The morning sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting a faint golden hue over the desolate plains of New Mexico.
Seven black helicopters flew in from the east, their roar breaking the silence of the wilderness.
The helicopters circled over the plains before landing one by one.
The gale kicked up by the rotors blew sand and dust everywhere, startling several rabbits in the distant bushes.
The cabin doors opened, and a group of men in black suits jumped out.
Leading them was a middle-aged man of medium build, slightly plump, with a gentle smile that instinctively made people lower their guard.
He wore a standard black suit, a white shirt, and a dark blue tie, holding a folder in his hand.
Phil Coulson.
A high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent and one of Nick Fury's most trusted right-hand men.
He stood in place, looking around, his gaze finally landing on the scorched ground ahead.
There was a circular pattern there.
About ten meters in diameter, its edges were as neat as if drawn with a compass.
The ground had been melted by high temperatures and then rapidly cooled, forming a glassy thin shell with a rainbow luster.
Inside the pattern were more complex lines, like some ancient runes, reflecting an eerie light in the sun.
Coulson took a few steps closer, crouched down, and carefully examined the markings.
Behind him, the Agents had already begun their work.
Several technicians brought down various instruments; some began measuring the dimensions of the pattern, others used spectrometers to scan the runes, and some collected soil samples.
Other Agents dispersed into the surrounding area, searching for any other possible traces.
Coulson stood up and stepped back a few paces to let the technicians work.
He looked up at the sky.
According to satellite monitoring data, an extremely massive energy fluctuation was detected in this area last night.
The scale of that energy was unprecedented; then, this energy descended from the sky, landing precisely on this wasteland.
Landing right where this pattern was.
Coulson looked down at the rainbow-colored markings.
He had a gut feeling.
This thing didn't look like something humans could create.
"Officer."
A technician walked over, holding a tablet computer.
"Preliminary scan results. The material composition of this pattern's surface... is very strange."
Coulson took the tablet and looked at the data on it.
"How is it strange?"
"This glassy surface layer," the technician pointed to the analysis results on the screen.
"Is formed from ordinary surface soil after melting. But the melting temperature... far exceeds any level reachable by known natural phenomena or man-made weapons."
"And these patterns." The technician continued to swipe the screen.
"Their composition is different from the surroundings. They contain some elements we can't identify—it's not that they aren't on the periodic table, but the isotope ratios of these elements are completely inconsistent with natural laws."
Coulson looked at him.
"What does that mean?"
"It means," the technician said, "these substances don't seem to have formed naturally on Earth. Nor do they seem to have been manufactured in any way we can understand."
Coulson was silent for two seconds.
Then he nodded.
"Continue the analysis. Report any findings immediately."
"Yes, Officer."
The technician turned and left.
Coulson stood there, looking at the massive rainbow pattern.
The sunlight hit it, and those markings reflected a blurred light, like some ancient prophecy.
The search continued for the entire morning.
The Agents searched an area of several square kilometers, using the most advanced detection equipment and even deploying drones for high-altitude scans.
The result—
Nothing.
No ship wreckage.
No traces of alien life.
No clues that could explain the energy burst from last night.
Only a solitary pattern and the surrounding wasteland scorched by energy.
Coulson stood by the helicopter, listening to his subordinates' reports, his expression unchanged.
But internally, he was already planning the next step.
"Pack it up," he said.
The Agents began packing the equipment and boarding.
Coulson took one last look at the pattern.
Under the sun, it lay there quietly, like a silent riddle.
Coulson turned and boarded the helicopter.
The doors closed, engines roared, and the seven helicopters took off in sequence, flying toward the east.
Behind them, the wasteland returned to silence.
Only the rainbow pattern continued to emit an eerie light in the sun.
...
3:00 PM, S.H.I.E.L.D. Triskelion Headquarters.
When Coulson walked into Fury's office, the one-eyed Director was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window with his back to the door, holding a cup of black coffee.
"You're back?" Fury didn't turn around.
"Just got off the plane." Coulson walked to the desk and placed the folder on it. "The field report."
Fury turned around, walked behind the desk, sat down, and picked up the report.
He flipped to the first page, his gaze landing on the data.
Fury continued to flip through.
The spectral analysis results, the abnormal isotope ratio data, the unexplainable energy residues...
He turned to the last page and looked at the photograph taken at the scene.
The rainbow pattern.
Fury stared at that photo for a long time.
Then he looked up at Coulson.
"What do you think this is?"
Coulson thought for a moment.
"I don't know," he said honestly. "But I have a guess."
"Speak."
Coulson took a deep breath.
"The energy was rainbow-colored," he said.
"The impact point formed a circular pattern on the ground with neat edges and complex runes. And the scale of that energy... was enough to cross interstellar space."
He paused.
"Additionally, according to satellite footage, when the energy burst last night, a rainbow light appeared in the sky..."
"It reminds me of something from norse mythology."
Fury looked at him.
"The Bifrost Bridge."
Coulson had already heard about Asgard from Fury and knew that the legendary Marvika, the Sun Goddess, was currently on Earth, living in seclusion in New York and maintaining a close relationship with the Stark family.
After officially visiting Mavuika, Fury had informed a few of his confidants of this top-secret news.
Besides Natasha, who had accompanied Fury at the time, Coulson, Hill, and Clint also knew.
These four were Fury's absolute confidants, people he could trust completely.
Outside of these four, Fury didn't trust anyone else.
After hearing Coulson's report, Fury was silent for a few seconds.
Then he smiled softly.
"Bifrost Bridge," Fury repeated the term, his tone carrying a hint of thoughtfulness.
Coulson looked at him.
"Director, do you think... it's possible?"
Fury didn't answer immediately.