Does it Help?
Darcy had been browsing one of the many holiday markets in the city, doing what she could to amuse herself when Jane had texted her asking her to go to the lab and send her some information and data that Jane had failed to take with her. It apparently hadn't seemed relevant at the time. So off she went, not thinking it would begin to consume her day. Hours later and she was still sitting in the lab staring at a computer sending messages back and forth with Jane. And Jane had frustratingly few answers about what was happening and why Darcy was apparently dreaming of Asgard.
"Is that the last of it?" Darcy was really hoping to get home. She was tired, she hadn't planned on working today, and she missed James.
"Maybe, but don't leave yet. I might need you to do a couple more things. I'm going to run a few tests and message you again, okay." Darcy couldn't help the heavy sigh, it wasn't the response she'd hoped for.
"Okay. I'll just be sitting here. Waiting."
"You were rolling your eyes when you wrote that, weren't you?"
"Maybe." Darcy did have to chuckle a little though at how well Jane did know her.
After a few minutes sitting, Darcy turned on some music and at least decided she could do something fun while she awaited further orders. And fairly quickly she'd cranked up the volume in the lab and started dancing around. She was shaking her booty and spinning around when the door to the lab opened.
"Oh, sorry to disturb you." Bruce had almost reversed back out of the room when Darcy stopped the music.
"Hey. Sorry, I was just bored waiting for Jane to message again. Do you need something, Dr. Banner?" Darcy didn't know him that well, but he seemed kind, even knowing that he was the guy who turned into the Hulk.
"Um, there's actually someone here to see you." He opened the door all the way and entered with Heimdall right behind.
"Hello, Miss Lewis? I hoped we could speak." Heimdall nodded his head at her when he said hello, his expression calm.
"Uh, sure, I guess so, about what?" She really had no idea what Thor's Gatekeeper Guardian friend, or whatever Thor had said he did was, wanted to talk to her about.
"What occurred at this Halloween party? And the dreams you've been having since."
"Uh, I guess. I'm not really sure what to say. I've been having weird dreams since Halloween though. Jane said it sounded like Asgard based on the big golden tower at the center of a city that looked both very old and very advanced, along with this roundish building that looks like it sits on the edge of the world."
"Should I go?" Bruce looked between them, uncertain of if this conversation might be private.
"You may stay." Heimdall glanced, though, at Darcy and Darcy nodded as well. Bruce sat down but said nothing else. "I've heard Bruce was agitated at this party. And another person is missing memory of the whole night. And most others suggest forgotten moments of time and a strange sensation the next morning?"
"That's what I heard too." Darcy leaned back on the desk mostly looking at Heimdall, but occasionally glancing at Bruce in case there was a clue there, to what she wasn't sure.
"And what of you? Missing memories? Agitation? Something else?"
"Um, I'm not really sure. I thought I remembered the night, but parts of it seemed strange, and after what everyone else has said, and the dreams, I question if I'm actually remembering what happened." His eyes really were something else. Kind of mystifying and hypnotizing.
"We even have a high tech artificial intelligence that monitors the building and he seems to be missing things too." Bruce added, somewhat quietly and cautiously.
"When I'm done here, would it be possible for you to show me how this artificial intelligence works?"
"Sure." Bruce shrugged and nodded with a vague smile.
Heimdall looked back at Darcy, somewhat expectantly.
"What else do you need to know?"
"What did you think you recall of the party?"
"Helping Jane get settled talking to Dr. Banner. Getting a drink and wandering around and then stopping to people watch. Then I thought I talked to Steve for a bit, I even thought we left the party together. But he doesn't remember any of it." She shifted a little, starting to feel odd about recounting what she thought she experienced. She hadn't actually told anyone what she thought happened, not even Jane. The way she woke up the next day and everything since, it just seemed best kept to herself.
"If it is too hard to explain, might I try having a look?"
"What do you mean? How?"
"If I make contact with you when you think about that night, I should be able to see back through time to the event."
"You what?!" When Darcy glanced, Bruce appeared fascinated, but equally stunned by such a notion.
"I have the ability to see all that happens in these realms, even through time." Heimdall held his hand out toward her head.
After a moment of thought and a few deep breaths, Darcy stepped up to Heimdall's hand and thought about what she recalled of Halloween. It felt like a flash and another deep breath and it was through, but Heimdall did somehow look like he'd seen something of interest. "Did it work? Does it help?"
"It did, and it might. Thank you, Miss Lewis."
"Oh, you can call me Darcy. Mr. Heimdall, Sir." Darcy saluted for some reason at the end of that.
Heimdall chuckled and smiled. "Just Heimdall is fine."
"So? Any verdict on if what I think I saw was what happened?"
"Verdict? Not quite. But I don't believe it was all something you imagined either. I believe it is likely more or less true. However, we believe there is magic at work, from a sorceress of great power who may have clouded the truth from even my senses, and still does. The woman in green Thor said you saw in your dreams, if you see that woman in real life, try to avoid her as best you can. Understand?"
"Wait, is that woman I saw the one who did this?"
"We believe so. And I think she may want something from you."
"Wait! Why me?!" Darcy looked just a little panicked.
"That I am still trying to discern. I do not wish to give you guesses and half answers, nor do I wish to worry you too much, but I, and the others are pursuing her, and the truth. Just mind yourself. And I'll be keeping a look out. If you need anything or get into trouble, you can call me."
"How do I do that? Just like Thor did? Shout your name at the sky?" She looked up and made a round sweeping gesture with one arm.
"That would work, yes." Heimdall smiled and Darcy had to laugh just a little.
"Okay then. I feel like my life just got twenty times weirder than it already was this morning, but I guess at least I have a direct line to a god now, so upside maybe?"
Heimdall laughed, and even Bruce chuckled a little. "I will be in touch, Darcy."
"See ya!" She waved for lack of a proper way to say goodbye to such a being.
Bruce smiled and waved on his way out and she waved again a bit less awkwardly and smiled before attempting to focus her mind again on what else was going on.