Logan quickly discovered that life inside the Bureau was surprisingly comfortable.
There were endless cigars to smoke, more liquor than anyone could ever finish, and a budget that seemed bottomless.
Every piece of equipment was top-of-the-line. The Bureau never settled for second best because its director, Drex Valen, somehow always managed to secure enormous funding allocations from the United Nations.
The pay wasn't bad either.
At this rate, a few years of service would be enough to buy a massive mansion somewhere near Wall Street.
He was even allowed to return to Xavier's School whenever he wanted, provided he remained on call.
Of course, joining the Bureau also meant a shift in perspective.
Logan could no longer focus solely on mutant interests.
Now, he had to think about humanity as a whole.
After all, the Bureau existed to safeguard the entire human race.
Its creed was simple:
Human Supernatural Strategic Defense, Attack, and Logistics Administration Bureau.
Control. Protect. Contain. Manage.
And now the Bureau had a new assignment.
Something had apparently fallen from the sky into New Mexico.
The incident had first attracted the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D., but after an initial assessment, it had been transferred to the Bureau.
By the time Bureau personnel arrived, the area had already been placed under lockdown.
Emil Blonsky stood beneath the blazing desert sun, lazily chewing on a popsicle. With one bite, he tore off half of it.
"Why am I the one handling this kind of job?"
The ice cracked loudly between his teeth.
"Sir!"
A soldier assigned to perimeter security hurried over and saluted.
The Bureau's soldiers were the best of the best, carefully selected from elite military forces around the world. Drex had never objected to that policy.
Blonsky nodded toward the restricted zone.
"Get every civilian out of the area. Extend the wire perimeter. Have radiation scans been completed? And why isn't anyone wearing radiation suits?"
The soldier answered immediately.
"The science team has already established a radiation containment station. Environmental scans came back normal. Radiation levels are within safe limits. Air quality is normal. Soil composition is unchanged. The radiation alert has been lifted."
Blonsky grunted.
Those procedures had been established personally by Director Drex Valen.
Unlike the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents of another timeline, who would casually walk up to an unknown extraterrestrial object without even checking for radiation, the Bureau treated every anomaly as a potential disaster until proven otherwise.
Anyone who had touched the hammer had already been detained for blood tests and medical observation.
The mandatory monitoring period lasted seventy-two hours.
Only after passing all examinations would they be released.
Complaints about civil rights or personal freedoms were ignored.
The Bureau possessed broad authority to neutralize threats and detain uncooperative individuals.
Less than three hours later, military fencing completely surrounded the impact site.
Personnel in protective gear continued spraying disinfectant throughout the area.
The scans showed no environmental contamination, but the Bureau preferred caution over regret.
Blonsky's job was straightforward.
Security.
Keep everyone alive and make sure the object was recovered safely.
Still, one question continued bothering him.
"A hammer that fell from the sky and can't be lifted by anyone. Why exactly are we containing this thing?"
If regulations hadn't prohibited alcohol during missions, he'd probably be drinking already.
In his military days, he'd avoided cigarettes and alcohol to maintain peak physical condition.
Now, as the Abomination, that discipline wasn't necessary.
His enhanced physiology crushed toxins so effortlessly they might as well not exist.
"Report!"
A soldier sprinted toward him.
Personnel assigned to the Bureau were always eager to prove themselves. Once they learned what the organization truly dealt with, many developed a strong sense of purpose.
Blonsky sighed.
"What is it now?"
"An intruder attempted to breach the perimeter. We've already terminated him."
The soldier spoke matter-of-factly.
Blonsky waved dismissively.
"Then drag the body away and bury it."
Even if the dead man had been a journalist screaming about freedom of the press, it wouldn't have mattered.
Anyone attempting to force entry could legally be shot.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Level Nine agents.
CIA operatives.
FBI agents.
Even senior United Nations officials.
The Bureau's authorization covered all of them.
Not far away, Jane Foster stared in horror.
The blond man who had tried to storm the military perimeter had managed to knock several guards to the ground before being riddled with bullets.
The gunfire had transformed him into a bloody mess.
Jane's face turned pale.
Moments later, she was taken into custody.
As for the blond intruder's body, investigators would identify him, determine whether any organization stood behind him, and then cremate the remains.
If connections were discovered, the Bureau would pay a visit.
Elsewhere, Drex Valen rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Seriously?
An Asgardian's physical durability shouldn't allow him to be killed by gunfire.
Even stripped of divine power by Odin, Thor wasn't supposed to be an ordinary human.
Then again...
Perhaps this was all part of Odin's lesson.
Drex shrugged.
Whatever the explanation, Blonsky was stationed there. If anything unexpected happened, he could handle it.
Far away in the realm of Asgard, the guardian of the realm, Heimdall, stood upon the Rainbow Bridge, Bifrost.
Leaning on his great sword, his gaze pierced across unimaginable distances and focused on a rapidly moving vehicle on Midgard.
A moment later, Odin arrived atop his eight-legged steed.
The All-Father dismounted and gazed into the vast expanse of space.
"How is Thor?"
Heimdall's expression became strangely complicated.
"The people of Midgard killed him."
Odin simply nodded.
There was no surprise on his face.
"I hope he learns humility in the world of mortals."
His voice carried both expectation and fatigue.
"A king cannot rule the Nine Realms through violence alone. Strength and mercy must exist together if peace is to endure. Humans understand this surprisingly well. They fight when necessary, and when fighting ends, they negotiate."
The words lacked the vigor they once possessed.
Heimdall noticed immediately.
"My king, if Asgard's enemies discover that Thor has lost his power on Earth, they will not waste the opportunity."
"I know."
A shadow of worry crossed Odin's face.
"But time is running short."
Heimdall straightened.
"I understand, All-Father. I will keep watch over Thor at all times."
Odin nodded.
"Good."
Age and exhaustion weighed heavily on him.
Mounting his steed once more, he paused and looked back.
"Pay close attention to the Frost Giants. Thor's coronation was interrupted by their intrusion. He retaliated by leading an assault on Jotunheim and slaughtering many of them. Laufey will not let that pass unanswered."
"I will remain vigilant, All-Father."
Odin gave a final nod.
"I only hope there is still enough time."
With a pull of the reins, the eight-legged horse thundered across the crystal bridge toward the royal palace, disappearing into the distance.
Heimdall remained motionless.
Like a statue carved from stone, he continued watching the stars.
On a high balcony of the golden palace, the pale and slender second prince of Asgard, Loki Odinson, gazed toward the distant Bifrost.
A shimmering mirror of water floated before him.
Within its surface, the events unfolding on the Rainbow Bridge were reflected perfectly.
Even the conversation between Odin and Heimdall echoed from the enchanted mirror.
Loki listened in silence.