To be honest, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s technology was incredibly advanced. While Tony was still watching the footage, Coulson had already boarded a S.H.I.E.L.D. Quinjet and was flying to New Mexico.
"Clear this area."
Looking down at the crowd still lining up to play the pull-the-hammer game, Coulson issued a direct order to the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents behind him.
"That thing's not easy to come by. Barton, set up a basic perimeter defense. I'm going to pick up a few things."
Staring at the hammer embedded in the crater, Coulson recalled the data Fury had given him. The location matched where a meteor had recently been detected falling to Earth. He figured he needed some specialized instruments and historical data. Luckily, a nearby astrophysics research center might have exactly what he needed.
Meanwhile, Jane Foster was driving Thor and the others to the research center when they saw a convoy of black vehicles speeding past.
"Looks like a government convoy. Seems they've found the hammer."
Erik Selvig, with his years of experience, immediately guessed the nature of the approaching vehicles.
Hearing Erik's words, Jane glanced at Thor, concerned. After all, he'd insisted that the hammer belonged to him—the Hammer of Thor.
But surprisingly, Thor didn't react at all, as if he was in shock.
—
They continued toward the research center quietly. But before Thor could "explode," Jane exploded first.
When they arrived, Jane was stunned to see the center's gates wide open, and a group of black-suited agents were hauling out all her equipment.
"Hey! That's my stuff!"
Jane jumped out of the car, rushing to stop them.
Before she could do anything, she was blocked.
"Good afternoon, Miss Foster. I'm Agent Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"What does this have to do with me? What's going on? You can't do this!"
Jane tried to grab her equipment but Erik stopped her.
"Jane, this is more serious than you think. Don't worry."
Erik had seen enough in his life to know there was no stopping this kind of thing. After all, even with Thor, there were only four of them, and across from them stood an entire task force. These were government agents—they could seize private property legally. No point resisting.
"Relax? This is my life!"
Jane couldn't believe she was expected to accept this. Everything in the lab was built up piece by piece over the years. Some instruments were custom-made—irreplaceable. If they were gone, they were gone for good.
"Miss Foster, we're investigating a potential security threat. We need access to your records and atmospheric data."
Coulson stepped forward, trying to calm her down with reason.
"How is this different from theft?" Jane was furious.
She tried to storm inside, but an agent stopped her.
"This should compensate for your loss."
Coulson pulled out a check—time to use his "money" superpower.
Jane took the check and looked at it. Ten million. But thinking of the progress she was just about to make, she hesitated.
"I can't just buy replacements. Most of these instruments were built by me!"
"Then I'm sure you can build even more."
"And I'm sure I can sue you for violating my legally protected rights!"
Coulson's confidence was really starting to get on her nerves.
"Sorry, Miss Foster. But we're the good guys."
That only made Jane more furious.
"I was on the verge of a breakthrough. My data—everything is in that lab or on my laptop. You can't just take it!"
Desperate, she pulled out her laptop, thinking maybe she could at least hold onto some data.
"Thank you."
Coulson swiftly took it from her, handing it to a passing agent.
"Put this with the rest."
"Hey!"
Jane went ballistic. She'd shown it as a protest, not as a donation! Did they even understand what she was saying?
Seeing her most valuable possession about to be taken, Jane lunged for it. But Coulson immediately stepped in and blocked her.
Several agents rushed in to restrain her.
"What are you doing?! Let go of me!"
Seeing the commotion, Thor stepped forward and pushed the agents away.
Though now just a mortal, Thor's body still had some baseline Asgardian strength. But the agents quickly overpowered him and shoved him aside.
"Jane, let it go!" Erik rushed forward to stop her. He knew that escalating this wouldn't help anyone.
As Jane was pulled away, Coulson stepped forward and said calmly:
"Thank you all for your cooperation."
Then Coulson boarded the truck with the equipment. But before getting in, he looked back at Thor one last time.
He wasn't sure why, but ever since last year, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents—once known for their elite skills—had become little more than background support, reduced to shouting "GG" from the sidelines during a fight.
Still, Coulson knew their combat training was real. If someone could overpower S.H.I.E.L.D. agents… that person was worth watching.
But for now, his mission was the hammer. The mystery man could wait.
"Who are these people?"
Jane looked around her lab. It had been stripped clean—worse than after a move. Not a single piece of paper left behind.
Erik was silent for a moment, organizing his thoughts before answering.
"I once knew a scientist—an expert in gamma radiation. But ever since S.H.I.E.L.D. got involved, I never saw him again."
"They won't do that to us, will they? I mean… we still have him."
Darcy nervously glanced over at Thor, who was sitting nearby, watching the sunset.
"They can't just do this. I'll get my stuff back," Jane said, increasingly agitated. She had a major lead—now it was all gone.
Until now, Jane had thought Thor's talk about hammers and gods was just myth. But after today—with the hammer and those agents—she was starting to believe there might be something more.
"Don't. I'll contact a colleague. He's dealt with them before. Maybe he can help."
Erik didn't know if such a colleague existed, but he wanted to stop Jane from doing something reckless.
"Right. Let me text Clark. Didn't he say he knew Tony Stark? Maybe he can figure something out."
Saying that, Darcy pulled out her phone and sent a message to Clark.
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