I am Thor

As he puzzled over the situation, Thor began to notice something odd. The mission's core objective was to prevent Tony Stark's death, not necessarily to stop the Mandarin incident. Iron Man's brief retirement wasn't true retirement, after all—Stark would ultimately return. So why did the system include that as part of the task?

Moreover, mission rewards were usually proportional to the difficulty involved. What secrets did the Extremis serum hold to warrant this level of challenge?

Maybe this was a hint: solving the mission might mean starting with the Mandarin incident.

Waiting a decade for the plot to unfold was out of the question. To solve this problem, Thor decided he'd have to "cut off the trouble at its source." Two figures played pivotal roles in the upcoming events: Aldrich Killian, the mastermind behind the Mandarin, and Maya Hansen, the botanist and creator of Extremis.

At this point in time, Killian was still a fanboy of Stark's, and tracking him down wouldn't be simple. Maya Hansen, however, was a renowned botanist, likely already immersed in her research on Extremis.

So, Thor reached out to S.H.I.E.L.D. for assistance in locating Maya Hansen.

Since Stark had bailed on their scheduled meeting, it was only fair they help him find someone else, right?

On a beach in Hawaii, Maya Hansen, relaxing on vacation, looked up in surprise at the man who had suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Uh… sorry, I don't have an appointment," she said, assuming he was there to flirt. Which, to be fair, wasn't far off.

Maya was engrossed in her latest experiment, a concept she believed could revolutionize human development. But the research was still in its early stages, filled with unsolved problems and desperately underfunded. No one believed her "radical" ideas could work. She'd come here to unwind, setting thoughts of romance aside for now—though, admittedly, the stranger had quite a charm.

"I know you didn't plan to meet me," Thor said with a grin, "because your real focus is back in your lab, isn't it, Dr. Maya Hansen?"

Maya blinked, surprised and intrigued. "You know who I am? And about my research?"

"Absolutely," Thor replied seriously. "Your ideas might seem outlandish to some, but you're on the right track."

Maya looked at him, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. "Who are you? And how do you know so much?"

"Someone who believes in potential," Thor said, his tone intense. "Your research is facing a lot of resistance, I know. Too many people see the world from a narrow perspective, and they'll spend their lives just widening that view slightly to learn more. But when they glimpse a possibility bigger than they ever imagined, they reject it."

Maya's eyes sparkled with understanding, and a small smile appeared. "You know, I'm beginning to think you didn't just do your homework to impress me."

Thor smirked. "Actually, I'm here to invest in you. And maybe impress you a little on the side!"

Big Sh*t Stark, consider this payback. You stand me up, I'll hijack your future success conquest.

"Haha…" Maya laughed, taking his flirtation lightly. "Well, if you're serious about this, I wouldn't turn it down."

While she doubted this charming young man had the capital to fund her research, his words felt genuine. And if he truly had the resources he claimed, this might be the opportunity of a lifetime.

"Alright," Thor said, looking around to ensure they were alone. "I'll provide sufficient funding, advanced materials, and a top-tier team to support you. But be warned—the path forward will challenge a lot of what you think you know. This world is much larger than you imagine, and some of your core beliefs will be shaken. If you're ready to take that leap, then follow me."

Intrigued but cautious, Maya watched as Thor gestured for her to follow him to a more secluded spot on the beach. She hesitated briefly before deciding to trust her instincts and walked after him.

Thor took her hand, his expression softening as he glanced at her. Lightning crackled faintly around his feet, and, in the next instant, they soared into the sky, leaving the world below them in a rush of wind and light.