"So... what now?"
With Thor and his companions having ascended to Asgard to settle matters with Loki, S.H.I.E.L.D.’s role in the crisis was effectively over.
Even if they wanted to intervene, there was nothing more they could do.
All that remained was cleanup.
As the senior agent formerly in command of the base, Coulson already had contingency plans prepared. Still, Evenson had been appointed Nick Fury’s special representative with full authority. Whether anyone liked it or not, protocol required consulting him first.
Besides, Coulson assumed that while Evenson excelled at mystical warfare, he probably wasn’t interested in logistics.
Sooner or later, the job would fall back into his hands.
Evenson looked toward the translucent silhouette standing motionless nearby.
"First, let’s deal with our oversized guest."
The Destroyer remained frozen within Banish, looking more like a hologram than a physical object.
Coulson and Melinda exchanged a glance before looking back at Evenson.
All right... how?
The spell was still active.
They couldn’t even touch the thing.
And they sincerely hoped Evenson wasn’t about to suggest dispelling the spell.
Thor had already left for Asgard.
If the Destroyer woke up again, no one on Earth was stopping it.
Evenson considered the question for a moment.
"Build a frame around it."
"Then cover it with a black tarp."
Silence.
"...That’s the plan?" Coulson asked.
"The tarp will pass through the Destroyer," Evenson explained patiently. "That’s why you need the frame."
Several minutes later...
The project was complete.
Two tall metal support poles stood on either side of the banished Destroyer, with a large black tarp stretched across them.
The result looked less like a prison for one of Asgard’s greatest weapons...
...and more like an improvised portable restroom.
No one passing by would ever guess that an enchanted construct blessed by Odin himself was quietly suspended inside.
"There."
Evenson nodded in satisfaction.
"Now begin the evacuation."
He turned to Coulson.
"You’ll handle the rest, Agent."
"Yes, sir."
That answer matched exactly what Coulson had expected.
"I have one more requirement."
Evenson’s tone became noticeably more serious.
"Everyone must be gone before nightfall."
Coulson checked his watch.
Two in the afternoon.
Then he looked at the enormous base surrounding them.
Four hours?
He almost laughed.
Was Evenson seriously expecting them to dismantle an entire installation in a single afternoon?
Seeing the hesitation on his face, Evenson clarified,
"Forget the buildings."
"Leave everything behind."
"I’m staying here."
"You can come back later and recover the equipment."
He met Coulson’s eyes.
"But every person must be out of here before sunset."
"No exceptions."
Before Coulson could respond, Melinda answered first.
"Understood, Special Representative."
She shot Coulson a meaningful look.
Don’t argue.
Ordinarily, this order violated S.H.I.E.L.D. procedure in several different ways.
But by deliberately emphasizing Evenson’s authority, Melinda was reminding him of one important fact.
Nick Fury had approved this arrangement.
Considering Fury’s habit of compartmentalizing information...
There was only one reasonable conclusion.
Evenson had another classified mission.
One that Coulson wasn’t cleared to know about.
He nodded.
"Understood, sir."
"We’ll complete the evacuation."
"Oh."
Evenson looked toward the unconscious Lady Sif.
"Leave her here too."
Coulson’s expression immediately became... complicated.
Lady Sif wasn’t merely attractive.
She was an Asgardian warrior of considerable importance.
And she also happened to be unconscious.
Now Evenson wanted everyone else to leave...
Except the two of them.
Coulson’s imagination sprinted in several highly inappropriate directions.
Absolutely not.
If anything happens to an Asgardian commander under S.H.I.E.L.D. protection...
Interstellar diplomacy is going to become a nightmare.
Evenson stared at him.
"...It’s for the mission."
"...Right."
Coulson coughed awkwardly, forcefully deleting several mental images.
"I understand."
Even so...
His expression still silently conveyed:
Behave yourself.
Once the decision had been made, the evacuation proceeded quickly.
Without worrying about dismantling equipment or transporting facilities, S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel cleared the compound in far less than four hours.
The U.S. military withdrew shortly afterward.
They still had wounded to transport.
Bodies to recover.
And more than a few complaints about being ordered to leave immediately after doing the fighting.
Still...
Arguing with S.H.I.E.L.D. rarely ended well.
Lady Sif awoke near sunset.
She didn’t spend time wondering where she was.
The instant her eyes opened, she sprang out of bed, ready to continue fighting.
Only then did she realize her sword wasn’t at her waist.
Instead, it rested neatly against the nearby wall.
"You’re awake."
A familiar voice came from the doorway.
Evenson entered carrying a wooden crate.
Sif frowned briefly before recognizing him.
He had fought beside Thor.
That was enough.
She relaxed slightly.
"How did the battle end?"
"It’s over."
Evenson placed the crate on the table.
It was filled with bottles of beer.
When drinking with Asgardians, he preferred beer.
Anything stronger risked ending with him coughing up organs.
"Thor recovered his power."
"He returned to Asgard to confront Loki."
"You were still unconscious."
"So he left you here."
Sif lowered her eyes.
"...I became a burden."
There was no resentment in her voice.
She understood why Thor had made the decision.
If he’d taken her into another battle while she was unconscious...
She would only have endangered everyone.
That wasn’t what saddened her.
She was disappointed because she hadn’t been able to stand beside the man she admired when he needed her most.
A moment later, her eyes suddenly narrowed.
"I almost forgot."
She slowly cracked her knuckles.
"Do you know..."
"...who dropped that green meteor on my head?"
A dangerous smile spread across her face.
"I’d really like to thank them personally."
Apparently, every ounce of frustration from missing Thor’s battle had found a convenient new target.
Evenson answered without the slightest hesitation.
"No."
"I have absolutely no idea."
Sif narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Really?"
"Really."
Evenson picked up a bottle of beer and raised it with perfect composure.
"Come on."
"Let’s have a drink."
"We should celebrate Thor getting his power back."
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