The Armorer

Spring rolls around before I know it. The forge is up and running although I spend most of my time in the workshop, which was a priority, and for which I paid myself. I didn't want Stark to have a claim on my home-from-home, and I got some interesting tech to use in it. Stark has spun off a division of Stark Tech specifically for the Avengers and their relocation is pending completion of the research block. I meet with the textile specialists every now and again, but mostly I just get test samples in the mail and files showing the testing they've done and the results. I've got a couple of promising treatments for the created fibers, and I sent my first shipment of coated fabric back to the testing facility. My testing consisted of giving the length of fabric to everybody on the team to try to destroy. It held up pretty well, so durability is looking promising they'll do heat and freezing testing, whether it holds up to washing, that kind of thing.

In the quest to build Steve's perfect shield, I've made a number of prototypes of the classic round shield, varying the diameter and its curve very slightly, sometimes only by a millimeter. He takes these things out and trains on the obstacle course to determine which one works the best. One prototype is the best for throwing, but it doesn't feel quite right on his arm when he's using it for protection. Neither of us can figure out why such a small difference in the dimensions makes such a big impact, but we've agreed on the specific model and we're hoping that the next stage of the process, coming up with metals for the composition, will make it all better, somehow.

The only thing I could do for Natasha's Widow's Bite bracelets was to modify a few components with a gold/vibranium alloy to make them impervious to corrosion and stuffed a little solar charger in along the top edge so that they don't run down their charge as quickly. For Hawkeye, there was no point in messing with his arsenal; his arrow shafts are precision-machined to his exacting standards and everything works very well for him. Likewise, there was nothing to be done for Peter, as he uses very little metal, Vision, Wanda, or Thor, for the same reason. Scott, Sam and Jim depend on their suits, which work satisfactorily for them, so unless there's something that they need improved, there's no need to mess with their stuff. Tony hasn't asked for a consult, but his stuff works for him, so there's no reason to push there either. Bruce has asked me to work on some quick-deploy manacles for the next time the Other Guy gets out of control, and I'm working with research--they'll come up with a model, and I'll come up with the metal. I really think the Hulk tries to be good, but he can only control the rage that fuels his existence for so long. If the manacles are successful, we might try other types of restraints that could be deployed from a distance. All of this is additionally being considered for inclusion in the Avenger's arsenal.

Thor let me examine Mjolnir as a special favor, placing it on my benchtop. I didn't have to touch it to examine it. From a metal worker's standpoint, it's nothing special, a chunk of alloy that has some lovely knotwork carved into the edges. But the thing practically crawls with weirdness. There's a force, fine and light like spider silk around beach balls, that I can barely see when I drop down to the atomic level. But it's there, and it threads through the space between atoms. It allows electrons to pass through, swear to god, but strengthens and improves the molecular bonds. I poked at it once but it didn't move; Thor nudged it around for me. When he touched it, the...whatever....actually glowed and strengthened. "That is some next-level shit," I told him matter-of-factly, blinking hard as my vision spun up to normal again. He didn't get the MiB reference, but Peter did, and snickered. I smiled at him and explained what I saw. To the group, everybody'd been interested to find out what made Thor's hammer so special. I had a little party in my workshop.

"Meaning that I have no idea what that is or where it came from," I told Thor, shrugging. "It's not like anything I saw on Asgard. I can't begin to posit a source, an explanation, anything." I leaned back in my chair and stretched out my feet. "For all I know, it's magic."

Thor looked taken aback, and we all looked at Bruce, who also shrugged. "I've never heard of anything like that," he said mildly. "That shouldn't, by our current understanding of physics, exist."

"But we could research it," Stark interjected. Bruce smiled at him.

"Doesn't mean that you'll ever be able to pick it up, Tony," he said, and we all laughed. Jim slapped him on the back and Stark flushed a little with embarrassment. Thor had picked up his hammer and was staring at it like he'd never seen it before.

"I will inquire the next time I see my father," he murmured, then looked up again, focused on a new thought. "Now that my father has emerged from the Odinsleep again, my presence on Asgard is not required and I will be able to spend more time here." Smiles all around and a woof from Sigurd greeted this statement. "But we also have to deal with Loki." The smiles vanish, especially from those who have met him. "My father would like to request a meeting with you. Here." That provokes a spate of questions.

"Can you get us the design for whatever security cells you keep your prisoners in?" I ask Thor. He looks at me in surprise. "Well, isn't the favor going to be keeping Loki here for some period of time?" He blushes a bit.

"Yes," he admits. "The king my father believes it might be possible for Loki to redeem himself if he is exposed to another way of life."

"Plus it removes him from temptation and gets him out of your hair," Bruce murmurs, and Thor inclines his head.

Clint erupts. "I can't even believe you're considering this!" As he vents, he rips a fifty from his wallet and shoves it at Cap for the swear jar in the conference room. And proceeds to use up that fifty in the colorful expression of his unhappiness. We're going to use the swear jar proceeds for a big TV and DVD player for the conference room and a big pizza/movie party when we get enough money; that time is approaching quicker than we'd anticipated.

When Clint shows signs of winding down and Peter's vocabulary has been expanded, Nick steps in. "We haven't even heard the formal proposal," he says in that stylish, laid-back way. "It doesn't do any harm to listen; we can always refuse after discussing it. And you might consider the satisfaction of having him under your observation and control," he says to Clint, who snaps his mouth shut and starts to consider it.

"He won't have the staff weapon," Natasha tells him, and he tilts his head. Everybody starts to chat, and I get a little nervous.

"Um, let's remember that there are protocols for testing," I interject. "Asgard isn't a party to the international conventions addressing the treatment of prisoners, Loki isn't human, but--" Thor looks at me with alarm and Nick smiles.

"Not to worry," he says. "There won't be any vivisection." I roll my eyes, and Clint looks a little disappointed, but then he went around for awhile as Loki's meat puppet, so it's understandable. "Let's table this until we hear the proposal," he says, elevating his voice slightly, and the babble of conversation dies down.

"I'll get you that information," Thor mutters to me, then he and Nick discuss details for Odin's state visit. The housing block is due to be complete within a month, so it's decided that Odin can visit when we've moved in. I think we all feel it would be embarrassing to host the ruler of another planet in a trailer.