Chapter 703

Handing the London Sanctum directly over to Evenson was not exactly what the Ancient One had wanted to do, but she had little choice.

She knew her disciples better than anyone. Letting them handle ordinary disturbances was one thing. Asking them to deal with the interdimensional ripples caused by the alignment of the stars was another matter entirely.

That was simply beyond their current abilities.

So she had entrusted the problem to Evenson.

As for how the Sanctums had handled such events before Evenson came along?

The Ancient One’s answer was simple: badly, and with considerable enthusiasm.

Whenever the stars aligned, she would plunge straight into R’lyeh because that was the more important battlefield. As for whatever happened outside, well... how bad could it get?

The alignment of the stars was hardly a weekly occurrence. It happened only once every few centuries.

The last time it had occurred, the Crusaders were preparing for the Second Crusade. Communication was primitive, superstition was rampant, and most people were remarkably easy to fool.

Even if someone encountered an interdimensional ripple, saw creatures from another reality, or somehow wandered into another dimension and came back, the worst that usually happened was a handful of ridiculous legends.

At most, some apocalyptic cult would gain a few new followers.

Those problems were easy enough to handle back then.

If a strange story started spreading, someone could have a word with the local religious authorities, who would promptly declare it heresy. As for the cult leaders themselves...

Well, a public execution had always been a remarkably effective way of discouraging enthusiasm.

Modern society, however, was a different beast.

If someone discovered evidence of an interdimensional ripple today, the entire world would know about it within twenty-four hours. The only exceptions might be isolated tribes deep in the African or South American rainforests.

And what were they supposed to do then?

Bring in a panel of experts to deny everything?

That would probably convince everyone even faster.

Fortunately, there was Evenson.

The moment the Ancient One had left, she had effectively gained a highly capable free laborer who could handle the mess for her.

And considering that she had already watched one of her promising disciples get stolen away by this man, asking him to do some work in return hardly seemed unreasonable.

Evenson watched the portal slowly disappear.

Then he tossed the token the Ancient One had given him from one hand to the other before taking a closer look.

It was an old-fashioned insignia, simple and somewhat rough in its craftsmanship. It carried the unmistakable weight of age, the sort of weathered dignity that came from surviving long after the people who had made it were forgotten.

The symbol engraved upon it also looked strangely familiar.

But the most peculiar detail was the tiny hole at the top.

A thin strand of golden hair had been threaded through it.

Evenson stared.

Could that actually be the Ancient One’s hair?

The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. In ancient cultures, a man’s beard or a woman’s hair could carry tremendous symbolic importance. Sometimes it was even associated with royal authority.

Then Evenson remembered the Ancient One’s completely bald head.

She must have made a whole warehouse full of these things.

A thought occurred to him.

If he quietly kept this thing and never returned it, that probably wouldn’t cause too much trouble.

After all, it looked like a priceless historical artifact.

And judging by the craftsmanship, it was probably worth more than his apartment in New York.

Evenson was still entertaining that thoroughly respectable line of reasoning when the Mirror Dimension finally faded.

With the Ancient One gone, reality settled back into place.

The atmosphere inside the London Sanctum had changed completely.

The relaxed mood from earlier was gone. Every sorcerer was moving with purpose, while amplification runes carved into the walls continuously broadcast the latest information.

"All sorcerers to Level One alert. Interdimensional ripples are imminent."

The announcement came in an elegant, gentlemanly male voice.

Unfortunately, to Evenson, everyone speaking still sounded as though their tongues were trying to escape their mouths.

Apparently, Master Malgani had finally managed to break free of the linguistic curse Evenson had placed on him.

At least the man’s tongue was working properly again.

"The ley network monitoring system is operating at maximum capacity. The High Council calculates the projected center of the interdimensional ripple to be Greenwich."

"Abnormal feedback detected across the ley network. A localized gravitational anomaly has appeared in Greenwich. The High Council believes this to be a precursor to interdimensional connectivity."

"Sanctum portals have been fully activated. The New York and Hong Kong Sanctums are prepared to provide immediate support. All sorcerers are to prepare for deployment."

Evenson listened to the announcements and nodded repeatedly.

The Three Sanctums had been operating for centuries.

And somehow, they were still spectacularly bad at their actual jobs.

Each Sanctum had been deliberately constructed atop a convergence of mystical energy.

Evenson was currently standing on the grounds of the London Sanctum. Thanks to the location alone, he could close his eyes and feel the weakness in the fabric of space to the southeast.

If someone handed him a map of London, he could practically point to the exact spot where trouble was about to happen.

Meanwhile, these people were proudly talking about their "maximum-output ley network monitoring system" and "High Council calculations."

Why not just form a Joint Chiefs of Staff while you’re at it?

Evenson sighed and shook his head.

Then he pulled out his phone.

"I’m Special Consultant Evenson Richter. Use the 010 priority line. Put me through to the Director."

If he had to choose between working with these half-competent sorcerers and SHIELD, he’d take SHIELD.

At least SHIELD knew when it didn’t understand something. If Evenson told them something was happening, they listened and acted.

These sorcerers were different.

They knew enough to be confident.

Not enough to actually understand.

That combination was dangerous.

"Evenson..."

Nick Fury’s voice came through the phone a moment later.

There was a laugh in it.

Or perhaps a growl wearing a laugh as camouflage.

"Long time no see. Hope you’re doing well."

Evenson frowned.

"That’s a friendly greeting, but why do I feel like you’re grinding your teeth?"

As far as he knew, he hadn’t done anything to annoy Fury lately.

Sure, he’d used a few connections to requisition several cases of alcohol and about a month’s worth of food from SHIELD’s logistics system.

But SHIELD had money.

Surely they weren’t going to lose sleep over a few boxes of supplies.

"I have a toothache. Happy now? It’s none of your business."

Fury was furious.

Everyone in the logistics department skimmed a little off the top. A bottle here, a package of meat there. Nothing unusual.

But Evenson?

That bastard had stolen enough supplies to trigger a full logistics audit.

And the audit had uncovered nearly every covert contact Fury had planted inside the system.

Do you know how many aircraft carriers he was going to have to build now?

How many secret bases he was going to have to fund without those resources?

If Evenson had been standing in front of him, Fury might genuinely have tried strangling him.

Unfortunately, none of that could be explained over the phone.

So Fury swallowed his rage and forced his voice back under control.

"What do you need?"

"Well..."

Evenson’s tone changed when he noticed Fury’s sudden mood swing.

He’s probably under too much pressure. Maybe he’s finally cracking.

He chose his next words carefully.

"I’m in London, England."

"You’re what?"

"Don’t get excited. I have a visa. It’s the one you arranged for me last time."

"What are you doing over there? Don’t tell me you’re sightseeing."

The vein in Fury’s forehead was probably throbbing.

This bastard had just ruined his covert network and now he’d left the country without warning.

Was Evenson trying to kill him?

Evenson cleared his throat.

"Well, according to my extensive observations of the celestial sphere, the star Capella has crossed paths with—"

"Speak English!"

Fury slammed his fist onto his desk hard enough that Evenson heard the impact through the phone.

Evenson wisely abandoned the performance.

"There’s going to be a major incident in London. You need to prepare."

"What kind of incident?"

Fury immediately became more cautious.

Please don’t let it be another alien invasion.

New York had already suffered one last year.

Apparently London was next.

At least Evenson was spreading the misery around.

"An interdimensional ripple."

"An interdimensional what?"

Fury rubbed his forehead.

He understood the words interdimensional and ripple individually.

Together, apparently, they had decided to become a headache.

"In simple terms, the Nine Realms of Asgard, including Earth, are going to experience a temporary weakening of the barriers between them. Different wavelengths are interfering with each other, causing certain areas to overlap spatially."

Evenson paused.

"So you could have someone on Earth walk into a bathroom, open the door, and suddenly find themselves in Asgard."

Fury’s expression probably hadn’t improved.

"And an Asgardian might sit down for a drink and discover that they’ve somehow ended up on Earth instead. It doesn’t have to be people, either. Some of Asgard’s wildlife could cross over."

Fury scratched his head.

"You’re telling me this is going to happen in London?"

"More specifically, Greenwich."

"How bad?"

"The affected area shouldn’t be particularly large. The phenomenon probably won’t last long either. It could be over within a few days."

Evenson glanced toward the southeast.

"I’m heading there shortly to handle the initial response. I’m calling to give you advance warning. Prepare for whatever crosses over, and have some experts ready afterward."

He paused.

"Experts for misinformation."

Fury waited.

"Or, technically, disinformation."

Another pause.

"Fine. Experts to explain why whatever people see absolutely did not happen."

"Got it."

Fury hung up.

He sat back in his chair and stared at the phone.

The bastard was useful.

If Evenson handled this successfully, Fury decided that perhaps, ten years from now, he could give the man a raise.

Evenson had barely ended the call when a strange sensation ran through him.

His expression hardened.

He turned toward Greenwich.

It had only lasted for an instant.

But something powerful had just erupted there.

An energy surge far stronger than anything he’d sensed before.

What the hell is in Greenwich?

His eyes widened.

The Aether.

BOOM!

An explosion tore through one of the London Sanctum’s buildings.

Evenson barely had time to react before the emergency broadcast erupted.

"Abnormal energy surge detected! Ley network monitoring systems are experiencing widespread failure! Severe fires reported! Reserve teams, begin emergency rescue procedures! First Response Team, proceed immediately to Greenwich and investigate!"

"Nobody goes."

Evenson’s voice cut through the chaos.

He reached into his robes and produced the insignia the Ancient One had given him.

"The Ancient One has issued her authority. I am responsible for all military and administrative matters concerning the London Sanctum."

Every sorcerer stopped.

Their eyes fell upon the insignia in his hand.

Once they recognized the Ancient One’s token, their expressions changed immediately.

Heads lowered.

Inside the Sanctums, the Ancient One’s authority was absolute.

"But what about Greenwich?"

A portal suddenly opened.

Master Malgani stepped through.

The refined British gentleman from earlier was nowhere to be seen.

His hair was disheveled. One side of his face was blackened with soot, and part of one eyebrow appeared to have been singed away.

Apparently, when the ley network monitoring system caught fire, it had made a rather direct introduction to his face.

"I’ll investigate personally."

Evenson put the insignia away.

"Until I return, remain on standby. If interdimensional creatures breach into our world, engage immediately."

He swept his gaze across the room.

"And maintain concealment. When this is over, I expect the public to remain completely unaware that the Sanctum or any of you exist."

Malgani hesitated.

Clearly, he wasn’t thrilled about taking orders from an outsider.

But the insignia was still fresh in his mind.

He lowered his head.

"Understood."

"One more thing."

Evenson looked around.

"Which one of you can open a portal to Greenwich?"

Silence.

Evenson raised an eyebrow.

"Or call me an Uber."

Several sorcerers stared at him.

He shrugged.

"Don’t look at me like that. Everyone has their specialty."

Fortunately, everyone in the Sanctum understood that the situation was urgent.

A portal opened almost immediately.

Evenson stepped through.

A moment later, he emerged in Greenwich.

More precisely, at the site of the energy surge.

The location was an old warehouse.

He appeared in a secluded area where no one noticed his arrival.

Evenson looked over the scene.

A group of police officers had already arrived.

On the opposite side of the warehouse, two women appeared to be arguing about something.

Evenson recognized both of them.

The cute young woman wearing a knitted cap was Darcy Lewis, one of Dr. Erik Selvig’s students and one of the people directly involved in the first Thor incident.

The other woman was impossible to mistake.

Jane Foster.

Thor’s girlfriend on Earth.

Jane’s life had been a mess lately.

Not financially.

Emotionally.

It had been nearly two years since she’d last seen Thor. They hadn’t spoken during that time, either.

Then she’d watched him appear on television during the events in New York.

He’d come to Earth.

He’d fought alongside the Avengers.

And he hadn’t looked for her.

Naturally, Jane had assumed he’d forgotten about her.

Heartbreak was painful enough under normal circumstances.

It was worse when a relationship had barely begun to reach its peak before collapsing.

Fortunately, Jane was too rational to drown herself in alcohol or do something catastrophically stupid.

Recently, she’d finally decided to move on.

It hadn’t been easy.

She’d practically forced herself to accept that Thor was part of her past and had started trying to build a new life.

Including, reluctantly, starting to date again.

Then Darcy had shown up to her first meeting with a potential new boyfriend carrying scientific equipment.

Darcy hadn’t needed to say much.

She’d only mentioned that the wavelength they had detected was remarkably similar to the readings from that incident.

Jane had immediately abandoned the date.

The two of them had rushed to the site.

Inside the old warehouse, they’d discovered an anomalous gravitational field.

Unfortunately, they’d also discovered a group of children treating it like a trampoline.

Jane had been less than pleased.

Do none of you have homes?

The children had no idea what kind of scientific discovery they were standing on.

To them, it was just fun.

To Jane, it was potentially one of the most important scientific phenomena humanity had ever encountered.

She wanted them out of the way.

Immediately.

Unfortunately, scientists were apparently no better at resisting strange phenomena than children were.

Jane had stepped into the gravitational field.

And vanished.

She found herself transported into an unfamiliar dimension.

Something ancient was imprisoned there.

Something unimaginably powerful.

The Aether.

The moment Jane entered that strange realm, the ancient force awakened.

And the Aether attached itself to her.

The chain of events had begun.