Chapter 180: The Unliftable Hammer
"I need to retrieve Mjolnir from fifty miles away. If you assist me, I shall reward you handsomely."
Thor strode out of the pet store and declared imperiously to George.
George smiled:
"My payment won't be cheap."
"Name your price—I can pay anything."
Thor raised his chin proudly. Once Mjolnir was in his grasp, his divine power would return, allowing him to journey back to Asgard. Mortals only cared for gold anyway—he'd give this human an ingot as payment.
"Good. Follow me."
George gestured and led Thor toward the X-Jet.
"My name's George. And you?"
"Thor Odinson."
Thor explained:
"As a mortal, you may not believe this—but I am Thor, God of Thunder from Asgard. I—"
Every human he'd met so far, including Jane Foster and her colleagues, had thought him mad. Without his powers, he couldn't prove otherwise.
"I believe you."
George cut him off before he could continue:
"Then do you know Loki?"
"Loki? My brother—still in Asgard."
Thor was surprised. This was the first mortal to believe him so readily—even knowing of his brother.
"Mortal, you possess rare wisdom!"
His mood improved considerably.
George didn't elaborate, simply saying:
"I have several friends. Mind if they join us?"
"Of course! So long as you transport me fifty miles northwest—to where the hammer lies—the rest matters not."
Thor waved dismissively. The mortals of Midgard had treated him well—except those at the hospital.
"Steve, Bruce, Betty, Logan—I've got a lead. Return to the jet. Tony, head fifty miles northwest of town—there's a hammer waiting for us."
George activated his communicator to notify the others.
Ten minutes later, as the jet took off, Thor examined the interior curiously:
"So this is mortal transportation? Improved from what I recall—though still primitive."
Steve and the others studied the blond, bearded stranger before glancing questioningly at George.
George telepathically explained:
"That's Thor—Loki's brother. In my visions, he fights alongside us. But he doesn't know us yet. Let's humor him—we might learn more."
The team exchanged looks but nodded. Though this "Thor" seemed delusional, if George vouched for him, they'd play along—especially since their own searches had yielded nothing.
"Found the hammer. There's some partygoers here—paid them to clear out."
Tony's voice crackled through the comms.
Soon, the jet landed near Mjolnir's crater.
As they disembarked, they saw Tony in his Iron Man armor straining to lift the hammer—even at maximum thrust, it didn't budge.
"George, this thing's weird!"
[Translator: sauron]
Tony raised his faceplate, perplexed.
"My scans show insane energy readings inside."
"No mortal can lift Mjolnir! Only Allfather Odin—and I, Thor, its true master—are worthy!"
Thor pushed past Steve and Wolverine, striding confidently toward the hammer.
The group looked to George, who shook his head, signaling them to wait.
Thor grasped Mjolnir's handle and pulled.
Nothing.
Disbelieving, he clutched it with both hands and heaved.
Still nothing.
Planting his feet on the rock, he strained with all his might—to no avail.
"Why... Father, why have you forsaken me?!"
Thor collapsed to his knees, howling at the sky.
Tony turned to George:
"Where'd you find this drama student?"
"He's no actor. Claims to be Thor, God of Thunder from Asgard—Loki's brother. My visions confirmed it."
George summarized briefly.
Tony remained skeptical:
"Asgard? Please. Gods don't exist—and he's definitely not one."
"Thor, tell us your story. Maybe we can help."
George spoke gently to the distraught god.
In his dazed state, Thor welcomed the chance to vent:
"Days ago, at my coronation..."
George pieced together the tale: During Thor's ascension ceremony, Frost Giants infiltrated Asgard's vault to steal the Casket of Ancient Winters, interrupting the proceedings.
Enraged, Thor demanded Odin let him lead an army to teach Jotunheim a lesson. Odin refused and reprimanded him.
Furious that Asgard—ruler of the Nine Realms—would tolerate such insolence from defeated foes, Thor disobeyed orders. With his closest friends (the Warriors Three, Lady Sif) and Loki, he stormed Jotunheim to confront King Laufey.
Laufey mocked Asgard and called Thor a "spoiled princess"—provoking the thunder god to attack. Outnumbered, only Odin's timely arrival saved them.
Back in Asgard, father and son argued bitterly. Deeming Thor unfit to rule, Odin stripped his powers and banished him to Earth.
The story matched the films closely—except with SHIELD preoccupied fighting HYDRA, no agents like Coulson had come to investigate the hammer.
"Believe that? I don't."
Tony shook his head. He trusted only what he could observe—Thor's tale sounded like fantasy. That "hammer" probably had some exotic energy creating unique physical properties.
(End of Chapter)