The Ultimates: Against All Enemies Read Online Free PDF Page B

his mind is never far from the field. "Please," he said. "Come in."
    "We were just discussing how to circumvent a political roadblock to the production of an extremely important technology developed under a black-budget contract by Stark Industries," Thor said. "I believe General Fury has political concerns, with which I sympathize, but I can't agree with his decision." Loki winked at him. "General Fury, all I need is just this one signature," he said, approaching Fury's desk with a manila folder opened to expose a document.
    "I don't think I have to tell either of you how important it is to be able to recognize Chitauri infiltration wherever it may occur," Thor said. "And Tony's innovation—"
    "Goddammit," Fury said. "You keep talking, and I'm going to have to kill one of my only competent secretaries. Have you ever heard of a goddamn security clearance?"
    Thor put the smile back on. "Oh, but General. He already knows." In a double take that would have done Jim Carrey proud, Fury's head snapped back and forth between Thor and Loki. Then he caught himself and said, slowly and angrily, "Are you telling me you think this man is Loki?"
    "I don't have to think it, General. Should I make introductions?" Fury stood behind his desk and pointed at his secretary. "You. Get the hell out and forget whatever you heard here."
    "Yes, sir," Loki said, and closed the door behind him.
    "And you," Fury went on, now pointing at Thor, "are one crazy son of a bitch." Thor spread his hands. "General. After all we've seen in this past year, you still think it's crazy to believe in shapeshifters?"
    Fury glared daggers at him.
    "However you want to rationalize it to yourself is fine."
    "Oh," Fury said. "You're going to lecture me about rationalizing? Let me get out my tape recorder."
    "General Fury," Thor said. "That was Loki. Last night he was telling me that after your conversation with Steve Rogers, Steve was angry about the suppression of Tony's tech. Is that true?" Fury didn't answer.
    "Is it also true that you talked about baseball, and that Steve drank only ginger ale?" Still only silence from Fury.
    "If you need to think I'm crazy because that's the way your world makes sense to you, be my guest," Thor said. "But this happened. And what needs to happen now is you need to get control of the Stark Industries technology before someone else does it for you." Thor stood. "That's what I came to tell you. I'll leave now, but remember: if you don't act, someone else is going to. I know that, too. You can figure out how."
    On his way to the helipad, Loki fell in alongside him. "Not everyone finds your righteousness charming," Loki said.
    "It isn't meant to charm," Thor said. "It's meant to be right."
    "You know it's not going to work," Loki said.
    Thor looked down at him. "What's the name of Fury's secretary?"
    "Who cares?" Loki shrugged. "He's downstairs filling out a report on something ridiculous like equipment depreciation."
    "I don't care," Thor said. "What's his name?"
    Loki sighed. "Arthur Kostelanetz. Why?"
    "So I can know who I'm going to be accused of assaulting," Thor said, and leveled his half brother with a roundhouse right.
    When he got outside and into the helicopter, Thor opened his cell phone and called Steve Rogers. The phone rang only once before Steve's recorded message clicked on. Thor shut the phone, opened it again, and re-dialed. Again the message. One more try, Thor thought. He called Nick Fury.
    "I've had enough of you today," Fury said when he answered the phone.
    "Do you know where Steve Rogers is, General?" Thor asked.
    "No. And if I did, I wouldn't tell you. I'll see you next time we convene as a team, and I hope not before." Fury hung up on him.
    Mortals , Thor thought. It's too much for them. Everything is too much for them. He called Fury again.
    "Did you not hear me?" Fury said.
    "No, I did. But I wanted to find out if your secretary Kostelanetz is all right."
    "Is that—" Thor could almost hear Fury doing another