Destroyer Through The Multiverse Ch 26

Tatsuya Kadoya stared at his computer screen, his eyes glazed over from hours of data analysis. The SHIELD office hummed with activity around him, but he felt disconnected from it all. He'd been back at headquarters for weeks now, and the monotony was starting to wear on him.

He clicked through another set of satellite images, searching for any sign of Kamen Rider Decade. It was a strange feeling, looking for himself. The irony wasn't lost on him, but he had to maintain his cover.

Tatsuya leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. The search for Decade had intensified since the Stark Expo incident. His alter ego's reputation had skyrocketed after helping Iron Man take down Vanko and his drones. Now, everyone wanted a piece of the mysterious rider in magenta.

He glanced at the clock. Another hour until his shift ended. Tatsuya suppressed a sigh and returned to his work. The data blurred before his eyes, each image looking the same as the last.

A hand clapped on his shoulder, startling him out of his daze. Agent Coulson stood behind him, a slight smile on his face.

"How's the search going, Kadoya?" Coulson asked.

Tatsuya shrugged. "No leads yet, sir. Decade seems to appear and disappear at will."

Coulson nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Keep at it. Director Fury wants answers."

As Coulson walked away, Tatsuya felt a twinge of guilt. He was deliberately leading SHIELD on a wild goose chase, but what choice did he have? His mission was too important to risk exposure.

The rest of his shift dragged on. When it finally ended, Tatsuya practically bolted from his desk. He needed air, needed to feel alive again.

Outside, the New York evening was cool and crisp. Tatsuya walked aimlessly, letting his feet carry him through the bustling streets. His mind wandered to the field operations he'd been on recently. They were meant to be challenging, but for someone with his skills and experience, they felt like child's play.

He remembered his last mission, a simple recon job in Eastern Europe. It had been over before it even began. Tatsuya had infiltrated the target facility, gathered the required intel, and exfiltrated without breaking a sweat. The other agents had been impressed, but for Tatsuya, it was just another day at the office.

As he walked, Tatsuya caught sight of a news report playing on a large screen in Times Square. The anchor was discussing the latest theories about Kamen Rider Decade. Spectators on the street stopped to watch, their faces a mix of awe and curiosity.

Tatsuya couldn't help but smirk. If only they knew the truth. He continued walking, leaving the crowd and their speculation behind.

Back at his apartment, Tatsuya flopped onto his couch, feeling drained. The monotony of his current life was starting to get to him. He missed the thrill of real combat, the rush of transforming into Decade. But he knew he had to bide his time. His mission was too important to jeopardize for the sake of excitement.

He pulled out his camera, flipping through the photos he'd taken recently. Each one was slightly distorted, a reminder that he wasn't in his home world. Tatsuya wondered, not for the first time, how long he'd have to keep up this charade. How long until he could fulfill his true purpose in this world?

As he set the camera down, his phone buzzed. It was a message from SHIELD - another field operation, scheduled for tomorrow. Tatsuya read the briefing, hoping for something challenging.

Tatsuya Kadoya stared at his phone, brow furrowed. The message from SHIELD was unexpected. New Mexico? He'd never been there before. The desert state seemed an odd choice for a mission.

He read the brief again, searching for clues. It was frustratingly vague. Something about unusual atmospheric disturbances and unexplained phenomena. Tatsuya couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this assignment than SHIELD was letting on.

He tossed the phone onto the couch and stood up, stretching. The clock on the wall read 9:30 PM. He had an early flight to catch tomorrow. Tatsuya moved to his bedroom, pulling out a duffel bag and beginning to pack.

As he folded clothes and gathered gear, his mind wandered. New Mexico. What could possibly be happening there that required SHIELD's attention? He thought of the deserts he'd seen in movies, vast expanses of sand and cacti. It would be a far cry from the bustling streets of New York.

Tatsuya paused, holding his Decadriver in his hands. Should he bring it? The mission brief hadn't mentioned any combat situations, but his instincts told him to be prepared. After a moment's hesitation, he tucked it into the bottom of his bag, covering it with clothes.

With his packing done, Tatsuya set his alarm and tried to sleep. His mind buzzed with possibilities. Maybe this would be the challenge he'd been craving. Or maybe it would be another mundane assignment, gathering data on some natural phenomenon that SHIELD had mistaken for something more sinister.

...

Morning came too soon. Tatsuya dragged himself out of bed, showered, and dressed in his standard SHIELD uniform. He grabbed his bag and headed out, catching a cab to the airport.

The flight was uneventful. Tatsuya spent most of it reviewing the mission brief again, trying to glean any additional information. But it remained frustratingly vague. As the plane touched down in Albuquerque, he was no closer to understanding what he was really doing here.

A SHIELD agent met him at the airport, a stern-faced woman who introduced herself as Agent Maria Hill. She led him to a nondescript black SUV, tossing his bag in the back before climbing into the driver's seat.

"Welcome to New Mexico, Agent Kadoya," she said as they pulled out of the airport. "I hope you're ready for some heat."

Tatsuya nodded, looking out the window at the arid landscape. It was a stark contrast to the concrete jungle of New York. "What exactly are we dealing with here, Agent Hill?"

She kept her eyes on the road. "We've detected some unusual energy signatures in a small town called Puente Antiguo. There have also been reports of strange lights in the sky and unexplained weather patterns."

"Aliens?" Tatsuya asked, half-joking.

Agent Hill's expression remained serious. "We're not ruling anything out at this point. Your job is to assist with data collection and analysis. We need to figure out what's causing these anomalies."

Tatsuya nodded, turning back to the window. The desert stretched out before them, seemingly endless. He couldn't shake the feeling that this mission was going to be more interesting than he'd initially thought.

As they drove, Tatsuya's mind wandered to his own otherworldly origins. He wondered if the phenomena they were investigating had anything to do with interdimensional travel. Could it be related to his own presence in this world? He pushed the thought aside. It was unlikely, but he couldn't completely dismiss the possibility.

The drive took several hours. As they approached Puente Antiguo, Tatsuya noticed a change in the atmosphere. There was a tension in the air, a feeling of anticipation. He sat up straighter, his senses on alert.

Agent Hill pulled into a makeshift SHIELD base on the outskirts of town. It was a collection of trailers and temporary structures, bustling with activity. Agents moved purposefully between buildings, carrying equipment and stacks of papers.

"This is where you'll be working," Hill said as they got out of the car. "Report to Agent Coulson for your assignment. And Kadoya," she added, fixing him with a stern look, "keep your eyes open. We don't know what we're dealing with here."

Tatsuya nodded, shouldering his bag. As he walked towards the main trailer, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. This was shaping up to be far more interesting than his recent assignments in New York. Whatever was happening in this small desert town, he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Tatsuya approached the main trailer, his eyes scanning the bustling activity around him. He spotted Agent Coulson near the entrance, deep in conversation with another agent. As Tatsuya drew closer, Coulson looked up and nodded in acknowledgment.

"Agent Kadoya, glad you could join us," Coulson said, dismissing the other agent with a wave. "I trust Agent Hill filled you in on the basics?"

Tatsuya nodded. "She mentioned unusual energy signatures and strange phenomena, sir. But I'm still not clear on why we're here exactly."

Coulson's lips twitched in a slight smile. "Follow me. It's better if I show you."

They left the trailer and walked towards a black SUV. As they drove, Tatsuya noticed the landscape becoming more rugged. After about fifteen minutes, Coulson pulled the vehicle to a stop at the edge of what looked like a makeshift campsite.

"This way," Coulson said, leading Tatsuya towards a crowd of people.

As they approached, Tatsuya's eyes widened. Before them was an enormous crater, easily fifty feet across. People milled about the edges, some venturing into the depression itself. But what caught Tatsuya's attention was at the center of the crater.

A hammer.

It stood upright, its handle pointing towards the sky, embedded in what looked like solid rock. Tatsuya blinked, sure he must be seeing things.

"Is that...?" he began, but Coulson cut him off.

"That's what we're here to investigate," Coulson said. "Watch."

Tatsuya observed as person after person approached the hammer. Each tried to lift it, muscles straining, faces red with effort. But the hammer didn't budge. Not even an inch.

"How long has this been going on?" Tatsuya asked, fascinated by the spectacle.

"Since yesterday," Coulson replied. "We've had all sorts try. Professional weightlifters, construction workers, even a few of our own agents. Nothing."

As they watched, a group of men approached the hammer with a heavy chain. Tatsuya raised an eyebrow as they wrapped the chain around the hammer's handle, securing it tightly.

"What are they doing?" he asked.

Coulson shrugged. "Looks like they're going to try something new."

The other end of the chain was attached to a large pickup truck. An older man climbed into the driver's seat, revving the engine. The crowd cheered as he put the truck in gear and hit the gas.

The tires spun, kicking up dust and small rocks. The engine roared as the old man pushed it harder. For a moment, Tatsuya thought he saw the hammer shift slightly. But then there was a loud snap, and the back end of the truck collapsed as the rear axle gave way.

The crowd groaned in disappointment. The old man climbed out of the truck, shaking his head in disbelief.

Tatsuya turned to Coulson, his mind racing with questions. "What is it? Where did it come from?"

Coulson's face was impassive. "That's what we're here to find out, Agent Kadoya. That's what we're here to find out."