Covert Affair | Natasha Romanoff

Chapter 6: What is Galaga?

As Jenna stepped into the lab, she was met with the soft hum of machinery and the gentle glow of computer screens casting shadows across the room. Her eyes scanned the space until they landed on a figure hunched over a workstation at the far end. It was Bruce Banner, the brilliant scientist whose name preceded him.

Approaching him with a hesitant yet friendly smile, Jenna cleared her throat to announce her presence. "Hey, Dr. Banner," she greeted, her voice carrying a warmth that mirrored her genuine curiosity. "Mind if I join you?"

Bruce looked up from his work, his expression shifting from intense focus to mild surprise at the unexpected company. "Oh, uh, sure," he replied, offering Jenna a small smile of his own. "Always nice to have another pair of eyes on things."

As Jenna settled in beside him, a sense of camaraderie blossomed between them, fueled by their shared passion for scientific inquiry and discovery. They exchanged anecdotes and theories with an ease that belied their relative unfamiliarity, each finding in the other a kindred spirit. (SHES A NERDDDD!!!)

"Oh, by the way, I'm Zero," Jenna interjected, a playful smile gracing her lips as she extended her hand in greeting.

Bruce accepted her hand with a friendly shake. "Nice to meet you, Zero," he replied warmly, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "So, how old are you? And how do you know so much about thermonuclear astrophysics?" Jenna couldn't help but laugh at Bruce's question, a twinkle of mischief dancing in her eyes. "Old enough," she replied with a playful smirk, her tone light and teasing. 

Before long, their conversation turned to the Tesseract, the mysterious artifact that had brought them all together. Bruce's eyes sparkled with intellectual curiosity as he delved into the intricacies of its properties, his enthusiasm infectious.

Lost in their discussion, Jenna and Bruce were momentarily oblivious to the world outside the lab. But their reverie was abruptly interrupted as Jenna's phone alerted them to come to the meeting room.

Bruce and Jenna all piled into the room, their presence commanding attention as they converged on Coulson,Maria,Thor, Natasha, Tony, and Captain America. The atmosphere shifted from one of quiet contemplation to one of urgency and purpose, the weight of their mission pressing down on them like a heavy shroud.

As the team gathered, the weight of the impending threat hung heavy in the air. Steve Rogers, ever the strategist, voiced his concerns about Loki's plans, seeking insight from Thor. "Loki's gonna drag this out. So, Thor, what's his play?" Steve inquired, his tone laced with a sense of urgency.

Thor's response was grave yet resolute. "He has an army called the Chitauri. They're not of Asgard nor any world known. He means to lead them against your people. They will win him the Earth, in return, for the Tesseract," he explained, his voice tinged with solemnity.

Bruce Banner, the brilliant scientist among them, interjected with his own analysis. "So, he's building another portal. That's what he needs Erik Selvig for," Bruce remarked, his brow furrowed in thought.

Thor's mention of Erik Selvig prompted Natasha Romanoff to reveal a troubling truth. "Loki has them under some kind of spell - along with one of ours," she added, her voice betraying a hint of frustration.

Steve's mind was racing with questions, his determination evident as he sought answers. "I wanna know why Loki let us take him. He's not leading an army from here," he mused, his gaze fixed on the task at hand.

Bruce, ever the voice of reason, cautioned against underestimating their adversary. "I don't think we should be focusing on Loki. That guy's brain is a bag full of cats, you can smell crazy on him," he warned, his tone tinged with concern.