"So your goal..." Nick Fury said slowly, discreetly glancing at his computer after looking up the strange phrase Evenson had quoted earlier, "...is to make sure Lady Sif returns to Asgard with a favorable opinion of Earth."
That bizarre proverb had made absolutely no sense until he’d searched for it.
Evenson nodded.
"Exactly."
"Heimdall may be able to see nearly everything, but he’s the guardian of Asgard, not Earth."
"He can’t spend every waking moment watching this planet."
"Even when he does look..."
Evenson searched for the right comparison.
"It’s like analyzing satellite imagery."
Fury remained silent.
He knew exactly where this was going.
"You can gather a lot from satellite photos," Evenson continued, "but there’s always missing context."
"You stare at the images, trying to figure out what’s really happening..."
"...and what do you wish you had?"
He smiled.
"An agent on the ground."
"Someone who can tell you exactly what you’re looking at."
Fury gave a small nod.
S.H.I.E.L.D.’s analysts were exceptionally good at interpreting reconnaissance imagery.
Even so...
Nothing surpassed firsthand intelligence.
A trusted witness could provide details no satellite ever would.
"Lady Sif isn’t an official diplomat."
"Her staying on Earth was..." Evenson scratched his cheek. "...an accident."
Fury’s eyelid twitched.
An accident?
Last I heard, you flattened her with one of your spells and she missed the Bifrost.
Judging from her attitude, she still doesn’t know that’s what happened.
"But when she returns to Asgard," Evenson continued, oblivious to Fury’s thoughts, "Odin will undoubtedly ask what she saw here."
"For the past several centuries, she’ll have spent more time on Earth than any other Asgardian."
"Her impressions will carry tremendous weight."
Fury leaned back, considering the implications.
In many ways...
Sif’s report to Odin would resemble the World Security Council relying on Evenson’s assessment of Asgard.
Simply because no one else possessed comparable experience.
"And don’t forget who she is," Evenson added.
"She’s one of the Crown Prince’s closest companions."
"And very likely the future Queen of Asgard."
"Her personal opinion of Earth matters just as much as any official report."
Fury looked at him.
"You really think she’ll become queen?"
"In the myths, she’s Thor’s wife."
"And in reality..."
"Odin clearly favors that outcome."
Fury frowned thoughtfully.
"What about Jane Foster?"
"I’ve heard she’s in the middle of a whirlwind romance with Thor."
Evenson chuckled.
"I imagine the Council already reached a conclusion on that."
"I’m curious what it is."
"Oh, we absolutely discussed it."
Fury admitted it without hesitation.
Thor wasn’t merely another superhuman.
His relationships had geopolitical consequences.
"Our official position..."
He deliberately paused for effect.
"...is that we don’t have one."
Evenson blinked.
"No opinion."
"No endorsement."
"No opposition."
"No involvement."
Fury spread his hands.
"We’re staying out of it."
Evenson laughed.
"That’s... surprisingly wise."
"Looks like the Council isn’t staffed entirely by career bureaucrats after all."
Fury smirked.
"Competent people do occasionally find their way into government."
"I don’t always agree with the Council."
"But when they decide something truly matters..."
"They’re usually worth listening to."
He folded his hands.
"Our assessment is simple."
"Jane Foster can become a bridge between Earth and Asgard."
"Thor’s lover."
"Perhaps even his lifelong companion."
"But if we’re talking about becoming Queen of Asgard..."
He slowly shook his head.
"The odds are effectively zero."
That conclusion hadn’t been reached lightly.
The Council had examined the issue from every conceivable angle.
Even in constitutional monarchies, the position of queen carried enormous symbolic importance.
Asgard’s monarchy, however, wielded genuine executive authority.
It wasn’t ceremonial.
The idea of placing a human woman in such a role seemed unrealistic.
There was the issue of lifespan.
A century might be considered a full life on Earth.
For Asgardians...
It was barely the beginning.
No kingdom willingly chose a queen whose natural lifespan was only a fraction of her husband’s.
Then there was biology.
Humans and Asgardians looked almost identical.
That didn’t necessarily mean they were the same species.
If they couldn’t produce heirs...
That alone could become an insurmountable obstacle.
Only after considering all those factors did the Council discuss love.
Thor and Jane came from entirely different civilizations.
Different customs.
Different responsibilities.
Different perspectives.
No one could confidently predict how long that relationship would survive.
So the Council had reached the safest conclusion possible.
Remain neutral.
Anything else risked creating unnecessary diplomatic complications.
Fury pushed the files on his desk aside.
"Which brings us back to Lady Sif."
"If we want her to leave Earth with a favorable impression..."
"How should we host her?"
Evenson thought for a moment.
"Asgardians are warriors."
"They aren’t impressed by luxury."
"They don’t care much about extravagant accommodations."
"But..."
He smiled.
"They absolutely appreciate good alcohol."
"It doesn’t have to be expensive."
"It just has to be strong."
Fury made a note.
"And one more warning."
Evenson’s expression became remarkably serious.
"If Lady Sif gets drunk..."
"Evacuate your agents."
Fury looked up.
"I’m serious."
"Asgardian drinking culture is... enthusiastic."
"If she decides it’s time for post-drinking entertainment..."
"The safest place for ordinary humans is somewhere else."
Fury silently underlined that note.
Twice.
"And if you really want her speaking well of Earth when she returns to Asgard..."
Evenson continued.
"There’s one place you absolutely should send her."
Fury immediately became interested.
"The United Nations?"
"The Smithsonian?"
"The White House?"
Evenson smiled mysteriously.
"Hollywood."
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