Project K4-712

Episode 1: Recruitment

Luke's POV

A couple of years later...

Dragging myself back to my place, I was wiped. Not from the actual work – I could do that in my sleep – but from the sheer volume of people today. Seriously, what was with the crowds?

As I reached for my doorknob, a shape emerged from the shadows. My heart sank. "Alright, enough with the surprise visits, don't you think?"

"Well, this is awkward," a familiar voice chimed in from the darkness. "Sorry, Faraday, I know I should've called first, but I wanted this to be a surprise."

"Fury," I sighed, placing my helmet on the counter. "Last time I checked, I wasn't due for a performance review."

"Look," Fury's voice hardened, "we've got a situation. A bad one. And I need you back in action." The playful banter was gone, replaced by a grim feeling.

I plopped down on the couch, bracing myself for the news. "Alright, lay it on me," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Just how bad is this thing?"

Fury didn't answer, instead sliding a file across the table. It contained a picture of a glowing blue cube. My eyes scanned the page, devouring every detail. "So, who swiped this thing?" I asked, already feeling the familiar pull of adrenaline.

"Speedy reader, aren't you?" Fury remarked, settling into a chair across from me. His single eye gleamed with intensity. "Now, have you ever brushed up on your Norse mythology?"

"Sure, I've dabbled," I replied, my curiosity piqued. "What's that got to do with anything?"

"Let's just say a certain Norse god has taken a shine to the little cube," Fury explained. "And he's got a nasty habit of mind-controlling folks, including some of my own." He paused, a grim look settling on his face. "We're working on a plan to retrieve it, but it won't be easy."

"Hold on a second," I said, raising an eyebrow. "You want me to chase after a magical blue box that was stolen by a mythical god who somehow decided to show up in our world?" I had to make sure I wasn't hallucinating.

"I know it sounds like something out of a comic book," Fury replied, his voice calm and steady. "But trust me, this is very real. And you won't be alone on this mission. We'll be picking up another asset along the way."

"So, what do you say," Fury said, his gaze locking onto mine. "are you in or are you out?" His eyes seemed to pierce through me, as if he could read my every thought.

I glanced back at the file, flipping through the pages one last time. The weight of the situation settled on my shoulders, but a flicker of excitement ignited within me. I snapped the file shut, stood tall, and met Fury's gaze with a determined look. "Alright, Fury," I said, a hint of a smile playing on my lips. "When do we leave?" 

.......

Fury led me down a flight of stairs into a dimly lit gym. The air throbbed with the rhythmic thud of someone working out their frustrations on a punching bag. It wasn't just the sound of impact, though; it felt like each punch carried a wave of raw emotion.

"Mind filling me in on who's throwing this tantrum?" I asked Fury, slightly annoyed by his lack of information. "Would be nice to know who I'm signing up to babysit."