That technology—the kind that allowed someone in Asgard to remotely control the Destroyer armor on Earth—Tony Stark had no idea what the "magic side" called it. But on the "science side," if there was anything that could rival it, it was quantum communication.
It was the only theoretical way to achieve zero-latency control across such vast distances.
"Sir," J.A.R.V.I.S. interrupted his thoughts, "current research on quantum communication is in its infancy. Both public universities and classified government labs have made very little progress."
"Then we do it ourselves," Tony decided instantly. "Find every paper, every dissertation, every theoretical scrap of data on quantum physics. I'm starting from scratch."
Just like with cold fusion, no one else on Earth could help him. He had to solve it alone. But Tony trusted his brain more than he trusted anyone else.
While Tony muted the call to dive into building the Hulkbuster, Anti-Thor Armor, and Anti-Superman Armor, back at the New Mexico base, Fury and Thor exchanged heavy glances.
Fury was silently obsessing over the term "Skyfather Level."
He also noticed a glaring contradiction in Lucas's diary. If Odin possessed such terrifying, galaxy-conquering power, why did he suddenly stop? Why did he transform from a ruthless warlord who bathed the Nine Realms in blood into a benevolent king who protected backwater planets like Earth?
It didn't add up.
Something must have happened. Something drastic enough to turn a tyrant into a pacifist.
Fury knew Norse mythology wasn't perfectly accurate, but it wasn't entirely fiction either. In the myths, Odin wasn't a nice guy. He was brutal, manipulative, and obsessed with war. He would incite conflicts between mortal nations just to harvest more souls for Valhalla, preparing for Ragnarok.
That didn't sound like the "wise, peace-loving father" Thor kept talking about.
So what changed?
Fury's instincts screamed that it had something to do with Hela.
Lucas had mentioned her before. Odin would rather give the throne to her than to Loki. That implied she had a legitimate claim.
Fury's mind—trained in espionage and worst-case scenarios—began to construct a theory. A dark, royal family secret.
Maybe Hela wasn't just a niece. Maybe she was Odin's daughter. His first child.
Perhaps she was the weapon Odin used to conquer the Nine Realms. And then, when the war was over... maybe she didn't want to stop.
Maybe she rebelled. Maybe there was a civil war in Asgard that no one talks about—a war that cost Odin his eye, or his army, or his ruthless ambition.
If Hela was exiled, written out of history, but still held a claim to the throne... and Lucas mentioned her...
She was coming back.
It was classic storytelling logic. The sins of the father returning to haunt the son. The exiled heir coming home to reclaim what was hers.
"So the future enemy of the Avengers might not just be Loki," Fury thought, a headache forming behind his eyes. "It could be Hela too."
If Thor was a founding member of the Avengers, then Hela's revenge wouldn't stop at Asgard. It would spill over onto Earth. And if she was strong enough to challenge Prime Odin...
God, the Thor franchise really was just one massive, violent family soap opera.
Father against daughter. Brother against brother. And Earth was just the unfortunate stage where they decided to have their fistfights.
Fury rubbed the bridge of his nose. The more he analyzed, the worse it got. He hadn't even dealt with Loki yet, and now he was pre-stressing about a Goddess of Death he'd never met.
Meanwhile, in New York.
Lucas sat in his apartment, packing a bag.
He had decided to go to New Mexico.
He had a "Superman" physique now, and magic immunity. But he lacked one crucial thing: magic itself.
He had the mana capacity of a god, but no spells. No technique.
Asgard was the perfect place to learn.
Sure, Kamar-Taj was an option, but the Ancient One could see through time. She was dangerous. Odin was a Skyfather, yes, but he was old, dying, and—according to Lucas's calculation—less likely to instantly vaporize him than the Sorcerer Supreme.
Plus, myths said Odin traded his eye for wisdom. He might have some foresight, but he wasn't as omniscient as the Ancient One.
It was a risk, but a calculated one.
"I'm going to New Mexico for a few days," Lucas texted Gwen. "Tourism. Desert air. Be good, do your homework. I'll check it when I get back."
Then he headed to the airport.
Even with Superman powers, Lucas still thought like a normal guy. Normal guys took planes to cross the country. He wasn't going to fly there in his underwear.
Back in Queens, Gwen stared at her phone and pouted.
"Hmph. Stinky Mr. Lucas. You think I don't know you're going to see Thor?" she grumbled, kicking her bedpost. "You didn't even take me with you!"
She had read the diary too. She knew exactly what was happening in New Mexico.
But she couldn't say anything.
So she just drew a circle on a piece of paper and stabbed it with her pen, cursing him silently.