002 | Phil Coulson | [Video]

[theshield_agent]

[He's pointing his wrist at the giant box in the center of town.]

Anyone want to tell me what the heck I'm looking at. I think I heard "old Norse" and that just begs the question of whether we have anyone who can read old Norse. I'm afraid I don't speak any dead languages, myself, and this isn't anything I've seen before.

Comments

[greenisnteasy]

Not sure about the Norse, sorry, but I do know enough astronomy to know that's a star map on one side, and those globes fit into it somehow, probably as some kind of celestial bodies. Suns, meteors, planets. If we figure out what part of space that map is trying to be, it could tell us a lot.

[theshield_agent]

Let me know what you find. If I get anything from anyone else, I'll forward it along to you. So far, what we've got is that it's stronger than adamantium, so have fun figuring that one out.

[greenisnteasy]

I think I'll make my new catchphrase "Now I've seen everything."

I'll keep you informed.

[theshield_agent]

Thanks.

[And then a few hours later, without preamble.]

It's all worthless graffiti. Names, dates, sentimental bullshit. Either it's a code or it's nothing.

[greenisnteasy]

Graffiti? So it was displayed publicly somewhere with a bunch of people who have something stronger than adamantium chilling out in their backpockets for when they just need to carve Joanie loves Chachi into something. Interesting.

I'm working on the star chart. Whatever this thing isn't from around here. If I had better equipment, I could maybe... [He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.]

This thing served a purpose, maybe some kind of monument, and it probably isn't from Earth. Those are my guesses so far.

[theshield_agent]

That seems like a real possibility. I'm not discounting the idea of there being a code, but whether anyone will be able to do anything with it or not is entirely up in the air.

Obviously this isn't really my area, but if there's anything you need a hand with that I can actually do, let me know.

[greenisnteasy]

Probably. Trees and planets don't usually explain why monuments or statues might be screaming internally. There's some kind of significance here...

I'm no botanist, though. How're you at trees?

[theshield_agent]

I haven't killed the cactus that my sister gave me.

[So... not the greatest!]

[greenisnteasy]

Thankfully this one's health is set in stone.

[Huh? Huh?]

[theshield_agent]

[Phil's face cracks and then he can't stop laughing for nearly half a minute.]

Thanks. You make my jokes look young and clever.

[greenisnteasy]

[Bruce just grins at first, and then he laughs too, ducking his head.]

That's what I'm good for. Making everyone else look cooler by comparison.

[theshield_agent]

Yeah, you do seem to be hedging in on my territory. How would you like it if I was suddenly a brilliant scientist?

Not that that's going to happen.

[greenisnteasy]

I would like that a lot, actually. Science parties are the best parties.

We cook pancakes on hot plates. It's crazy.

[theshield_agent]

That's sounds horrifically unsanitary and I've been soaked in other people's blood.

Not going to happen, though. I haven't taken a science class in almost 30 years.

[greenisnteasy]

Please, Phil. Step one in that experience is cleaning. What kind of science operation do you think this is?

[Surprisingly? Phil seems pretty okay.]