Fury spread his hands with practiced deflection. "That was World War II business from last century—absolutely nothing to do with our current operations."
Gemini rolled her eyes with theatrical exasperation. "Muggles who pursue scientific research are genuinely insane. Now I completely understand why Gellert Grindelwald harbored such deep hatred for Muggles back then."
With that declaration, Gemini opened her comprehensive potion bag and began systematically rummaging through its contents. After searching extensively, she finally paused with obvious frustration. "I don't know the specific situation here, so I didn't bring my complete arsenal. Can I arrange for delivery of what I need?"
Fury immediately responded with urgent practicality: "What are you missing? Create a detailed list and I'll dispatch someone to retrieve everything. Your people probably can't penetrate our security to get inside here."
"Unnecessary. Coby, proceed to the cellar and bring my specialized runic pen and fire salamander blood, along with moonstone and moonflower petals," Gemini instructed with casual authority, smiling pleasantly.
Fury frowned with sharp suspicion. "Who exactly are you addressing? Did you bring additional personnel here without authorization?"
The next moment, an exquisitely crafted small bag materialized directly before Gemini with silent efficiency. She reached out to accept it gracefully, opened it for careful inspection, and nodded with complete satisfaction. "Everything's perfectly accounted for, no errors whatsoever. I'm beginning the procedure now—please don't disturb my concentration."
Fury immediately pressed with intense curiosity: "What was that phenomenon? Who did you bring? Why can't I see them?"
Gemini rolled her eyes with mounting impatience. "I distinctly remember providing you with extensive magical literature out of pure friendship. Can't you consult those books when you encounter unfamiliar concepts? You haven't paid any tuition fees! Why should I provide free educational services?"
Fury recalled the entire room packed with magical texts and immediately fell silent. He didn't possess the time to read them individually—he was still carefully selecting trustworthy personnel to study them. He only needed to know which information proved practically useful.
"Could we observe the process? After all, I remain quite fascinated by magical practices," Natasha interjected with genuine interest.
Gemini offered no response, extracting various small bottles from her bag and beginning to mix the specialized ink she required. Natasha and Fury stood quietly nearby, watching her methodical movements with rapt attention.
Soon, the potion mixed from various powders and blood reached completion. The entire bottle pulsed with ethereal silver light, radiating an aura of profound nobility and ancient power.
Gemini withdrew her specialized pen, dipped it carefully in the silver potion, and immediately settled cross-legged on the floor to begin inscribing intricate patterns on the containment box.
Following her precise brush strokes, flowing patterns emerged with mathematical precision. What appeared like random artistic marks connected seamlessly to form extraordinarily complex magical runes that seemed to pulse with their own inner life.
She drew without pause or hesitation until she'd completely exhausted all available materials, finally releasing a breath of profound relief.
Drawing her wand with practiced grace, she tapped the box's reinforced edge with deliberate rhythm. Silver light flowed around the entire structure like liquid starlight, and soon those intricate patterns faded from visible sight, though Fury's magical eye could still detect faint traces of their presence.
"Procedure complete. I'll provide you with the comprehensive materials list momentarily—you can remit payment equivalent in dollars," Gemini announced, efficiently packing her tools and rising to her feet.
Fury nodded with professional acknowledgment and inquired: "How long before he regains consciousness? How much longer must he remain in this containment unit?"
Gemini waved her wand with diagnostic precision, and various colored lights manifested over Captain America's motionless form. After examining the magical readings carefully, she provided her assessment: "Based on current conditions, approximately two weeks remain. However, the exact timing lies beyond my ability to predict—he's been altered so dramatically from normal human physiology by your experiments that precise judgment becomes impossible."
Fury nodded with grim understanding. "Do you require escort back to your location, or will you handle transportation independently?"
Gemini immediately grasped Fury's subtle probing intent. If she needed their transportation, who knew what schemes he might devise to detain her here indefinitely.
"I'll return independently. Any additional business? If not, I'm departing immediately," Gemini stated with blunt finality.
Natasha suddenly spoke with careful consideration: "I'd like to inquire—is there some device, not excessively precious, that can detect hostile intent? You understand my profession—I require that type of advance warning system."
Gemini contemplated for several moments, rummaged through her bag's depths, and extracted something resembling an ornate spinning top from the very bottom, extending it to Natasha with generous spirit. "This is yours. It's a Sneakoscope that Aurors commonly employ—standard magical shops stock them. It remains completely silent during normal circumstances, but if any enemies approach your position, it will shriek while spinning frantically, simultaneously displaying your enemy's appearance."
Fury's eyes immediately blazed with entrepreneurial excitement. "Are additional units available? Which establishments sell them? Can we arrange bulk purchasing agreements?"
The rapid succession of questions made Gemini beam with pure joy. This purchasing agent business represented absolutely guaranteed profit margins!
"Certainly available—shops throughout wizarding commercial districts stock them regularly. However, few people purchase these devices—wizards possess alternative methods for identifying enemies, so they'd require custom manufacturing. How many units do you need?" Gemini asked with warm business acumen.
Fury calculated rapidly in his strategic mind. "Initially I require six units, with additional custom orders depending on operational developments. Is that arrangement feasible?"
Gemini naturally harbored no objections whatsoever. Observing Fury's distinctive features, she found him considerably more appealing—people who sent money looked absolutely adorable regardless of appearance!
"Absolutely manageable. After my return, you can dispatch someone to collect them at the shop, or I can arrange personal delivery," Gemini immediately agreed with professional enthusiasm.
Fury recalled the bag that had materialized from thin air earlier and suppressed a shudder. If he received mysterious packages in broad daylight, that would prove impossible to explain to his superiors.
"When will they be ready for collection? I'll have Natasha retrieve them," Fury decided with tactical wisdom.
Natasha examined the Sneakoscope in her hands with fascination, silently rolling her eyes at being volunteered for courier duty.
Gemini dispensed with unnecessary elaboration. "Day after tomorrow. Even if I'm away on business, Natasha can obtain the items from Ethan without difficulty."
Everyone basked in suddenly harmonious, mutually beneficial atmosphere. The next second, Fury appeared to receive some urgent notification, glanced at Gemini with obvious hesitation, then announced: "Do you have additional time available? Coulson has something he'd appreciate you examining."
Gemini frowned with initial irritation, about to demand additional payment, but considering the upcoming batch of lucrative purchases, she decided against haggling over minor details.
"Where do I conduct this examination?" Gemini inquired with professional resignation.
Fury breathed a sigh of relief. "Please follow my lead."
Exiting this room, Fury casually opened the adjacent door, revealing what appeared to be a high-tech conference facility. Fury positioned himself behind the central table and pressed several buttons with practiced efficiency, causing Coulson's image to materialize on the opposite screen with crystal clarity.
"What's the current situation? The manager is present—you can speak directly," Fury addressed Coulson from his position behind the conference table.
Coulson surveyed his surroundings carefully—confirming no additional personnel were present—then directed the camera toward the object before him: an ancient, imposing hammer.
"Manager, please examine the patterns inscribed on this artifact. They appear familiar—similar to something I've observed at your establishment," Coulson spoke quietly with conspiratorial caution.
Gemini studied the ancient-looking hammer with scholarly intensity. The patterns adorning its surface were indeed remarkably familiar to her trained eye.
"Runic script! Ancient magical runes!" Gemini declared after prolonged examination, sudden comprehension dawning across her features.
Fury immediately demanded with urgent curiosity: "What does that signify? What does it represent?"
Gemini considered carefully, her expression growing thoughtful. "I haven't studied this particular branch very extensively, but I can decipher these specific characters to some degree. The patterns—the actual writing—translate to lightning, power, and @#￥%@#." Gemini's final words emerged as an incomprehensible string of sounds that no one present could understand.
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