At a classified S.H.I.E.L.D. research base (a massive and highly secretive facility), the architect of this hidden city arrived today...
A black helicopter landed on the tarmac emblazoned with the eagle insignia. Agent Coulson, wearing sunglasses, seemed to have been waiting for a while.
The spinning rotor blades whipped up a fierce wind, threatening what little remained of his thinning hair.
Commander Maria Hill stepped out of the helicopter first, followed closely by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director, Nick Fury, his black trench coat flapping dramatically in the wind.
He turned to his trusted subordinate and asked, "Did you bring Dr. Selvig?"
Coulson nodded and led the two visitors into the main building. Outside, a conspicuous sign read: «Dark Energy Joint Research Facility»
The above-ground structures served as living quarters and defensive perimeters for the researchers, while the true core of the facility lay underground... an expansive, heavily funded subterranean base dedicated to cutting-edge research.
This research hub which resembled a small city housed tens of thousands of personnel. A constant stream of supply trucks delivered equipment and resources, while armed agents patrolled in tight formations, ensuring absolute security under their vigilant watch.
After passing through multiple layers of security; fingerprint verification, facial recognition, and iris scans, Nick Fury finally reached the underground facility.
The three of them walked down a long corridor, occasionally passing researchers in white lab coats.
"Dr. Selvig, good to see you," the black-clad director greeted the visibly nervous astrophysicist.
Selvig was a leading expert in astronomy and the mentor of Jane Foster. His team had direct contact with Asgardians in New Mexico.
Initially, Fury had planned to bring all of them into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody for questioning and monitoring, hoping to extract more information about Asgard.
Unfortunately, Jane Foster and her intern, Darcy, had been taken under the protection of Umbrella. Only Erik Selvig, who had returned alone to England, remained.
Due to a classified S.H.I.E.L.D. project, Fury had Coulson track down this unconventional scientist, one often dismissed by mainstream academia.
"So, you're the one who had me brought here?" Selvig chuckled awkwardly, trying to ease his tension, "This place is like a maze. For a moment, I thought they were leading me down here to silence me."
"I've been following the events in New Mexico. Your work left quite an impression on me." Fury gestured for Coulson and Hill to leave before guiding Selvig deeper into the underground corridor.
The research conducted in this secret facility was pivotal to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s future.
"Not all of that was my work. In fact, Jane contributed far more. Her soon-to-be-published 'Foster Theory, a gateway to another dimension', is groundbreaking. It could change the world..."
Selvig spoke enthusiastically, but Fury remained expressionless, clearly uninterested. The mention of Jane Foster only reminded him of Sean Cyphers...
Nick Fury didn't like the young founder of Umbrella. Despite his harmless appearance, Fury always sensed something deeper lurking beneath that amiable smile.
"Legends and history often tell two different stories. But occasionally, they intersect." Fury led Selvig to the end of the corridor, where a metal case rested on a worktable surrounded by various instruments.
Placing his hands on the fingerprint locks on either side, Fury opened the case with a soft click. Inside lay a blue cube, encased in a specially designed lead container. Four dark-red conduits connected to a self-destruct mechanism in the lower right corner.
"What is this?" Selvig asked, bewildered. He had expected something dangerous or a piece of advanced technology.
"Power," Fury said slowly. "Power beyond human imagination. If we can harness it, it could provide infinite energy."
Selvig hesitated. He knew the dangers of dealing with S.H.I.E.L.D., but as a scientist, his curiosity gnawed at him. Besides, now that he had been brought into this secret base, did he even have the option to refuse?
Suddenly, an invisible figure stepped beside the astrophysicist and whispered in his ear, "Now, this is interesting."
The speaker was a man with a handsome face covered in dust, his once-elegant garments now tattered like those of a homeless wanderer. Only his sharp eyes betrayed a cunning and almost malevolent intelligence.
This was Loki, the fallen prince of Asgard, cast from the Bifrost into the abyss. He had arrived on Earth as a lost soul seeking refuge from Heimdall's all-seeing gaze in this primitive realm.
"Now, this is interesting," Selvig echoed under the unseen influence, smiling as he spoke.
Seeing the Midgardian succumb to his manipulation, Loki smirked in satisfaction. His gaze then locked onto the blue cube, its radiant glow casting an almost hypnotic allure.
Greed and desire flickered in his eyes before he suppressed them. As Fury closed the case, Loki's mind raced...
Ancient Asgardian texts spoke of the Tesseract... an artifact of unimaginable power, once the crown jewel of Odin's vault.
For reasons unknown, Odin had discarded it, allowing it to fall into the hands of these primitive humans. But now, Loki had found it. This would be his key to reclaiming his throne.
Moving unseen through the base, Loki plotted...
The Nine Realms were vast, but beyond them lay even greater powers. With the Tesseract, he could rally forces strong enough to challenge Asgard itself.
Somewhere in the cosmos lurked a warlord whose name inspired dread... a being even Odin, the Allfather, feared. The Mad Titan, who sought the Infinity Stones, relics of unfathomable power.
Odin had once toyed with the idea of collecting them, even forging a gauntlet to wield their might. But fearing the Titan's wrath, he abandoned the endeavor. Only in rare moments would he speak of the stones to Thor and Loki, recounting their legend.
"Next time, I won't be alone."
Loki cast one last glance at the heavily guarded base, his expression cold. Unlike Thor who embodied Odin's ideals of strength and honor, Loki had been shaped by Frigga's teachings... mastery of magic, deception, and the subtle arts.
A cold wind stirred the dust around him as the disgraced prince looked up at the sky, hatred and fury burning within him like venom. With a final, mocking smile, his illusionary form vanished without a trace...