Agent Ten

The silence that enveloped the two was thick, punctuated only by the noises of passing cars and distant conversations. Despite being in a small town, there was no indication that anyone would interfere with their current situation. Cosmia tried to process how Spider-Woman, or Gwen as she had just revealed, had casually disclosed her true identity even though this was their first meeting. She couldn't help but flinch slightly at the mention of Gwen's name.

Noticing the reaction, Gwen raised an eyebrow and appeared slightly irritated as she approached Cosmia, her gaze unwavering. "What, you got a problem with my name?"

"N-No!" Cosmia's eyes widened as she attempted to explain, but worried that her hasty response might worsen the situation – a mistake she had made before. She sighed regretfully while avoiding eye contact with Gwen. "It's just... I knew a different Gwen... and there was an accident…"

"No need to explain," Gwen said, raising her hand to interrupt Cosmia. "I might have overreacted a bit. You're the first person I've told my real name to." She could see that Cosmia was socially awkward – something she'd gleaned from eavesdropping on a conversation Cosmia had earlier with an agent after bugging their car. Glancing briefly at the wrist device Cosmia wore, Gwen decided to save that topic for later. "There's a small arcade in this town. Care to play some games?"

"Huh? But don't you," Cosmia began, gesturing to the Omnitrix on her wrist under the assumption that it would be interrogated rather than having fun at an ...arcade?

"Hmm, perhaps later. Right now, it appears that you need assistance in trying to fit in as a teenager, which isn't surprising considering your employer," Gwen said nonchalantly, flicking her blond hair as she turned to leave. She gestured for Cosmia to follow her. After a few paces, Gwen could hear Cosmia's footsteps falling into step behind her. "So, your dad's an agent or something?"

Cosmia responded flatly, "That wasn't my dad..." She had grown tired of correcting people about their assumptions regarding the relationship between her and the other Shield agents. While Coulson, Barton, and Azmuth acted as father figures to her, she didn't want Gwen to assume the same thing. Gwen glanced back with an amused smirk on her face, hands stuffed into her pockets. Cosmia sighed and continued, "Listen, can we discuss this once we arrive at the arcade? Whatever that is..."

Gwen seemed taken aback by this revelation and momentarily lost her footing in surprise. Cosmia observed her anxiously as Gwen quickly recovered her balance. "It's much more critical than I imagined," Gwen declared dramatically, regaining her confident demeanor. "We need to get to the arcade as soon as possible."

Cosmia furrowed her brow skeptically but continued following Gwen. She couldn't help but wonder aloud, "Is it actually that crucial?" Her curiosity piqued, but there was one pressing question on Cosmia's mind she wanted answered first: "Did you bug our car back at the site or just now to listen in on our conversation?"

Gwen confessed openly while walking backward effortlessly: "I planted it back at the site; I didn't expect you two to be so quiet. I couldn't even decipher your mumbled words." She kicked a discarded soda can with precision into a nearby trash bin, the grin on her face turning sheepish. "I'm still surprised the bug worked, considering I made it myself. I bet you get all sorts of advanced gadgets for free."

“It’s cool you make your own stuff, and no they don’t let me use any of that…and this doesn’t count cause I didn’t get it from Shield,” Cosmia was impressed a little as she lifted the Omnitrix to her, only giving a vague response of how she gotten it. Gwen instantly figured out what she was doing as she gave a smirk and a glare without heat, Cosmia lowered her arm and pulled the sleeve of her shirt over it to hide it, “So guessing you saw me change from Astrodactyl back to human then?”

"Absolutely, but as I mentioned before, let's save those specifics for later, after the arcade," Gwen insisted with a gleeful grin, which only grew wider when she heard Cosmia's stomach rumble audibly, making Cosmia blush in embarrassment. Gwen chuckled softly while they stepped out onto the bustling sidewalk from the alleyway, skillfully weaving through a small group of pedestrians. Both girls understood the importance of keeping their conversation under wraps, so no eavesdroppers could uncover their hidden secrets. "How about we grab a smoothie and a donut first?" suggested Gwen.

"I've... never had either," Cosmia confessed hesitantly, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She had devoted herself entirely to becoming an exceptional agent, leaving little room for typical teenage experiences. And even before embarking  to be an agent, such trivial things somehow never seemed important enough. Mustering the courage to ask in a slightly anxious tone, she looked at Gwen with curiosity, "D-Do you have any flavors you recommend?"

Gwen shook her head playfully in disbelief and teased, "You're so well-versed in your job that there's hardly any room left in that brain of yours for anything else, huh?" She playfully poked Cosmia on her forehead with a finger, eliciting a slight blush from the young agent who theatrically pretended to be knocked backward by the poke. Raising an eyebrow curiously, Gwen inquired, "Undercover classes?"

Cosmia sighed but quickly confirmed with a small smile on her face, "Yeah..."

Gwen guided Cosmia to Donut Land, a quaint little shop she'd been visiting since she moved to the area. Although it couldn't hold a candle to a particular donut place she knew in New York, it was the ideal spot for Cosmia to sample donuts for the first time. They ordered simple vanilla smoothies, which Gwen thought would be a good introduction to Cosmia's developing palate. Settling at a table, Cosmia couldn't help but feel nervous as Gwen observed her intently, awaiting her decision between strawberry and chocolate icing-covered donuts.

The intensity of the stare caught the attention of other patrons, and they too began to watch Cosmia's choice with curiosity. Overwhelmed by their gaze, she impulsively grabbed both donuts and took simultaneous bites, much to everyone's surprise. The crowd soon dispersed with chuckles as they shifted their focus back to their own lives. To be honest, Cosmia found both flavors delightful, earning her Gwen's approval since she could never decide either.

The arcade next door was their designated stop after the sweet indulgence. Gwen scanned the room for someone specific but came up empty-handed. "Huh… he's not here," she commented while looking at the vacant counter where a sign indicated that the employee was out to lunch for an hour. Being security-conscious and fostering goodwill among residents, he always left the machines running during his absence.

Gwen led a curious Cosmia towards the back of the arcade while saying, "Come on, there's this one game I want to play - it's a fighting game. I know it seems pointless given who we are, but it's way better than actually fighting each other and..." Her excitement was suddenly deflated when they reached their destination: an out-of-order sign adorned the desired arcade machine and informed them that repairs might take weeks.

With audible frustration and disappointment in her sigh, Gwen turned to Cosmia and started, "Well, so much for that plan... What are you doing?"

Cosmia meticulously rolled up her sleeve, revealing the advanced device on her wrist. She began rotating the dial with great precision, observing the morphing silhouettes on its compact screen. Noticing Gwen's puzzled look, Cosmia casually explained, "I have a strategy to fix this situation."

Gwen, a bit skeptical, inquired, "If that's the same device you used to transform into that dinosaur form earlier, I seriously doubt it'll be of much help. It stands out like a lone tree in a desert." She raised an eyebrow as Cosmia continued fine-tuning it, stopping only when she gave a small but knowing smirk.

With a slightly smug tone, Cosmia retorted, "Who ever said that's all I could do? Certainly not me." Her comment was reminiscent of something Azmuth might have said. Cosmia pressed down the face-plate of the Omnitrix with confidence.

Almost instantly, she was enveloped in a brilliant green light that forced even Gwen to momentarily shield her eyes. As the luminescence dissipated, Gwen warily looked back to where Cosmia had been standing before—only to see nothing but empty space. Alarmed yet bewildered, Gwen questioned aloud, "She didn't just vaporize herself...did she?"

“Inconceivable! Such an outcome would undoubtedly lead to my transformation into something quite undesirable,” replied a shrill voice in response to Gwen's query. Gwen traced the source of the voice, looking down and discovering a diminutive gray frog-like humanoid sporting a watch symbol on her back and a shield emblem on her chest. “While I'm in this form, please address me as Grey Matter.”

Gwen's eyes widened, clearly taken aback. “Wow, I didn't see that coming. I thought you could only morph into...uh,” she paused, racking her brain for the answer. Finally, it clicked, and she snapped her fingers in revelation while offering an outstretched hand for Grey Matter to jump onto, lifting her up level with her face. “Astrodactyl – that's it! So, Grey Matter, how many different forms can you actually assume?”

The young-looking creature frowned slightly, displaying an intellect beyond her apparent years. “As of now...I must regrettably inform you that the precise number of forms is classified due to the nature of my work. However, you are now aware of two...which I intentionally demonstrated to you,” She paused briefly and then continued with a touch of apprehension in her voice, “I may not have thoroughly considered the implications beforehand, but having done so now, I must ask for your promise not to divulge this information to anyone else.” Despite trying to sound authoritative and serious, Grey Matter's pint-sized stature rendered her more amusing than intimidating. Nonetheless, Gwen nodded in agreement.

“Now then," Grey Matter said with the utmost efficiency "would you kindly place me atop the arcade machine? It is crucial that I commence working on the internal circuitry in order to address any malfunctions.”

Gwen chuckled as she complied with Grey Matter's request, "Well, I can clearly see what this unique form is tailored for."

Grey Matter swiftly landed atop the gleaming arcade machine, efficiently opening both control and screen panels to dive into the inner circuitry. A quiet atmosphere lingered since most normal teenagers attend school at this hour, leaving them undisturbed within the retro-style arcade. As Gwen observed the progress, she leaned nonchalantly against a neighboring arcade machine, pondering for a moment before asking casually, "So, since you mentioned transforming earlier, why don't we start quizzing one another now?"

"As long as our questions focus on present events, gadgets, or similar topics. Anything related to our pasts is off-limits because we're practically strangers since we only just met today. By the way, I appreciate your help in trying to blend in as a seemingly average teenager," Grey Matter replied with a touch of teen-like tone but slightly muffled as they climbed inside the machine. The sound of sparks filled the air while they worked. "I'll go first. How do your web shooters work?"

Gwen chuckled and shook her head at the inquiry, which she perceived as anything but simple. Glancing down at her web shooters while replying, "I won't reveal how I came up with these devices—you'll probably figure that out eventually—but I concocted the webbing during chemistry class if you can believe it. Always got a good supply ready for whatever comes my way. Now it's my turn... though I'm guessing I don't even need to ask?"

"Alright, I'll humor you. Even if I revealed this secret to you, and you ended up divulging it to others, the vast majority would likely dismiss it as mere fantasy or the ramblings of conspiracy theorists," Grey Matter elucidated, ensuring she addressed any potential offense Gwen might take before continuing. Gwen, however, seemed unlikely to react negatively in the first place. Grey Matter extricated herself from the intricate inner workings of the machine and secured one of its panels. "To put it in more concise terms, the device is known as the Omnitrix, which grants me the ability to metamorphose into a plethora of alien beings hailing from an alternate universe."

Gwen chuckled and shook her head in a spunky manner. "Not exactly a 'simple' explanation, but considering the headache I have from trying to understand it all, I believe you," she retorted, keeping an eye on Grey Matter as she closed another panel. With that done, the machine suddenly sprang into action – its screen flickering on and waiting for further instructions. "How about we multitask? We play a game while continuing our conversation?"

Grey Matter's eyes sparkled with excitement at Gwen's suggestion - a sign of her hyper-intelligent nature influencing her teenage demeanor. "Challenge accepted," Grey Matter responded enthusiastically.

There was just one problem.

"Too...rapid," Grey Matter exclaimed, her breathing heavy as she furiously slammed her petite feet down on the oversized buttons behind her while using all of her body weight to manipulate the gigantic joystick. She momentarily forgot that she wasn't presently in a form suitable for playing human-sized arcade games. Hearing the impressive speed at which Gwen, with her nimble fingers, was mashing buttons and handily defeating her, Grey Matter declared, "I demand a rematch when I return to my normal state!"

"Uh, after this game, I'll probably be bored and ready to move on," Gwen casually remarked with a cheeky grin, amused by Grey Matter's struggles. Observing the Omnitrix symbol on Grey Matter's back flashing red as she hastily retreated, Gwen magnanimously offered, "You know what, you can take this round."

"Victory is mine! I am the supreme champion! I-", Grey Matter boasted with her hyper-intellectual vocabulary. Her speech was cut short as a veil of red light swooped over her, transforming her back into Cosmia - albeit precariously balanced atop the arcade machine's controls. "I should have been paying attention..."

With wide eyes and a frantic squeak, Cosmia lost her balance and tumbled off the machine. Despite being an agent trained for various situations, even she could be caught off guard. However, instead of hitting the ground painfully, she heard a grunt and landed on something soft - Gwen's lap. Quickly realizing that Gwen had expertly slid over to catch her in a heroic maneuver, Cosmia blurted out with an emotional mix of gratitude and embarrassment, "Um... can we just move on to asking each other more questions and pretend this never happened? Sounds good? Great!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Directly opposite the bustling arcade, a quaint coffee shop had just closed for the day after its final patron, a mysterious man who had arrived from the crater site, had been served. He appeared immersed in his emails on the laptop placed before him, but his primary focus was on the events unfolding within the arcade. Casually, he took a sip of his steaming coffee.

His gruff companion, known for his keen observation skills, spoke up. "What are you waiting for? They're isolated and vulnerable. You should capitalize on this opportunity and seize that device." He paused briefly before continuing, "It would significantly ease your mission, despite..."

The first man interjected curtly and emphatically, his annoyance barely contained. "No. I will not bring harm upon teenagers – that's beyond even my threshold." Exhaling a frustrated sigh, he set down his cup and switched laptop tabs to display a photograph he'd captured of the peculiar hammer. "Moreover," he continued with an edge to his voice, "you were insistent on waiting for some reason. Care to explain?"

His companion replied cryptically as the wind picked up slightly, "All will become clear in due time."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Cosmia and Gwen continued to play arcade games they answered each others questions; from Cosmia she asked how long Gwen had her powers, how she got them, and what it was like being a hero, while Gwen asked Cosmia how it was like an Agent of Shield, how she knew the aliens she transformed into were from another dimension, and how it felt when transforming.

Gwen also asked things just about likes and dislikes to gague how much Cosmia actually knew about being a normal teenager, while making it also like an incentive for Cosmia to ask those same questions to Gwen. Which worked a little bit and it had made Cosmia happy a little.

The next question wasn’t about anything they talked about before though as Cosmia asked, “So, what got you interested in the hammer at the crater?”

“Well…” Gwen trailed off as she didn’t know whether to answer the question or not, but had a small idea as she smiled, “How about this? We tell each other what we know?”

“I…can do that,” Cosmia gave it some thought, if she could learn some info that no one at Sheild ot Azmuth knew, she’d feel like an actual proper agent doing field work that isn’t just hanging back on guard duty.

“Good, but for me it’s more of a show,” Gwen smiled as a message popped up on her phone, quickly responding to it before facing her, “And I can do that while we have a proper lunch, with some friends of mine. And they don’t know about me, so don’t mentioning anything.

"Same to you," Cosmia replied thoughtfully, trailing just slightly behind Gwen as they left the bustling Arcade together. She was unsure of their destination and couldn't help but ask, "Where are we going?"

"We're heading to Isabella's Diner to meet up with the people I'm interning with – I'm not the only one, but hey, they're all lovely," Gwen responded cheerfully, expertly navigating through the busy crowd while guiding Cosmia. "And also… someone we met last night… Look over there!"

Gwen's sentence trailed off as she excitedly waved at a group of people waiting outside the diner. Upon spotting her, they paused before entering. Gwen firmly grasped Cosmia's arm and pulled her along, causing Cosmia to nearly trip over her own feet. Thankfully, Gwen released her once they stood before the friendly group. "We've arrived! Meet Cosmia," she continued with a wide grin. "Cosmia, this is Jane Foster."

Jane Foster appeared to be in her late twenties, with long chestnut hair that flowed elegantly over her shoulders. Her expressive eyes were a stunning shade of brown, which harmonized well with her casual outfit consisting of blue jeans, polished boots, a black jacket with an outturned brown collar resembling leather, and an elegant white scarf wrapped around her neck.

"Erik Selvig," Gwen continued.

With silver strands decorating his temples and contrasting with the remaining brown locks on his receding hairline, Erik Selvig seemed to be in his mid-fifties. His eyes held a hint of blue – perhaps due to sunlight – and he wore jeans, boots, a warm brown coat over a blue button-up shirt as well as a matching brown scarf casually draped around his neck.

"Darcy," Gwen gestured.

Darcy looked to be in her early twenties and sported long dark brown hair with gentle curls at the ends. A shoulder bag rested at her side, and her glasses partly hid her eye color. Clutching her jacket in her arms, Darcy wore a bold red shirt and jeans as part of her stylish outfit.

"And...could you remind me of your name?" Gwen playfully questioned, trying to elicit a particular response for Cosmia to witness.

"I am Thor, son of Odin! I come from the realms of Asgard!" Thor boomed with his iconic laughter, thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to introduce himself once more. Cosmia's eyes widened as she pondered just how intoxicated this man could be. Yet, she had to concede that while he might not be the real Thor, there was an uncanny resemblance. His golden locks flowed from both head and beard; his piercing blue eyes carried an air of confidence and pride; and his powerful, muscular frame stood tall. Despite all this, his attire was that of a common citizen.

"Please, please tell me you're at least marginally normal, compared to him?" Erik implored with a note of desperation in his voice as he gazed at Cosmia. The other two had similar expressions but tried to hide them, while 'Thor' appeared utterly baffled by the situation.

"Well, if it's any consolation, I was born on Earth," Cosmia quipped with a hint of sarcasm, finding that spending time with Gwen helped her feel more at ease and sociable. Her comment succeeded in making them all smile. However, right after that, her stomach let out an embarrassingly loud growl, prompting her to sigh and say, "Really? Can't my stomach wait just five more minutes?"

Gwen chuckled and shook her head. "Considering how much I heard it rumbling in the arcade, I'd say no."

Cosmia was surprised when she felt a large hand on her shoulder and heard 'Thor' bellow with laughter. "Ah! Your mortal form also craves sustenance! Come, let us enjoy a banquet together!" With that proclamation, he eagerly led her towards the door of the diner.

Darcy grumbled under her breath as she hastened to follow them with the others trailing close behind. "Just great. Now we have to rescue another person from his clutches."

Jane lingered for a moment to chat with Gwen. "So that's where you went after we searched for him? She seems like a nice girl."

Gwen replied warmly without divulging details about their private conversation: "She is. It's just that she's socially awkward and introverted, so this is quite a stretch for her comfort zone. But it's good for her to get acclimated to these kinds of situations." Holding the door open, Gwen allowed Jane to enter before following suit herself. "Besides, I figured it'd be entertaining to see how she reacts to his antics."

Jane defended her newfound friend, acknowledging his quirks but admiring his kindness: "Well, he may be delusional, but he's also a nice guy at heart."

In the cozy interior of the restaurant, they had been granted permission to join two tables, ensuring ample space for everyone to sit together. Positioned at one end was Thor, while Cosmia sat at the other. Erik and Darcy occupied seats to the left of the assembly, with Jane and Gwen on the right side. Although it appeared that only Cosmia and Thor were hungry, as the rest settled for drinks. Among them, Thor seemed to be ravenous; he devoured his meal efficiently and effortlessly as if barely taking a bite.

Cosmia peered at her plate, having finished only half of her meal. She was already feeling full and found it somewhat disconcerting to witness Thor's peculiar eating behaviors. The others seemed to do their best to disregard it. Reluctantly deciding she'd had enough, Cosmia slid her plate across the table to Thor, saying softly, "Here… I'm not that hungry."

"Thank you, young Cosmia," Thor replied cheerfully, accepting her food offering and immediately tucking in.

Jane shivered slightly as she drew out a notepad, scribbling notes while observing Thor. "How did you get inside that cloud?"

Darcy's curiosity piqued as well; she gazed at him in disbelief before asking, "Also, how can you eat an entire box of Pop-Tarts and still be hungry?" But he was preoccupied with eating rather than responding to their inquiries.

Unable to resist joining in on the interrogation, Cosmia chimed in with her question. Perhaps this is what Gwen had meant when she advised showing who she was working with instead of just telling them, "Gwen mentioned you're an Astrophysicist, so why were you chasing a cloud?"

Jane's eyes lit up with excitement as she pivoted towards Cosmia's direction. Meanwhile, Erik and Darcy merely exchanged knowing looks— one sighing, the other grinning. "Actually, the atmospheric disturbances are related to my research and were producing a subtle aurora... that is, until last night when it intensified beyond anything we'd seen before," Jane elaborated with enthusiasm.

'So SHIELD didn't catch on until Azmuth mentioned it last night,' Cosmia thought quietly, offering a nod of agreement as her face lit up with enthusiasm. Gwen observed her friend's excitement and initially assumed she was demonstrating her acting skills, but quickly realized that Cosmia was genuinely thrilled to be learning.

"At first, the phenomenon seemed like an ordinary tornado within the storm; however, it possessed an immense amount of energy and eventually caused something to crash onto the ground," Jane elaborated, wincing slightly as 'Thor' let out a loud burp nearby. She gestured towards him and continued, "...and he was there during the incident, so we accidentally collided with him."

"Later on, Darcy had to tase him. We took him to the hospital, but he ended up wandering off. We found him again and brought him here," Erik interjected while glancing at Jane as she shyly looked away. "That brings us up to speed on the current situation."

Cosmia attentively listened to their explanations as she attempted to take a sip of her drink before inadvertently spitting it out, thankfully catching it with a tissue to avoid making a mess. Coughing slightly, she asked, "Did Gwen inform you about what was discovered at the second crash site?"

"Isn't it just a satellite? That's all we've heard so far," Darcy replied nonchalantly.

Gwen chimed in, "Unless that satellite is shaped like an indestructible hammer that no one can lift–" However, her words were interrupted by 'Thor' slamming his cup on the ground with a thunderous crash, startling everyone present.

"That beverage was quite refreshing. As for the hammer you speak of, its name is Mjolnir," 'Thor' declared before standing up and striding towards the exit. His abrupt departure left them all speechless as Jane, Erik, and Darcy hastened to follow him.

Although Cosmia wasn't particularly adept at social interactions, she managed to quickly pull out money to pay for her meal, leaving it on the table before hurrying out of the diner with Gwen. She observed the others further down the street, trailing behind a man they believed was 'Thor'. Breathing slightly heavily, she glanced at Gwen and asked, "Is that why you came here?"

Gwen, with her signature style and confidence, responded, "I detected the same strange readings from my hideout back in New York. I figured it's better to be safe than sorry, so I came to check things out." She crossed her arms and gazed at the group in the distance, letting out a small sigh. "Look, they might not realize it yet, but we both know this can't just be a coincidence, right? A guy claiming to be Thor and a hammer that's supposedly wielded by Thor? I'm just puzzled about how the leg connects to all this…"

Cosmia pondered aloud: "If that really is Thor, I wonder what happened to his powers… Although he could probably still pack quite a punch even without them…" Suddenly confused, she tilted her head as she looked at Gwen and questioned, "Leg?"

"There was also this bizarre mechanical leg at the location where we discovered him. I could show you..." Gwen abruptly halted her words as she turned the corner, her face betraying a mixture of surprise and annoyance. Cosmia followed suit and seemed to freeze up when she saw familiar vans encircling a building at the street's end. "Or, it appears S.H.I.E.L.D. is just going to snatch all the data. Did you kn— Okay, from the look on your face, you weren't aware either."

"All I was instructed to do is behave like a regular teenager for an hour and grab a bite to eat," Cosmia mumbled before hastily sprinting down the sidewalk. She accidentally collided with pedestrians during her escape but quickly apologized before continuing her flight, leaving Gwen trailing behind. Focused entirely on Cosmia, Gwen effortlessly evaded passersby while listening intently. "...And since my S.H.I.E.L.D. shirt isn't exactly concealed, I'm guessing your friends won't be thrilled—"

Cosmia's sudden halt and retraction were due solely to the rapid skidding car that zipped past her face. She blinked her wide eyes several times to regain composure before realizing she had nearly careened into traffic without even looking both ways. Turning back, she opened her mouth to speak: "Gw—"

"Idiot," Gwen interrupted, flicking Cosmia's forehead lightly with a wry grin, causing her to yelp in pain and rub the reddening skin while releasing her grip on her shirt collar. "I'll clarify matters with them and assure them you were completely oblivious, okay? Just avoid becoming roadkill in the meantime."

"Okay..." Cosmia agreed reluctantly as she eyed the building across the street where Coulson stood waiting for her, undoubtedly having observed the recent events unfold. After thoroughly checking both sides of the road once more, she crossed with Gwen beside her, trying to feign irritation. "What's the plan here? Taking—"

"It was Fury's idea, not mine," Coulson quickly explained, as Cosmia sighed heavily and seemed to deflate at his admission. He and the others were well aware that she would have preferred them to ask permission to borrow items from others, rather than resorting to theft. However, Fury's involvement often overruled that preference. Coulson apologized, "Sorry, kid."

Gwen quietly observed, "He really does exude a fatherly vibe..." She noticed how Cosmia reacted around him – resigned and defeated. Speaking up, she caught Coulson's attention, crossing her arms over her chest defiantly, "What now? Are you going to tell her to wait in the car while you handle things?"

Coulson managed a smile at Gwen's words, "You heard her, Cosmia." Confused and indignant about being treated like a child, Cosmia shot Gwen a betrayed glance; meanwhile, Gwen sheepishly grinned back. Coulson's warm chuckle eased the tension slightly, "She can probably return to base faster than that. I assume you were present when she transformed? She must have forgotten we can detect when she activates it."

"Yeah," Gwen hesitantly nodded, relieved that he didn't mention anything about surveillance cameras or other invasive measures. Perhaps they truly respected her privacy, aside from tracking the Omnitrix. That suggested they weren't aware of her Spider-Woman superhero identity – and she intended to keep it that way. "Not sure how Grey Matter will help her get home though?"

Cosmia joined in with a knowing smirk, "Oh, I have more forms than just Grey Matter." She played along with Gwen's evasive responses and confidently added, "I'll find my way back." Giving Gwen a genuine moment of camaraderie between brilliant teenagers, Cosmia handed her phone to Gwen and asked for her number so they could keep in touch.

"Certainly," Gwen responded with a warm smile, quickly typing her phone number and tossing the device back to Cosmia. Their moment was interrupted by a crash nearby, causing Gwen to march over to some agents, reprimanding them firmly, "Be careful with that!"

Coulson patiently waited until Gwen moved out of earshot. Then, he leaned closer to Cosmia, and in a hushed tone, he said, "I thought Barton was joking about developing a crush?"

Immediately, Cosmia's face turned a bright shade of red as she blushed intensely. She hurriedly scampered out the back door, trying to avoid further embarrassment. As she did so, a sudden and brilliant flash of green light illuminated the area for a fleeting moment. It was quickly followed by an echoing sonic boom, as a trail of dust rapidly extended into the vast desert landscape beyond.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and night blanketed the sky with stars, Cosmia savored the rare spectacle. Yet this moment of celestial wonder was short-lived as clouds obscured her view, just as she had heard earlier that day – a common occurrence in her research with Shield.

Reclined on a cot in her designated building at the crash site, Cosmia found comfort in the solitude of her own space. Thanks to Azmuth's ingenuity and alien DNA technology, her cube-shaped room could shrink and grow with the touch of a button for easy transportation. Its sliding doors adorned with the Omnitrix symbol affirmed its uniqueness.

The room contained all her essentials: a versatile cot that could transform into a proper bed, a modest armory that held her weapons and uniform from her time as a Shield agent, and a console with a large screen. This enabled her to communicate with Azmuth and learn about the aliens in the watch while also sharing insights into his investigations.

A stocked fridge compensated for Cosmia's lack of culinary skills – so disastrous that even Azmuth hesitated to step foot near it. She had already finished dinner, which sat on an empty plate nearby, but stashed extra snacks for the long night ahead. As she attempted to move the mysterious hammer she had dubbed Mjolnir, she pondered its connection to Norse mythology based on what she had learned in town.

The distinct feature within the cube was the peculiar leg Gwen had found. Its front portion was massive and bulky, with a reddish-orange hue on both lateral sides. In contrast, the rear side near the top held a metallic joint, seemingly torn or ripped away from whatever it was attached to. Considering its enormous size, Cosmia secretly hoped she wouldn't cross paths with its owner.

Persuading others to let her keep the leg inside her cube took quite an effort. The only incentive she could think of was getting Azmuth to examine it – a prospect that'd have to wait since Azmuth was currently in an area he dubbed the 'White Noise Zone', cutting off communication for a few days before it passed. Meanwhile, she couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that he might already know something about it.

The hammer's had tilted slighly at some point that day piqued her curiosity but provided no answers. Grey Matter, one of her earlier transformations, had been unsuccessful in moving Mjolnir as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"This is utterly humiliating..." Grey Matter mumbled to herself, feeling embarrassed after attempting to push the massive object from its tiny, rocky platform. Despite her efforts, it remained unmovable. In a moment of determination, she jumped onto the hilt in an attempt to lift it up but ended up tripping and getting her foot caught in a strap meant for a wrist, leaving her hanging helplessly, "Aren't you going to assist me?..."

"You're aware that no one would be satisfied if I didn't capture this moment on camera," Barton crouched down with a mischievous grin as he recorded the struggling alien. He playfully poked her, not enough to inflict pain but enough to make her swing back and forth slightly, "And I'm confident that you're enjoying this predicament since I can envision numerous ways for you to escape."

Grey Matter shot him a furious glare, "Well I apologize; all the blood is rushing to my head which is affecting my ability to think clearly."

"We could also share this with your new friend -" Barton suggested, but didn't get to finish his sentence. Grey Matter's panic intensified and she frantically swung back and forth until she finally slipped off the strap and landed face-first against the cold, unforgiving ground.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A thunderous rumble echoed through the sky, accompanied by bright lightning flashes. The interference from the hammer disrupted Shield technology systems in the vicinity, but Cosmia's cube remained unaffected. Azmuth would probably have taken offense if his creation could be impacted by a mere storm. Just then, Cosmia noticed a proximity alert on her console and swiftly moved to her chair to investigate the anomaly.

With mild annoyance, Cosmia muttered, "If it turns out to be some kind of rodent..." Zooming in with a security camera, she observed a damaged fence with a part ripped off as though something had crawled through it. Her curiosity piqued as she realized it wasn't a rodent after all. Grabbing the radio on her desk, she requested: "Can someone check the west side fence? I've got a proximity alert."

Another agent promptly acknowledged and relayed her message: "Delancy, Jackson, you know what to do – West Side Perimeter!" Briefly switching to a secure line, he asked, "We just got the info too; did you manage to see anything?"

"Unfortunately not," Cosmia sighed," I wasn't quick enough." Communications returned to the main channel as the situation escalated. "Delancy, Jackson, report! Can someone check on them?"

Moments later, an agent's voice crackled across the radio with urgency: "Agents down! We've got a perimeter breach!"

Alarms blared as base personnel scrambled into action in search of the trespasser who artfully evaded cameras by disguising their face and utilizing the heavy rain that obscured visibility. The anxious Cosmia toyed with reaching for her Omnitrix but held back until orders could be given.

Cosmia quickly spotted someone entering the plastic tunnels and confirmed that other agents had seen him too when they gave chase. Agent Coulson's voice sounded across the radio waves: "We need someone up high with a gun, or a bow."

"I've got this," Barton confidently affirmed. Meanwhile, Cosmia, with her innate tech-savvy skills, seamlessly switched the screen's camera focus. One displayed the interior scene, revealing 'Thor' as the intruder - not that shocking, considering his reckless demeanor when they first met. He was effortlessly overpowering agents sent to challenge him. The other camera gave them a view of the crane, initially intended for lifting structures but now serving as Barton's sniper perch. "Agent Ten, mind giving me a boost?"

"No problem," Cosmia replied, her fingers nimbly typing commands into the console. The crane activated and hoisted Barton higher, providing him with an advantageous position to observe Thor's rampage. Down below, Thor continued to dispatch agents as if they were mere trainees - an embarrassing sight to behold.

"Barton, I need an update," Coulson demanded from his post inside the command building, unable to fully see what was transpiring other than knowing that the intruder had infiltrated deep into the facility.

"Do you want me to buy us some time, sir?" Barton inquired from his elevated position, sharply eyeing Thor's shadow weaving through the tunnels below with his arrow primed and ready for action. Rain pelted his face, but he couldn't help smirking at the chaotic scene. "Or should I just wait for you to send more agents for him to knock around?"

"Say whatever you like; he's embarrassing our team right now," Cosmia interjected with a slight chuckle. However, her restless nature made her yearn for a more active role in the operation.

"Well then, Agent Ten," Coulson dryly suggested in his familiar manner and even though she couldn't see him, Cosmia could practically feel his smirk through the radio transmission. "Why don't you change that? You're up."

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Gasping for air, Thor leaned forward and placed his hands on his knees, taking a brief respite after vanquishing the final guard. Numerous adversaries had swarmed him, but for now, a moment of peace prevailed. Sweat-soaked clothes clung to his muscular frame as he straightened up and peered ahead, spotting the end of the tunnel that led into the peculiar structure housing his mighty hammer at its core.

With Mjolnir in sight, Thor strode purposefully forward, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. Acquiring his weapon meant not only an easy escape but also the destruction of the facility and the recovery of Miss Jane's research. However, these thoughts were swiftly interrupted when a sudden blue streak collided with him, forcefully knocking him onto his back with an agonized groan – pain radiating throughout his body.

"Stay down; I'd prefer not to harm you," declared XLR8 assertively, her gaze fixed on Thor while her tail flicked back and forth in anticipation of further combat. Her fists clenched tightly as her face-plate slid up for easier conversation; her feet moved rapidly against the metallic floor in a continuous blur.

Thor gazed upward at XLR8 with a defiant smirk on his face, despite being unclear on what stood before him. Nonchalantly wiping some saliva from his lips, he slowly rose to his feet. Recognizing the symbol adorning XLR8's chest from their previous encounter earlier in the day, he confidently quipped, "I wasn't aware Midgard housed shapeshifters – quite impressive that you've managed to keep your powers hidden away for so long, young Cosmia."

Cosmia sighed with frustration as she mentally chastised herself for her identity being so effortlessly exposed by Thor. As it turned out, he wasn't as irrational as she'd initially believed; perhaps if he truly was Thor from the legends, his battle-worn wisdom and tactics offered him a unique insight. Curious now, "If you're truly Thor, what happened to your power to summon Mjolnir? Or did something happen to you along the way?"

"I'd prefer not to reveal that, but since you're so adamant about keeping me from my hammer, we must engage in combat," Thor stated with his confident grin while assuming a battle-ready posture. "Given your youth, I will graciously allow you the first move."

Not wasting a moment, Cosmia dashed towards Thor at an incredible speed and delivered a powerful punch to his face, careful not to use her sharp edges. As quickly as she struck, she moved behind him and landed another blow to the back of his head, effectively stopping its movement. Pain flared through Thor's skull as she retorted with teenage pride, "I may be young, but I'm far from inexperienced. I train quite rigorously, you know."

Thor couldn't help but be impressed. "It's apparent, then I shouldn't hold back out of consideration for your abilities. However," he warned as he threw an incredibly fast punch at Cosmia which caused her to hastily shut her faceplate in defense. The sheer force of the blow knocked her back slightly, leaving a small crack on her protective gear that caught her by surprise. "I've faced other fast opponents before, yet you are the swiftest I've encountered. Still, your reaction time leaves something to be desired."

"That's... terrifying... he cracked XLR8's mask; I hope it's fixed when I next transform into her," thought XLR8 with apprehension, as she spun like a whirlwind to smack her tail against Thor, sending him staggering back a few steps. She skillfully followed up with a punch to his gut while barely managing to evade a counterattack aimed at her face. "I need to stay focused... he easily defeated older agents, but I might have a chance while in alien form," she motivated herself.

As XLR8 fought Thor, she managed to dodge some of his powerful blows, yet he remained swift and sturdy, absorbing her hits and not falling to the ground. However, she became overly focused on his fists, giving him an opportunity to swing out his leg, catching hers and causing her to trip. Losing balance, she crashed through the plastic wall of the tunnel – though not before her tail coiled around Thor's torso, yanking him down alongside her onto the muddy ground below as rain poured upon them. She managed to catch a glimpse of Barton above with an arrow trained on Thor. He had not yet received an order indicating that they were still evaluating her performance.

XLR8 mustered her strength and rose from the muck to confront Thor once more. The slippery mud impeded her movements, forcing her to move at human speed to maintain balance. This granted Thor the chance to easily hurl another punch that sent XLR8 sprawling back onto the ground in pain. Managing to roll aside just as Thor tried to knock her out, she retaliated with a swift kick to his stomach that sent him slipping back into the mud face-first.

"Always wanted to try this with XLR8," murmured Cosmia as XLR8 in her thoughts. Seizing a window of opportunity before Thor could recover completely, she leaped into the air and slammed both her feet against his chest with the force of a racing truck, sending him flying backwards. Unfortunately, her aerial vulnerability left her exposed; Thor managed to grasp her tail, hurling her overhead as they both crashed through plastic walls onto different floors of the building.

Thor landed on the jagged, rocky terrain next to his mighty hammer, Mjolnir, feeling the sting of rough stones puncturing his skin. Meanwhile, XLR8 crashed into a metal railing on the walkway above, leaving a sizeable dent. Grateful for her enhanced durability in her alien form, she knew she would still experience lingering pain in her human form. Shaking her head to dismiss the residual rainwater, she muttered to herself, "I'm gonna feel that in the morning..."

XLR8 had been enjoying the battle up to this point and believed that taking on Thor would be easier while in her alien form. However, it was proving to be more difficult than anticipated. She could hear Thor stirring from below as he began getting back on his feet. Gripping the railing tightly, she swung herself downwards, preparing for another strike.

"Hey, God of Thunder!" XLR8 called out with a smirk, successfully catching Thor's attention. With impeccable timing, she connected one of her lightning-fast kicks to his jaw, sending a tooth flying alongside a spray of blood. "Seems I'm not the only one with lightning-quick moves!"

As Shield listened in with bated breath through their radios - all of them shocked since she had never been one to crack jokes mid-battle - they couldn't help but think 'Did she just say a quip?!'

Thor responded with an amused grin as he wiped away the blood and staggered towards Mjolnir to continue the fight. Upon attempting to lift it, however, he found that it wouldn't budge an inch despite his efforts. XLR8 watched as Thor's confidence appeared shattered into pieces; his world crumbled within seconds as he slumped down to his knees in defeat. Curiously enough, she caught a glimpse of an enigmatic symbol appear briefly on Mjolnir before disappearing just as quickly.

Suddenly, a familiar beeping sound resonated through the air, followed by a flash of red as Cosmia took XLR8's place. Baring a hint of pain in her eyes, she gingerly placed a hand on her stomach while observing the defeated Thor. Lifting up her radio and speaking into it softly, "He's done...