In the pitch-black night sky, a black helicopter tore through the silence above the Mojave Desert.
Accompanied by the deafening roar of its engine, the helicopter landed steadily on the helipad of the Joint Dark Energy Action Base.
The hatch slid open, and Nick Fury, clad in his perennial black leather trench coat, strode out.
Following closely behind was Deputy Director Maria Hill, dressed in a deep blue tactical bodysuit, her short hair neatly styled.
Agent Phil Coulson, who had been waiting here, immediately stepped forward to greet them.
"How bad is it?" Fury asked in a low voice as he walked briskly towards the entrance of the underground facility.
"Sir, the worst-case scenario," Coulson reported rapidly, keeping pace with Fury. "Dr. Selvig detected an abnormal energy surge from the Tesseract four hours ago. It wasn't triggered by us; it activated on its own."
"I've already ordered the full evacuation of all non-combat and non-essential scientific personnel."
"How long will the evacuation take?" Hill interjected calmly from the side.
"At least half an hour, at the fastest," Coulson replied.
The three of them walked swiftly, taking a high-speed elevator directly to the core area at the lowest level of the Base.
As the elevator doors opened, the piercing sound of the highest-level alarm echoed frantically through the vast underground structure.
Scientific personnel, clutching data boxes, hurriedly evacuated through the corridors.
The trio passed through the chaotic crowd and arrived outside the massive circular laboratory.
Here, Makima had been waiting for some time.
"Director, Miss Hill."
Makima, with her hands clasped in front of her, greeted her two superiors with a smile, her gaze naturally settling on Hill.
When addressing Hill, Makima's tone was noticeably much more intimate.
In response to Makima's recent ambiguous gestures of goodwill, Hill nodded expressionlessly.
"Good evening, Agent Makima."
There was no extra small talk, no hint of being flattered or awkward, only a cold, businesslike demeanor.
Yes, that's exactly the look! (The actress who plays Hill in the movies is also very beautiful)
Within S.H.I.E.L.D., this red and blue pair are famously known as the "ice queen workaholics," but they are fundamentally different.
Makima is a master of workplace socializing. She expertly utilizes her interpersonal relationships, using her innate charm to perfectly handle every colleague—like Tony Stark, and recently, Coulson, who has been begging Makima to teach him the "Talk-no-Jutsu Flame Technique."
As for Hill... this Deputy Director has absolutely no interest in things like social niceties or office politics.
Her mind is occupied solely by missions, efficiency, and execution. She is a thorough, unyielding pragmatist.
So why would Makima show such enthusiasm specifically towards this "cold, hard stone"?
The reason is simple...
Su Modie quite likes Hill...
Back when she saw the wild history that is "Secret Invasion" directly kill off Hill, Su Modie was so angry her little face turned pink and puffy.
Now, seeing the real person, it would be a lie to say she didn't want to get to know Hill.
It's just that Makima's charm isn't very effective on Hill.
Regarding this point, Makima also feels quite helpless...
It's not because Hill dislikes her, but rather because of her own fickle and lecherous true self.
What can be done?
Stuck with such a severe face-lover, someone who falls for every pretty face, and a true self who still has to pretend to be pure and innocent from time to time.
Just spoil her!
What else? Get a divorce?
After the brief greetings, Nick Fury strode into the laboratory, staring at Dr. Erik Selvig, who was frantically typing on a keyboard.
"Doctor, what exactly is the situation now?" Fury asked gravely.
"Sir, the Tesseract is awakening on its own!" Dr. Selvig wiped sweat from his forehead, explaining incoherently. "It's like a door, being forced open from the other side! We can't cut the power!"
Hearing this, Fury glanced at Makima, not out of suspicion, but because her earlier concerns had come true.
"Where's Agent Barton?"
Fury asked. Just as he had Reze protect Makima, a project this large naturally also had someone guarding it.
High above, Clint Barton, wearing a black tactical vest, gripped his compound bow, vigilantly watching the Tesseract's abnormal activity.
He is the famously known male best friend of the Black Widow...
The bestie duo, also known as the Soul Stone duo... is that a bit too dark...
Ahem, wrong. He is the famously known Hawkeye.
The old man is still quite handsome, but I'm still more into the Female Hawkeye.
Hearing the Director's call, Hawkeye didn't hesitate. He slung his compound bow onto his back and grabbed the tactical rappelling rope beside him.
With a "whoosh," he landed steadily.
He quickly walked over to Fury's side.
The two walked side by side towards the giant instrument holding the Tesseract, exchanging words rapidly along the way.
"See anything that activated her?"
Fury pointed at the Tesseract.
"No one came or went. Dr. Selvig is fine, Agent Makima is fine... the big guy hasn't left the room either... If someone is playing tricks... it's definitely not one of our people."
Hawkeye stated bluntly.
"If the Tesseract is a door, then if the door can be opened from our side, naturally it can also be opened from the other side..."
Fury fell silent, his dark face full of gravity.
In this tense atmosphere, only one person seemed out of place.
Makima stood with her arms crossed, her posture elegant, not far behind Fury.
Her golden eyes, concealed by light green colored contacts, calmly reflected the Tesseract's increasingly violent light.
He's here.
Su Modie, far away in Fisk Tower, narrowed her eyes slightly.
Speak of the devil. Just seconds after Hawkeye finished speaking.
The Tesseract's various readings suddenly peaked!
"BOOM——!!!"
Accompanied by a deafening roar.
The Tesseract violently erupted with powerful blue energy, converging directionally into a void connecting to who-knows-where.
Then, in an instant, it transformed into a violent shockwave, forcing Fury and the others to stumble back.
As the light and dust gradually cleared, the portal made of spatial energy slowly closed.
And on the previously empty alloy floor, a kneeling figure had appeared out of thin air.
It was a slender man wearing dark green Asgardian leather armor and a dark gold cloak. He held a sharp spear with a glowing yellow gem embedded in its tip, his head bowed, faint white smoke from the spatial journey still rising from his body.
Without a doubt, this was Asgard's "God of Mischief"—Loki.
Handsome, yes... but he seems a bit...
The surrounding S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents immediately raised their assault rifles, their dark muzzles all aimed at the uninvited guest.
Hawkeye also silently nocked a special arrow and drew his bowstring taut.
As if sensing the hostility around him, Loki slowly raised his head.
It was a pale, gaunt face with a sickly kind of handsome beauty.
Although he had just endured a painful long-distance spatial teleport, making him sweat profusely and appear somewhat weak, upon seeing these Earthlings holding their "fire sticks," a proud and contemptuous sneer immediately curled at the corner of Loki's mouth.
A friendly smile.
He simply had no idea.
Among these humans he viewed as ants, a strange creature seemed to have already infiltrated...
That's very strange.
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