Agent Ten

[Asgard]

"Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor," Odin solemnly murmured the enchantment to himself as he placed the spell upon Mjolnir. With a resolute throw, he sent the mighty hammer into the Bifrost after Thor, while Loki stood close by, his stoic visage concealing a complex whirlwind of emotions.

"All-Father," Heimdall, the ever-vigilant guardian of the Rainbow Bridge, returned and walked towards Odin. The All-Father knew that something had transpired which only Heimdall's keen sight could reveal. Fixating his gaze on the still-active Bifrost, Heimdall announced with concern, "Something approaches."

Confounded, Loki inquired skeptically, "What could possibly be coming that–" He trailed off abruptly as an immense shadow loomed closer, its fiery red eyes piercing through the darkness.

With courage befitting the king of Asgard, Odin stepped forward to confront the unknown entity. A colossal mechanical hand emerged from the Bifrost and clamped down on the side of the gate's entrance. In a thundering voice that echoed across all realms, Odin demanded: "What manner of creature are you!"

{At the same time}

Jane Foster couldn't help but scold Darcy for tasering the mysterious man, as she had wanted to concentrate on the peculiar markings engraved on the ground. Instead, she now found herself worrying about getting the stranger to the hospital. It proved to be a challenging task, as even Selvig struggled to lift the man for a brief moment before dropping him back on the ground, panting heavily.

Erik Selvig looked at their newest intern, Gwen, who appeared to be lost in thought, and said with exhaustion in his voice, "Hey, new girl, this man isn't going to get to the hospital by himself."

"Surely you can lend a hand," added Darcy sarcastically. "Or just stand there and stare."

"Gwen, could you please assist him?" Jane sighed. But she noticed Gwen's unfaltering gaze remained elsewhere. "What's got your attention?"

"Do you believe there's enough space to bring that along with us?" Gwen inquired, as the dust cleared and unveiled what had captured her curiosity—a massive mechanical spider-like limb emitting sparks from its tip as if it detached from something even larger.

"Explain what I'm seeing here," demanded Fury, his voice booming through the screen as he convened a meeting with Coulson's small team comprising Maria, Cosmia, Barton, and Azmuth. These four were the core of their task force, with other agents kept in the dark about the confidential information discussed behind closed doors. Although initially hesitant, Fury had eventually acquiesced to Azmuth's proposal. "I understand that information is currently being transferred to me, but can someone clarify what exactly it is?"

Azmuth, with his arms crossed confidently behind his back and a keen glint in his eyes, expounded on the data at hand. "Your satellite has detected an unusual surge of energy near a town in New Mexico. Intriguingly, this energy doesn't seem to have originated from Earth but rather within your galaxy." Azmuth paused briefly before continuing, "It's been challenging to pinpoint more details from within this lab, but the energy signature differs significantly from anything I've encountered in my dimension. Rest assured - Vilgax isn't involved."

At this revelation, Cosmia audibly exhaled and slumped to her knees in relief; she was far from ready to confront a crazed world conqueror just yet. Barton offered a reassuring pat on her shoulder and a warm smile that helped calm her further. "...Leaving us with one question: what are we dealing with?"

Coulson raised an eyebrow before speaking up, "I assume this is why you decided to cut short my stint as Tony's supervisor?" Cosmia couldn't help but laugh softly as she recalled Iron Man's file and her initially mixed feelings towards him. Nevertheless, after observing his achievements firsthand, she had come to respect him more deeply. She even wanted to attend the Stark Expo opening night if Coulson allowed her to do so as long as she behaved herself. He scanned the information on the displayed screens, "It looks like there were two impact sites - we'll need to investigate both."

"Actually, you'll only need to inspect one," Maria interjected, her voice firm yet composed as she directed a camera to capture the second impact area. A large crater had formed at the site. "This is the locale you need to focus on."

"Cosmia!"

The voice of Barton echoed through the car, causing Cosmia to snap out of her daydream. She blinked, the memory dissipating as her gaze fixated on the arid desert scenery whizzing by outside the car window. Although it wasn't ideal to use their real names professionally, there were only three people in the car, and Barton knew it. 

"I apologize – just a little lost in thought," Cosmia responded sheepishly with a yawn, clearly bored by the lengthy car ride. She couldn't help but play absentmindedly with her Omnitrix several times, quickly realizing that a moving car was not the ideal location for a transformation. Desiring to be polite, she asked Barton, "Did you need something?"

"Actually, I was wondering if you needed anything since you've been so quiet," replied Barton, his tone laced with genuine concern as he observed Cosmia glancing down at the road that Coulson was driving intently. He let out a soft chuckle before adding, "Not a fan of craters, I assume?"

Cosmia hesitated before admitting, "...could go either way... that's how I got this in the first place." She lifted her hand to reveal the Omnitrix adorning it and sighed as she relaxed back into her seat. "Can't guarantee that whatever created this crater is good news or something we should be worried about."

Barton leaned back comfortably as well, letting the cool air from the air conditioning breeze across his face. "That's why they're sending us – to figure it out," he assured her casually. "Nat actually wanted to join us but got stuck on another assignment."

Cosmia shrugged nonchalantly while trying to mask her disappointment about not getting to see Nat. "If I follow orders properly, I'll have a chance to meet up with her at Stark Expo later on." She grimaced as the car jolted over a small rocky incline. "I just wish we didn't have to use a car for this journey…"

"No use complaining now," Coulson remarked confidently from the driver's seat as he shifted the car into park. He stepped out, followed closely by Barton and Cosmia. As they emerged from the vehicle, they couldn't help but notice the massive crater in the valley ahead. It was even larger than anything the Omnitrix had ever created, a fact that Cosmia found oddly comforting. The scene was bustling with curious locals attempting various tasks, some cheering while others laughed at their own failures. Coulson announced, "We found it."

Barton scoffed, "We don't even know what 'it' is yet." He struggled to make out any details of the mysterious object in the crater, the locals' constant movement making it difficult. He turned to Coulson and asked, "What's the ETA on trucks to set up a perimeter around this site?"

"Based on coordinates, at least ten minutes." Coulson checked his phone to confirm before adding, "In that time, we should clear them out." He walked closer to the edge for a better view. With a knowing smile towards Cosmia, he suggested, "Could you scare them out of this area? It's quicker than trying to reason with them."

Cosmia rolled her eyes but accepted the challenge smugly. "Pretty sure you just want to see how I deal with this. Don't blame me if local news catches me in action." The intelligent teenager carefully activated her Omnitrix and dialed in her chosen alien form. While XLR8 was fast enough for this task, she knew it wouldn't have the strength required to move trucks out of harm's way. Instead, she settled on another option and gently pressed down on the dial. With a flash of green light, she disappeared from sight.

Her body transformed and contorted, gradually growing larger than Coulson and Barton. Crimson scales emerged on her skin, and her mouth extended outwards, taking on an orange-yellow beak-like appearance. Her hands and feet turned into sharp claws, while her back sported a jetpack with retractable yellow wings, giving her a glider-like presence. Grey braces encircled her wrists and ankles, with the rest of her attire in a muted grey tone. The Omnitrix symbol materialized on her left shoulder, while the S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem appeared on her right.

As the luminescence faded to reveal her alien form, Barton struggled to suppress laughter, remarking with amusement, "Really? Astrodactyl?"

Cosmia narrowed her eyes at him defensively, the menacing expression accentuated by her current appearance, "Yeah? What's wrong with my choice?"

With his characteristic calm demeanor, Coulson interjected diplomatically as he held back a smile. "Appearance-wise, I'd say you'd successfully unnerve them." Cosmia glanced at him, still puzzled. "However," Coulson continued, "On the voice front... it sounds somewhat squeaky and not particularly intimidating."

Accepting their assessment with grace, Cosmia hung her head in a comical manner only seen when she transformed into one of her alien forms. She then shook herself out of it and extended her retractable wings. A soft green glow emanated from the jetpack as she studied the crater thoughtfully. "Well... you're right about that," she conceded before adding determinedly, "But I have an idea."

A burst of green energy erupted from the backpack, propelling her into the sky before she swooped down towards the enormous crater. Barton couldn't help but let out a low whistle as he watched her soar away, turning to Coulson without glancing at him, "Has she ever interacted with anyone other than agents while in her alien forms?"

Coulson, maintaining his stoic demeanor, replied, "No, this is actually a test to see if she can make herself appealing and trustworthy to the general public in case she needs to appear as other aliens in the future." He finally removed his sunglasses, a hint of a smile appearing on his face as he watched Cosmia fly off. "With Astrodactyl, anything can happen."

High above the crater, Cosmia hovered for a moment to take in the sight below. In the center of the massive hole, she saw what appeared to be a gigantic hammer resting on a small mound of undisturbed earth - untouched by the chaos that surrounded it. Intrigued, she observed as people tried desperately to lift the immovable hammer; not even a truck with a rope secured around it could budge it.

Among the crowd, it appeared as if some individuals were there to spectate. One of these onlookers caught her eye - a young woman with striking blonde hair, donning a white hoodie despite the sweltering heat. She wouldn't judge, though. The young woman was wearing casual clothes: jeans and sneakers, which accentuated her laid-back style. Another intriguing person was a man leaning on the edge, seemingly in his own world. He was engaged in what looked like a heated conversation with himself, betraying an air of irritation. Clad in a simple t-shirt and cargo pants, the man appeared to be dressed for comfort rather than fashion. Apart from these two fascinating characters, no one else in the area made a lasting impression on her.

Astrodactyl could not help but compare the scene to mythical challenges. "This is like some Excalibur-type stuff," she mused while observing for a while before diving headfirst into the crater. Her sudden arrival took the onlookers by surprise, and her powerful landing left them startled and confused. Casually looking up at them with an air of authority, she said, "I need all of you to evacuate this area. The government has been informed and will investigate this event shortly. However, if you don't mind indulging me first... may I have a go?"

As soon as Cosmia's distinctive voice reached their ears, the expressions of the locals transformed. A sense of relief washed over some faces, while others took on a guarded look. Slowly, the crowd started dispersing from the crater's edge, heading back to their homes. Among them, a few panicked individuals screamed and sprinted away, earning a disappointed sigh from Cosmia. But she had anticipated such reactions. The two she had noticed before stayed but seemed on guard but also curious as if wanting to witness how things would turn out.

However, one curious local moved closer to her and studied her carefully from head to toe. Grinning slyly, he spoke up, "So, you believe you can extract the hammer without breaking a sweat? Give it a go, dino."

"Well, actually I'm a dino alien," Cosmia asserted with poise. "And since the hammer appears to be of extraterrestrial origin too, I should be able to–" As she walked by the hammer and casually reached for its hilt mid-sentence, anticipating an easy maneuver. Much to her surprise and embarrassment, she stumbled back when it refused to budge. Uncontrollable laughter escaped from several onlookers as Cosmia gathered herself and brushed off her outfit with narrowed eyes at the unyielding object. "Fine… game on."

Adopting a determined stance in front of the hammer with her feet firmly planted on the ground and claws tightly gripping its hilt. Cosmia focused all her strength into pulling and lifting it—unusual exertion causing sweat to form as Astrodactyl activities usually consisted of calming experiences rather than laborious tasks.

"Come on! Show us your true power!"

"Yeah! Weren't dinos supposed to be mighty? Put your back into it!"

The locals who remained enthusiastically cheered and urged her to keep trying to lift the massive hammer. A cunning idea sparked in Astrodactyl's mind, causing her to smirk and address the onlookers. "Stand back," she warned.

The entertained group of locals heeded her words and stepped away as Cosmia firmly tightened both her clawed grips onto the hammer's sturdy handle. Her high-tech jetpack sprang to life, emitting a vivid green glow as she strained for take-off. Despite pouring all her energy and even hooking her taloned feet onto the unyielding hammer for extra leverage, it obstinately refused to budge. "I… got… this!" she grunted, undeterred.

Unexpectedly, she slipped and jetted backward into the crater wall with such force that it left a deep imprint of her body. A tad dazed from her unsuccessful endeavor, Cosmia sat up in bewilderment, dislodging debris from her head before shooting a sheepish glance at the stubbornly immobile hammer. "You win this round," she muttered.

"Thanks for the entertainment, alien dino," said the man who had approached her earlier, his tone cheerful as the rest of the locals applauded and began to disperse from the site. He reached out a friendly hand to help Cosmia stand up. "We'll keep quiet about your existence; you have our word." Studying his face closely, Cosmia was struck by his slightly more mature appearance compared to that of the others present—perhaps this enhanced his courage.

Their eyes connected and he offered a genuine grin before adding, "We'll head off now, but if you're ever in town, give me a shout—I owe you a drink."

"Sure…ummm?" Astrodactyl attempted a handshake with her clawed hand. Trying her best to relate to her newfound acquaintances, she mumbled, "Astrodactyl."

“You can call me Jeffery,” Jeffery shook her hand with a smile before walking away with a small wave as he left the crater to head back to his car. Cosmia perched on the edge of the crater as she watched the last of them leave, before looking to where Barton and Coulson still stood as if waiting, signaling for them to come.

"Hmm," Cosmia pondered thoughtfully, ensuring no one was nearby as she neared the hammer once more. The energy within her jetpack radiated brighter than ever, while energy whips emerged from her grey braces, wrapping around the hilt. In her alien form, she smirked at the hammer and declared, "Just one more try with this form."

Launching into the air, Cosmia found herself halted as the stubborn hammer remained unmoved. The whip clung tightly to its hilt while the ground beneath her scorched from her jetpack's energy discharge. She released a screech-like squawk as a beam of energy erupted from both her mouth and jetpack, triggering a small explosion that sent dust and sand flying in all directions. Cosmia was flung from the crater, landing clumsily on the ground just outside it.

Cosmia groaned as the Omnitrix beeped and flashed red. Surrounded by light, she returned to her human form—albeit dust- and sand-covered. As she sat up slowly, SHIELD trucks began to arrive nearby. Hearing footsteps approaching, she mumbled while standing up and brushing off the dust, "I can see why the locals were interested... definitely a fun challenge trying to move it..."

With a suppressed chuckle at Cosmia's disheveled state, Barton remarked, "And yet, not even one of your alien forms could make it budge, huh?" He crouched beside the crater where Cosmia's blast had smoothed out the edges—perfect for setting up their machinery. "I didn't know you could shoot that same energy from your mouth though?"

"Neither did I. Azmuth only teaches me the basics; I have to learn everything else on the go... but that mouth beam did have one side effect," Cosmia explained slowly before her stomach growled loudly. Flustered and embarrassed, she admitted, "...that."

Coulson gave a small, satisfied smile as he spoke, "We can arrange for Barton to drop you off in town for a meal since your assistance won't be required until nightfall. Your idea inspired me, you know." He tossed the car keys to Barton with an air of authority before turning his gaze to the nearby hammer and parked trucks. "We'll test if any of your extraterrestrial friends can lift this, although Astrodactyl already made its attempt."

Barton deftly caught the keys, smirking ever so slightly as he suggested, "Maybe we should purchase some groceries, too. I have a feeling she'll work up quite an appetite with each transformation." He casually sauntered towards the car, acknowledging the other agents milling about. "Come on, Agent Ten. Let's get moving."

Cosmia followed Barton with mixed feelings - excitement and apprehension coloring her voice as she commented astutely, "Right...well, I'm not exactly eager for tonight's events."

Nearby on a dirt mound someone ducked out of sight and scurried away after witnessing enough, murmuring under their breath, “If they’re here…i think Foster’s research is in trouble.”

Cosmia and Barton shared a cozy silence while he drove them to the nearest town for her to grab lunch and for him to fetch groceries, anticipating she would become hungry later from all the shape-shifting. Barton overheard Cosmia softly contemplating which form she'd attempt first, and he let out a quiet sigh as they entered the quaint town.

He didn't drive far before pulling over to the sidewalk and handing Cosmia a wallet, leaving her puzzled. As Barton struck his forehead against the steering wheel in mild frustration, he looked at her intently and said, "Listen, kid. Just for one hour, try being an ordinary teenager. Roam around town, chat with people your age, even develop a crush if you like. I have my own kids at home and I know you've been wanting to enjoy your life without being tied down by grown-up tasks." He attempted to convey his deeper thoughts as Cosmia nodded thoughtfully. "I'm not alone in believing this – so just for an hour, be a carefree kid."

"Okay…I'll give it a shot," she murmured, causing a small smile to finally appear on Barton's face. Exiting the car and closing the door behind her, Cosmia waved goodbye as he drove off to shop for groceries and possibly return them to base. She continued standing motionless even after he vanished around the corner before asking herself quietly, "…how do I even do that?"

"Don't just stand there looking all shady," a voice replied to Cosmia's hushed inquiry, before she suddenly felt an unknown force pulling her into a nearby alley. As she hastily reached for her Omnitrix, its activation was unexpectedly halted, and Cosmia realized it was due to a web enshrouding her hand. "Hey, chill out! I'm not here for a fight," the voice assured her.

Cosmia lifted her gaze, tracing the intricate web back to its source - a gadget fastened around a young girl's wrist. The same girl she'd noticed earlier near the crater. The webs looked incredibly familiar, likely from YouTube videos she'd seen before. "Are you... Spider-Woman?" Cosmia inquired with a slight hint of excitement and curiosity in her voice.

"Heh, didn't think you'd recognize me just from a few YouTube videos," She replied with a confident smile, clearly impressed by Cosmia's keen eye for details. With swift precision, se activated a dissolving substance that quickly dissolved the webs, freeing Cosmia's hand from its sticky hold. "Like this though, you can call me Gwen... Gwen Stacy."