After the four massive engines of the Helicarrier roared to life, Noah and the others entered the ship. Once the Helicarrier reached a certain altitude, the deck cleared: all personnel retreated inside, and the fighter jets were securely fastened to prevent them from being swept away by the powerful air currents.
The group, led by Hawkeye and Coulson, headed towards the main command center of the ship. There, Nick Fury awaited them, standing with his back turned. S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel worked diligently before him, focused on controlling the Helicarrier—this was its first deployment in a combat scenario, and everyone understood the importance of their tasks. Fury, leaning against a console, turned around, sensing the approach of the new arrivals.
Steve Rogers walked up to him, stopped beside him, and, taking out his wallet, handed Fury a ten-dollar bill before continuing to look around. He was clearly enjoying the atmosphere of the ship, observing the coordinated work of the crew.
Fury accepted the money and, pocketing it inside his black trench coat, turned his attention to Banner and the armored Noah.
"Dr. Banner, it's a pleasure to meet you," he said, extending his hand to the scientist.
"Likewise," Banner replied, shaking his hand.
"We need your help to find the Tesseract," Fury said seriously, looking at him intently.
"I'll do my best to assist," Banner replied. He understood the gravity of the situation—these aliens clearly hadn't arrived for a peaceful visit.
Fury then turned to Noah, a hint of reproach in his eyes.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that? Fine, fine, I won't say anything unnecessary," Noah said, giving in under Fury's пристальный gaze, and shrugged.
Fury sighed heavily and covered his face with his hand. He decided to discuss the situation with the Skrulls later, once the Tesseract issue was resolved. He then addressed Banner again:
"Dr. Banner, we need you to begin searching for the Tesseract as soon as possible."
Banner, who, like Captain America, had been about to explore the ship's bridge, looked at Noah and said, "Alright. How are things progressing on your end?"
Fury nodded to Coulson to report on the current progress.
"We're scanning all available cameras, phones, and laptops worldwide. Anything connected to satellite systems—those are our eyes."
"But even that's not enough," Natasha Romanoff interjected.
A progress bar for the scan slowly inched forward on a nearby screen. Searching for unknowns in such a vast space as Earth was like searching for a needle in a haystack, especially when it wasn't clear if they were even still on the planet.
"You need to narrow down the search area." Hearing their plan, Bruce immediately realized their approach was too inefficient.
"How many spectrometers can you deploy?" he asked Fury.
"As many as you need," Fury replied, hinting at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s high level of authority. This was due to the UN Security Council placing immense importance on this operation, significantly expanding the agency's capabilities.
"Contact all the laboratories you can find and ask them to install spectrometers on their rooftops, configured to detect gamma radiation. I'll develop a tracking algorithm to help rule out certain areas," Banner continued, taking off his jacket and preparing to work.
Fury nodded, understanding that he had come to the right person. Although he didn't grasp all the details, Banner's method seemed sound.
"So, where can I set up?"
"Agent Romanoff, escort Dr. Banner to his laboratory," Fury addressed Black Widow, who was observing them from the other side of the room.
"Come along, Doctor. It has everything you'll need; I think you'll like it," Natasha replied, walking past Banner. The faint scent of her perfume tickled the scientist's nostrils, but, remembering he had a girlfriend, he quickly suppressed any unnecessary thoughts. Nodding to Noah, he followed the agent.
"I want to join the research team," Noah suddenly said, raising his hand.
"You?" Fury asked, surprised, frowning slightly.
"What? You don't believe in my abilities? I'm a scientist too, you know."
"I know, but..." Fury didn't manage to finish his sentence before Noah set off after Banner.
Fury watched him in silence. He knew Noah was indeed a talented scientist, although, in his opinion, he was better suited for the combat team. Nevertheless, with two such geniuses, they would surely find the Tesseract faster.
"What should we do next, Director?" Coulson asked, approaching him. The Helicarrier had already ascended into the stratosphere, and thick clouds were visible through the command center's windows.
"Nothing for now. Follow Dr. Banner's instructions, contact the laboratories, and wait for the results," Fury said, returning to his position and gazing thoughtfully out the window at the swirling clouds.
"By the way, did you inform Stark?"
"Yes, but he said he was busy and would arrive later."
Meanwhile, Bruce and Natasha arrived at the Helicarrier's laboratory. The equipment here was excellent, but it still couldn't compare to what Noah had provided for him on the island.
"Dr. Banner, this will be your workspace. I hope you'll be able to adjust to the new environment," Black Widow said, heading towards the exit.
"I adapt easily," Banner replied with a smile.
Natasha gave him a small smile and left the lab, leaving Bruce to his work. Along the way, she encountered Noah and, nodding to him, returned to the bridge to carry out other tasks.
"Oh, you're here too," hearing the door open again, Bruce turned around and saw Noah.