A stretch limousine sat parked outside a university in Seville, Spain.
The vehicle was less a car than a rolling luxury suite, complete with leather couches, a built-in refrigerator, polished wood paneling, and enough amenities to rival a small apartment.
It had been one week since Evenson returned home.
Eight days since the incident involving Thor’s hammer had officially come to an end.
Inside the limousine, two nearly identical Asian women lounged side by side. Aside from a slight difference in complexion, they could have passed for mirror images.
One wore a crimson blouse.
The other, a sapphire-blue coat.
They removed a chilled bottle of champagne from the refrigerator, poured themselves glasses, and took leisurely sips before politely acknowledging the gray-haired man seated across from them.
"Care for a drink, General?" the woman in blue asked.
General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross merely shook his head.
He had neither the patience nor the mood for champagne.
Instead, he kept glancing through the tinted windows, his anxiety becoming more obvious with every passing minute.
Finally, he couldn’t hold it in any longer.
"...Are we really certain this is a good idea?"
The woman in blue, Salysra, pinched the bridge of her nose.
It was clearly not the first time he’d asked.
"I’ve already explained the advantages and risks several times."
"This operation is an essential piece of our larger plan."
"And besides..."
She regarded him coolly.
"...isn’t this exactly the future you’ve always wanted?"
Ross clasped his hands together.
"...Yes."
"My dream..."
He repeated the words more to reassure himself than anyone else.
The woman in red, Alythess, finally spoke.
Unlike her sister’s measured composure, her voice carried unmistakable edge.
"I’m curious."
She tilted her head.
"The man who once created both the Hulk and the Abomination without hesitation..."
"...when did he become so timid?"
Ross stiffened.
The remark hit exactly where she intended.
Ever since the battle between Hulk and Abomination devastated Harlem, his career had collapsed.
After months of political maneuvering, he’d escaped formal punishment, but only barely.
His authority had evaporated.
The stars still adorned his uniform, yet they felt decorative now.
Fortunately, decades of military service had earned him influential friends.
When the twins asked him to help establish a biotechnology company that could cooperate with the military, those old acquaintances had quietly approved the paperwork.
Mostly because none of them wanted to become involved.
Then Ross had shown them part of the twins’ so-called Gospel Project.
They hadn’t embraced it.
Far from it.
Interesting ideas were cheap.
Actually producing results was what mattered.
Their response had been simple:
Conduct the research.
Don’t ask the military for funding.
Skip the presentations.
Bring us something that works.
Given Ross’s history, their skepticism was entirely understandable.
Three days earlier, however, Ross had requested authorization for another black operation.
His former colleagues had stared at him as though he’d lost his mind.
You’re serious?
After everything that’s happened, you want another covert operation?
It had taken every ounce of persuasion Ross possessed.
He’d sworn this mission had absolutely nothing to do with the Hulk.
Nothing.
He’d even revealed a portion of the target’s identity.
That had only made their expressions worse.
The name carried enormous political sensitivity.
Especially now.
Even more alarming was the intelligence itself.
Less than a week after the New Mexico incident, the corporation backing Ross had already uncovered information that even S.H.I.E.L.D. might not possess.
In the end...
They approved the operation.
And quietly upgraded Umbrella’s priority within their internal files.
Ross checked his watch again.
"We’d better hope your intelligence is accurate."
"I can’t afford another disaster."
"If this operation goes wrong..."
"...I’ll be facing a court-martial."
"Our source is beyond question," Salysra replied calmly.
Her thoughts drifted back several nights.
Evenson had unexpectedly arrived at their nightclub.
He’d told them Earth would face an extraterrestrial war within the next year.
Fortunately, he already had a long-term plan.
As long as they played their assigned roles, everything would proceed as intended.
There was no need to interfere with the coming invasion itself.
The twins had been delighted.
The Eredar understood war better than most races.
War shattered order.
Chaos followed.
And within chaos...
Opportunity flourished.
Those who seized it rose to power.
Those who failed vanished into history.
To them, the coming conflict would become the first step toward their own ascent.
They had discussed many future plans that night.
Most required patience.
This one did not.
Umbrella was publicly a biotechnology corporation.
Sooner or later...
...it would need biological research subjects.
"General."
Alythess swirled the champagne in her glass.
"You can trust our intelligence."
"But can you guarantee S.H.I.E.L.D. won’t discover today’s operation?"
Ross smiled confidently.
"I can."
"Every operative involved was personally selected."
"They’re reliable."
"And they don’t know what they’re actually participating in."
"They’ve been scattered throughout the city."
"Each team only knows its own assignment."
"No one has the complete picture."
He paused before looking at the twins.
"But are you really certain the two of you can handle the target alone?"
"We’re quite certain."
Salysra returned her glass to the refrigerator.
"If you’re interested..."
"...you’re welcome to watch."
"It would also give you a chance to witness our company’s enhancement methods firsthand," Alythess added, checking her watch.
"It’s time."
Ross ultimately remained inside the limousine.
The twins entered the university grounds alone.
Spain’s afternoon siesta left much of the campus unusually quiet.
Their footsteps echoed softly through nearly empty hallways until they stopped outside a professor’s office.
Knock.
Knock.
A sluggish voice eventually answered from within.
"Come in."
Salysra opened the door with a courteous smile.
"My apologies for interrupting your afternoon rest, Professor."
The office’s owner looked to be in his late fifties.
Blond hair, though retreating noticeably at the temples.
A scholarly demeanor.
Distinct red marks across one cheek suggested he’d recently fallen asleep face-down on his desk.
To most people, he appeared entirely ordinary.
To the Eredar twins...
The Asgardian aura hidden beneath his human disguise was impossible to miss.
Not that it impressed them.
"Elliot Randolph," Alythess said pleasantly.
"One of the world’s foremost scholars of Norse mythology."
"It’s an honor to meet you."
She offered a graceful smile.
"My name is Ada Wang."
"And this is my younger sister, Mira Wang."
"We’ve come to ask for your professional opinion."
"Oh?"
Randolph brightened immediately.
He hurried over with two chairs.
"You ladies are interested in Norse mythology?"
"Wonderful."
"I love discussing the subject."
He grinned.
"Especially with beautiful women."
He returned to his desk, folded his hands, and adopted the posture of a seasoned academic.
"So then..."
"What would you like to know?"
Salysra’s smile grew strangely playful.
"We only have one question."
"And," Alythess continued softly, "you’re the only person who can answer it."
A flicker of unease crossed Randolph’s face.
Something about the conversation had shifted.
Still, he couldn’t imagine two elegant young women posing any genuine threat.
He cleared his throat.
"...Go ahead."
The twins exchanged a glance.
Then Salysra asked quietly,
"Tell us, Professor..."
"...how do the proud warriors of Asgard punish deserters?"
Alythess’ smile widened.
"Or perhaps..."
"...we should ask you by your real identity."
The room fell silent.
The trap had finally sprung.
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