BOOK ONE

always alone

ONE

Knocked off my feet

The earth moved beneath

The edge of a dream and a nightmare

Open the door

Fell through the floor

Slipped through the cracks into nowhere

So tell me where were you

When everything fell down like thunder

I begged you to pull me through

I couldn't get out from under

I took the fall

I took it all

Last night was just an illusion

- "Out From Under," Red

In a barren desert, a god had fallen from the sky.

He lay crumpled on the sand, his body aching, bruised, and burned.

He had fallen so far and so fast that it was a wonder he was still alive.

He lay on the sand for an eternity. Or maybe it was only an hour. His mind was confused and he could not think straight.

Either way, when the black cars came, he was disappointed.

He had wished they would leave him to die.

After all, that was the reason he had fallen.

Agent Phil Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. got out of the government vehicle, slamming the door, and walked towards the body on the sand of Death Valley. Whoever it was had fallen from the sky about three days ago, about the time when Thor had gone back to Asgard. It appeared that this person had also come from Asgard, despite by a more… unconventional way.

He sighed. More paperwork.

The body was being lifted onto a stretcher, and an agent ran up to him.

"Sir, the person is still alive, but has sustained massive burns and extensive bruising. He hasn't spoken yet, but we believe that it might be Thor's brother, sir, the one who, uh, blew up that town in New Mexico."

Coulson looked at the agent.

"Maximum security," he said.

The agent saluted and went back to his Jeep.

Coulson opened his phone and dialed Nick Fury.

"Sir, we've recovered the stray comet."

Code words were essential, as even his phone could be hacked or bugged. Fury had enemies in high places.

"We think it might have been the one that passed very near to that town in New Mexico. The one that… caused all that damage."

Fury sighed. "Affirmative. Is it under maximum guard, Agent?"

"Yes, sir."

"I've been told things about him. And about what he can do, what he is capable of doing. Coulson, do you understand what we have to do?"

Coulson rolled his eyes. Fury was always so melodramatic. "Frankly, I was thinking of trying to get Thor down here to drag his ass back to Asgard."

"Agent, this line is not secure."

"Yes, sir."

"Coulson, we're going to have to bring in Agent Cooper."

Coulson took off his sunglasses, stunned.

"Sir, I'm not sure that would be wise… hasn't she refused? Over and over?"

"If it comes down to a government order, Coulson, she won't be able to. I'm sending her in tomorrow, early, so make sure you're ready."

The line went dead.

Coulson sighed, rubbing his temples. Cooper made him uneasy. As one of the most senior agents at S.H.I.E.L.D., he had been one of the ones to approve her for training… training that she had completed faster than any other agent. Well, except for Romanoff, but she had been a spy and assassin before her training.

He knew what Cooper could do.

Never mind that she hadn't done… any of it for almost five years now.

She still put him on edge.

He'd rather have a magic-serum super-soldier any day.