SHIELD Holding Cell 7 - Interrogation
"So, why did you guys betray us?" Fury asked, his voice deceptively calm as he stared at the captured Skrull through the reinforced glass.
The alien sat strapped to a chair, wounds from the firefight still bleeding sluggishly, but his expression was defiant rather than defeated.
"When you were being chased by the Kree across the galaxy, hunted like animals, we gave you a place to stay," Fury continued, his tone carrying an edge now. "A sanctuary when you had nowhere else to run."
"When Kree strike forces came here hunting you down, when they tracked you to Earth, we protected you," he added, his eye boring into the Skrull. "We fought them off, risked exposure, risked conflict. For you."
"So answer me: why?"
The Skrull laughed—a wet, rasping sound that turned into a cough, blood flecking his lips.
"You can stop the recording, Fury," the Skrull said, gesturing with his chin toward the camera in the corner. "It doesn't matter anymore. None of your evidence matters."
"According to cosmic law, according to how the universe actually works, a planet's actions will always be borne by the leaders of that planet," he explained with a bloody grin. "The responsibility flows upward."
"Even if you can somehow convince Asgard that we did this, that we acted independently, so what?" The Skrull's voice carried bitter amusement. "In the end, it's still Earth's fault. You harbored us. You gave us resources. You're responsible for what we do on your soil."
"And Asgard definitely won't give up easily," he continued. "They're not known for their mercy."
"They might go easy on you personally because you convinced them it wasn't your direct fault, that you didn't order this attack," the Skrull allowed. "But the lowest punishment you'll receive is being forced to hand over all the leaders who were responsible for harboring us, for the policies that allowed this to happen."
He leaned forward as much as his restraints allowed. "And Fury, do you really think those World Security Council members, those presidents and generals, will hand themselves over just like that? Will they sacrifice themselves for the greater good?"
"HAHAHA! HAHAHA!"
The laugh turned into a coughing fit, more blood dripping from the Skrull's mouth.
"You shit-tier race," the alien spat, both literally and figuratively. "What did you think would happen? That the universe operates on your primitive notions of fairness?"
"And 'giving us a place to stay'?" he mocked. "Protecting us'? Don't make me laugh, you low-level trash."
"You didn't do it out of kindness. You did it because you wanted our technology, our intelligence, our shapeshifting abilities for your spy operations. We were tools to you, just like we were to everyone else."
"Anyway," the Skrull said, suddenly seeming exhausted, "I have nothing more to say to the likes of you. Go fuck yourself, Director."
He slumped back in his chair, eyes closing.
Looking at the laughing madman—or perhaps not so mad, perhaps perfectly sane and simply speaking truths Fury didn't want to hear—Nick decided not to waste any more time.
He directly left the interrogation area, his mind already moving to contingencies and damage control.
........
Fury had already pressed the specialized pager given to him by Captain Marvel hours ago, the moment he'd realized the scope of the disaster. The device that would send a signal across light-years, calling her back to Earth.
But he didn't know how much time it would take for her to receive the message and return. Days? Weeks? She could be on the other side of the galaxy.
And even if she comes, Fury thought grimly, there's no guarantee she'll help.
In the past, SHIELD had conducted extensive personality profiles on Carol Danvers, psychological assessments based on her history and behavior patterns. The analysis had painted a picture of someone with a strong personality combined with a savior complex.
Which was one of the worst combinations he could think of.
Although her power would be a huge help—she could probably fight Thor one-on-one, maybe even win—Fury really wasn't sure that after learning Earth had initiated this attack, that they'd struck first, she might even side with Asgard instead.
It wasn't impossible. It was actually quite likely given her rigid moral code.
She's selfish to the core, when you strip away the hero rhetoric, Fury thought with unusual harshness. After getting her powers from the Kree, after becoming one of the most powerful beings in the universe, her first thought wasn't to help her home planet or protect the people she grew up with.
No, her first instinct was to go into space and play hero among the stars, helping aliens she'd never met while leaving all of her friends behind on Earth to fend for themselves.
Though it could also be considered selflessness from the perspective of the aliens who were saved by her actions, Fury acknowledged mentally. Just a different perspective, a matter of whose interests you prioritize.
"Anyway, I can't take care of so many variables," Fury muttered to himself, rubbing his temples where a migraine was building.
Two Days Later - SHIELD Underground Base
In the blink of an eye, two days had passed. Two days of Fury pacing around his office and command centers, thinking desperately of ways to solve this impossible problem, running scenario after scenario that all ended badly.
Suddenly, one of his agents burst into the command center.
"Sir! We're detecting an energy reaction near the captured spacecraft! Strong readings, similar to the spatial signatures we recorded when we intercepted their vessel!"
"What now?" Fury sighed, the sound carrying bone-deep exhaustion.
"Let's go," he ordered, standing from his chair. "But order everyone to stay back this time. No one fires unless I give explicit command. No one even aims a weapon unless I say so. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir," multiple agents confirmed.
"It should be Asgard trying to determine the ship's coordinates, tracking where their missing vessel ended up," Fury theorized aloud as they walked. "That's the logical next step for them."
Though he really didn't know what would happen next, Fury thought. Maybe they would never come at all. Maybe they'd just write off one soldier and some prisoners as acceptable losses. It really wasn't worth the effort to send investigators to other planets for such a small incident, right?
Right?
They reached the hangar level where the spacecraft was being held.
"Sir," one of the technicians reported, "ten minutes ago our detection devices suddenly picked up a massive space fluctuation in this area. Lasted for only a few seconds, then disappeared completely. No follow-up."
"Anything else?" Fury asked.
"No, sir. That's it. Just that brief spike, then nothing."
"Okay, keep close watch on all sensors," Fury ordered. "Maintain constant monitoring—"
He was about to turn around and leave when suddenly every device in the area went completely haywire.
Alarms blared. Screens flickered. Energy readings spiked off the charts.
And in the next second, directly in front of the captured spacecraft, a brilliant rainbow light descended from nowhere, piercing through solid rock and reinforced steel as if they were tissue paper.
The Bifrost. The Rainbow Bridge of Asgard.
Before anyone could react, before Fury could even open his mouth to give orders, the light vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Leaving four figures standing in its place.
Every agent in the hangar quickly raised their weapons, training kicking in automatically, targeting the new arrivals.
"STOP! STOP! LOWER YOUR GUNS!"
Fury's voice cracked like a whip through the space, seeing the exact same scenario that had gone catastrophically wrong just days ago about to repeat itself.
Seeing almost the same situation developing, Nick felt like he was getting PTSD.
He quickly shouted loud enough for everyone to hear, gesturing emphatically for weapons to be lowered.
After successfully getting all the agents around him to stand down, to point their weapons at the ground instead of at the visitors, Fury finally took a careful, assessing look at the new arrivals.
Four people now stood there, illuminated by the harsh hangar lights.
Three of them wore leather armor—practical, well-worn, clearly designed for combat rather than ceremony.
One of them wore metal armor that gleamed even in the artificial light, with a distinctive red cape hanging from his shoulders. The armor was more ornate, marked with intricate designs and symbols of rank.
If they hadn't just arrived from the sky riding a literal rainbow beam,he would definitely think they were some kind of cosplayers at a convention. Renaissance fair enthusiasts, maybe. The costumes look that authentic but also that theatrical.
But he knew now—this was Asgard's famous Rainbow Bridge that he'd heard about from the prisoner interrogations, the Bifrost, capable of instantaneous travel across the Nine Realms.
Although countless thoughts were racing through his mind currently, possibilities and implications and potential disasters all competing for attention, Fury's face remained completely neutral, showing nothing.
His poker face, perfected over decades, held firm.
"Your Highness from Asgard, I assume?" Fury said, his tone carefully respectful but not obsequious. Not groveling, but acknowledging appropriate status.
"Yes," the figure in the ornate armor replied, his voice deep and carrying easily across the space. "I am the second-born son of Odin Borson, Thor Odinson."
"I have come by special order of Hela Odinson, current ruler of Asgard and Queen of the Nine Realms, to investigate the matter regarding Midgard's sudden and unprovoked attack on an Asgardian vessel and the capture of an Asgardian soldier."
Each word was formal, official, but Fury could hear the underlying current of genuine anger barely restrained beneath the diplomatic language.
"Yes, Your Highness," Fury replied, inclining his head slightly. "We have been expecting your arrival. And we have... much to discuss."
Here we go, he thought. Let's see if I can talk us out of an interstellar war.