Kapitel 30: A random chapter
Thor stirred awake, his head heavy and pounding like the aftermath of a battle. Blinking against the harsh hospital lights, he quickly realized his predicament—thick straps bound him to the bed, restraining his arms and legs.
He tugged at the restraints with a growl, but they wouldn't budge. Frustration bubbled within him. How far had he fallen, that mere leather straps could bind the mighty Thor? He gritted his teeth and pulled harder, his muscles trembling from the effort.
So weak... The thought stung more than the restraints themselves.
With stubborn determination, he yanked again, and finally, his right hand slipped free. His heart pounded with renewed defiance. He freed his other hand, then wrestled with the straps around his legs until he was loose. Panting slightly, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood.
A flicker of dizziness washed over him, but he shook it off, the need to find Mjolnir burning brighter than his discomfort. His hammer was out there, waiting, and every moment wasted in this strange place drove him mad.
Silently, Thor made his way through the sterile halls, avoiding nurses and doctors as best he could. He slipped out of the building into the open daylight, the warmth of the sun on his skin offering a small sense of relief. His bare feet crunched on the dirt, and the sprawling landscape spread out before him—a world foreign and unfamiliar, but his goal remained clear.
He had to find Mjolnir.
Determined, he took a step forward—
And then a van barreled straight into him.
The force sent him sprawling back onto the ground. Pain rippled through his mortal body, and he groaned as the world spun around him.
Jane Foster stumbled out, wide-eyed and horrified. "Ah, shit! I swear I am not doing this on purpose!"
Erik Selvig and Darcy followed close behind, hurrying to the unconscious man.
"Jane," Erik muttered in disbelief, "that's twice now."
Jane knelt by his side, her hand hovering over him, concern etched across her face. "Is he okay?!"
Darcy nudged Thor's limp arm with the toe of her shoe. "Yup. Out cold again."
Thor's eyelids fluttered as the edges of the world dimmed. Pain pulsed through his limbs, dull and relentless. His head lolled to the side, and just before unconsciousness claimed him once more, one final thought crossed his mind:
Mortality is deeply unpleasant.
---
SHIELD Facility, New Mexico
James sat alone in the lounge area of the facility, elbows on his knees, staring at his phone. The hum of the air vents and distant conversations from the hall filled the room, but James was lost in thought, thumbing through messages on his screen.
He had just finished typing a text to Marcus.
James: "Dude, you won't believe the stuff I'm seeing around here. It's like a sci-fi movie, minus the popcorn."
He hesitated for a moment, then hit send. A few seconds later, his phone buzzed.
Marcus: "Do they have lightsabers? I hope they have lightsabers."
James smiled but didn't reply right away. He exhaled slowly, sinking back into his chair. The weight of everything—the cave, the hammer, the cosmic weirdness—sat heavy on his shoulders. This was far beyond anything he'd imagined when he fell into that crack in the sidewalk.
"You know," came a voice from behind him, "stuff around here is supposed to be classified."
James jumped, twisting in his seat to find a man leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed. The guy had a relaxed posture, but his sharp eyes were anything but.
"Whoa," James muttered, catching his breath. "Didn't see you there."
"That's kinda the point," the man replied with a faint smirk. He wore tactical gear—practical, not flashy—with a quiver slung over one shoulder and a bow resting at his side.
"Name's Clint. Clint Barton."
James tilted his head, still unsure who exactly this guy was, though Clint's relaxed stance made it clear he wasn't military—at least, not the strict kind.
"Uh... James. James Carter."
Clint sized him up with a quick, casual glance. "So... what are you? Scientist? Engineer? Field guy?"
James rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how to explain his presence. "Nah, none of that. I'm just... a guy."
"'Just a guy,' huh?" Clint raised a brow, clearly amused. "That's new."
James shrugged. "Yeah, well. Life's weird lately."
Barton gave a small chuckle. "You're telling me." He leaned against the wall, his body language open but measured, the kind of casual conversation that felt friendly—but not too friendly. Practiced, like someone used to keeping things light while revealing nothing.
"You here to help or just... visiting?" Barton asked, tilting his head slightly.
"I guess... to help." James didn't sound too convinced, and the uncertainty wasn't lost on Barton.
"Well, if it makes you feel better, most of us are figuring it out as we go."
James gave him a small, reluctant smile. "Not exactly reassuring."
Clint grinned, a twinkle of dry humor in his eyes. "Welcome to SHIELD."
Before the conversation could go any deeper, Coulson's voice cut through the quiet.
"I see you two met," Coulson said as he entered the room, hands in his pockets, wearing his usual expression of calm professionalism.
Barton straightened up slightly, nodding toward James. "Just saying hi to the new guy."
Coulson gave an approving smile, then turned to James. "Come on, Carter. We've got some traveling to do."
James stood up, sliding his phone into his pocket. "Where to?"
"We're heading to meet Jane Foster," Coulson replied. "Her research might help us figure out what's going on."
Barton gave James a friendly nod. "Good luck with that. And hey, if you ever figure out what's really going on around here, let me know."
James smiled faintly. "Yeah. If I ever figure it out myself."
With that, Coulson gestured for James to follow, and the two headed out of the lounge, leaving Barton behind. The archer watched them disappear down the hallway, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
"Just a guy," Clint muttered to himself with a grin, before heading off in the other direction.
---
This is just a random chapter to get things moving. Hope you enjoy.
I will be posting another chapter today. This arc is getting too lengthy for my taste though...
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein