The Future
Prologue: The Future
A helicopter flew low through the night sky above the Mojave Desert. It prepared to make its final descent on the landing pad of the facility that had been erected far amid the sands.
Within the facility compound, vehicles of all kinds were driving over the paved grounds and through the gates in what could only be defined as organized chaos. The guards kept firm grips on their weapons and alert for any sign of danger while the scientists and civilians they were protecting kept similar grips on their possessions.
“All personnel, the evacuation order has been confirmed.” A voice announced over the PA system. “Proceed to your designated vehicles for assisted evacuation.”
The guards not in the vehicles quickly and efficiently helped the scientists load the trunks before ushering them and their families into the cars and giving the go ahead to the drivers to leave.
“This is not a drill.” The voice over the PA system continued. “Emergency personnel, proceed to your designated vehicles for off-campus evacuation.”
The helicopter that had been circling the facility landed on the large square pad marked by the fluorescent white landing lights. The door opened and two people jumped out, a young woman with dark hair tied in a bun and a tall, black man wearing an eyepatch over one eye. Both of them exuded an aura of danger and cunning, the man more so than the woman. They were joined by another man, this one dressed in an unassuming black suit with dark shades over his eyes.
“How bad is it?” The black man with the eyepatch asked.
“That’s the problem, sir.” The man in the suit replied, removing his shades. “We don’t know.” He led the newest arrivals into the building and to the elevator, pressing the button for his desired floor as the doors closed. All three were silent for the few seconds that the trip took. “Dr. Selvig read an energy surge from the Tesseract four hours ago.” The suited man continued, leading the pair through the lab.
All around them, the scientists continued packing up their equipment with the aid of the guards, working quickly and efficiently.
“NASA didn’t authorize Selvig to go to test phase.” The man with the eyepatch said.
“He wasn’t testing it.” The suited man revealed. “He wasn’t even in the room. Spontaneous event.”
“It just turned itself on?” The woman asked, speaking up for the first time since they arrived.
“Where are the energy levels now?” The dark-skinned man asked.
“Climbing.” The suited man replied. “When Selvig couldn’t shut it down, we ordered evac.”
“How long to get everyone out?” The dark-skinned man asked.
“Campus should be clear in the next half hour.” The suited man replied.
“Do better.” The dark-skinned man ordered.
The suited man nodded and walked away, the dark-skinned man and the woman continuing on through the facility.
“Sir, evacuation may be futile.” The woman pointed out respectfully as they descended the spiral staircase.
“We should tell them to go back to sleep?” The dark-skinned man asked in response, his voice half-sarcastic and half-challenging.
“If we can’t control the Tesseract’s energy, there may not be a minimum safe distance.” The woman said, her tone still respectful as she ignored the biting tone that had been aimed at her.
“I need you to make sure the Phase 2 prototypes are shipped out.” The dark-skinned man ordered.
“Sir, is that really a priority right now?” The woman asked incredulously.
The dark-skinned man stopped walking and turned around to look at the woman, making her stop in her tracks as well. “Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on. Clear out the tech below. Every piece of Phase 2 on a truck and gone.” He ordered.
“Yes, sir.” The woman said quietly, walking off. She passed a pair of guards standing sentry. “With me.” She ordered them.
They followed her as the dark-skinned man turned and continued on his route. “Talk to me, Doctor.” He called as he strode into a massive chamber.
“Director.” An elderly man greeted, stepping away from the large device that held the main focus of the lab. His scientists, the few that remained despite the evacuation order, continued with their work, monitoring the device.
“Is there anything we know for certain?” The dark-skinned man, the Director, asked.
“The Tesseract is misbehaving.” The elderly scientist replied. Another scientist carefully prodded the middle of the device where the glowing bright blue cube resided causing it to spark.
“Is that supposed to be funny?” The Director asked, unamused.
“No, it’s not funny at all.” The scientist said as the Director reached him, and they began walking in step with each other. “The Tesseract is not only active, she’s… behaving.”
“I assume you pulled the plug.” The Director stated.
“She’s an energy source.” The scientist pointed out helplessly. “We turn off the power, she turns it back on. If she reaches peak level-”
“We prepared for this, Doctor.” The Director said, cutting the elderly scientist off. “Harnessing energy from space.”
“But we don’t have the harness.” The scientist said dryly, stepping up to a computer. “My calculations are far from complete. And she’s throwing off interference, radiation. Nothing harmful, low levels of gamma radiation.”
“That can be harmful.” The Director said quietly. “Where’s Agent Barton?”
“The Hawk?” The scientist asked, more focused on the computer screen in front of him. “Up in his nest, as usual.” He gestured over his shoulder with his thumb.
The Director stepped away from the scientist, putting a hand to the comm link in his ear. “Agent Barton, report.” Seconds later, a tall, handsome blue-eyed man slid down from a high perch. “I gave you this detail so you can keep a close eye on things.” The Director reprimanded as the agent fell into step with him.
“Well, I see better from a distance.” Agent Barton replied calmly.
“Have you seen anything that might set this thing off?” The Director asked, accepting the strangeness of his agent.
“Doctor, it’s spiking again.” Another scientist called to the elderly scientist that had been speaking with the Director.
“No one’s come or gone.” Agent Barton replied. “And Selvig’s clean. No contacts, no IMs. If there was any tampering sir, it wasn’t at this end.”
“‘At this end’?” The Director repeated.
“Yeah.” Agent Barton said, nodding. “The Cube is a doorway to the other end of space, right?” He asked, gesturing to the gently sparking, glowing Cube in the middle of the device. “Doors open from both sides.” He pointed out with a seemingly nonchalant shrug.
Suddenly, the Cube sparked even more, and a deep rumble shook the facility. The glowing Cube continued sparking, glowing brighter and the energy swirling for a few seconds. It shot out in a concentrated beam and formed a swirling portal several feet away in the same bright blue color as the beam and the Cube.
The portal grew until it was at least a dozen feet in height and equally as large in width. It let out a wave of energy that rippled past the shocked spectators before disappearing along with the portal. The guards pushed past their shock and slowly moved forward, their weapons drawn and aimed at the figure that knelt in the place the portal had been.
The figure raised his head, revealing pale white skin, almost pasty in tone, and light blue eyes filled with cold ruthlessness. He stood up slowly revealing the green, black and gold clothes he was wearing, his hand tightly gripping a spear with a glowing blue gem nestled between the bladed tips.
It was Loki Odinson, the second son of Odin Allfather and the younger Prince of Asgard, the Realm Eternal.