"So what will you do next?" Rowan asked. "Head back to Asgard?"
He already knew the answer. Thor reclaiming his hammer was only a matter of time.
Thor closed the book in his hands and shook his head. "I owe you all my thanks, but I'll be staying longer. The more I learn about your world, the clearer it becomes that Midgard's troubles run deeper than those of Asgard. Compared to us, humanity is standing on far thinner ice."
He paused, then added more softly, "If the Nine Realms have a duty to protect one another, then this realm needs it most. The Bifrost is always there. If Asgard calls, I can return in an instant."
"Not because of Jane?" Rowan asked lightly. "Logan says you've been going on a lot of dates."
Thor coughed, ears reddening. "That's… a factor. But not the reason. I am the God of Thunder, and a future king. Protecting Midgard is part of that responsibility."
Rowan laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "Whatever your reason, you're welcome to stay."
He turned toward the lower levels of the academy. There was still work to do. The combat simulation chamber needed expanding. The students needed space, real space, to push their abilities without restraint. This was only the beginning. When his alchemy advanced further, the academy itself would change again. A mobile fortress. A flying city. A place no enemy could touch.
He hadn't reached the stairwell before his phone rang.
Natasha.
Rowan answered with a grin. "Let me guess. Thinking of quitting S.H.I.E.L.D. and enrolling at the academy?"
Her voice on the other end was raw with exhaustion. "Rowan. Fury's dead. S.H.I.E.L.D. is finished. We need your help."
The words hit harder than he expected.
"Nick Fury?" Rowan said slowly. "You're certain?"
Fury was many things, but careless wasn't one of them. He had backups for his backups. Skrull doubles. Carol Danvers watching the stars. Even Rowan wasn't confident he could take Captain Marvel head-on.
Natasha's reply erased most of that doubt.
"We were ambushed by a Hydra strike team. Winter Soldiers. Dozens of them. Fury was shot through the chest. He died on the spot."
Rowan's expression darkened.
Winter Soldiers weren't supposed to be plural.
In one universe, there had only been one. Here, things were clearly worse. Hydra must have activated the entire frozen program early. An army of assassins, trained in infiltration, destabilization, and silent regime collapse.
It explained everything.
Without Steve Rogers on the front line, without time to prepare, S.H.I.E.L.D. never stood a chance.
"Did his body… change?" Rowan asked carefully. "Anything unusual?"
"What are you talking about?" Natasha snapped. "Rowan, this isn't a joke. Hydra has taken control of the Helicarriers. They're preparing to launch Project Insight."
That settled it.
If Fury had been a Skrull, the disguise would have failed at death. No transformation meant no double.
This was real.
"All right," Rowan said. "Where are you?"
If he did nothing, Hydra would win. Project Insight would turn the skies into execution platforms, calculating every potential threat and erasing it before it could act. Anyone who didn't submit would be eliminated. That included his academy.
And Rowan Mercer did not kneel.
"Stay where you are," he continued. "I'm coming."
He ended the call, eyes cold.
Hydra had made its choice.
Now it was his turn.
...
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