the hammer and just stared at it.

Mara, after thoroughly enjoying the show, tuned her ear piece to Coulson and asked, "Do you want me to move in now Coulson? I can quickly secure him, so you don't have to send in more agents for him to beat up."

Swiftly responding, Coulson replied, "All right. Jump down and either knock him out or restrain him with your powers."

Even happier than when Clint had praised her favourite snack, Mara performed a fist pump towards her body with her right arm, "Yes! See you shortly Clint. I got an intruder to incapacitate!"

Quickly placing her popcorn back into her thigh pouch, I re-covered my host's mouth as she hopped over the railing of the nest platform and fell directly into the cube on the opposite side of the hammer to where Thor was.

Closing the short distance to the man, Mara couldn't help commenting, "Damn, you took out all those agents to get to a hammer that you couldn't even lift. Such a shame."

Changing his gaze from the hammer to my host, Thor didn't speak and just stared at her.

That was until his eyes shot wide open.

At the time we weren't sure what the emotion he was feeling was, but in hindsight it was definitely shock.

Not sure what the cause was for such a reaction, Mara questioned out loud, "What? Why've you suddenly opened your eyes like that?"

Not receiving a response from the man, Mara was baffled until I spoke up through our connection, <Mar, we may have a problem.>

Still confused about the situation, my host queried, [Why? What is it? Does he recognise what you are, or your species, El?]

Knowing that even with our fast mental transmission it would be easier to just show my host, I transmitted to her, <Left hand.>

Having not received a clear answer, Mara was starting to get a bit annoyed with the situation, [Left hand? What do you mean left hand? There's nothing in either of his hands! Or do you mean. my.. hand…]

Following her thought transmission and process, Mara raised her left hand.

What she saw was the reason why her thoughts slowed to a halt.

Gripped with as minimal effort as possible in her left hand was the previously unmovable, mystical hammer, Mjolnir.

Staring in stupefaction at the hammer, Mara's mind was completely blank.

When her mind began to reboot, in an attempt to resume its normal processes a few seconds after, there were only 2 words that instinctively came to her mind to describe her situation.

2 words that she couldn't help but say aloud.

"Cocking Nora."