Su Yi had effectively left the Ivan Vanko and Justin Hammer problem to S.H.I.E.L.D. to manage. He had planted the seed—naming Hammer as the extractor—and the Director would take the bait. To Su Yi, it was a low-level investigation that required bureaucratic resources, not a display of superhuman power.
They only needed to obtain undeniable evidence of collusion, and S.H.I.E.L.D. could then team up with Tony to deal with the inevitable showdown at the Stark Expo. Vanko was already a bona fide criminal, and Hammer's involvement would surely result in his ruin.
"Don't worry about Vanko, Tony," Su Yi advised, strapping himself into the passenger seat of Tony's sports car as they drove through the Manhattan traffic. "He made his move, and now he is an active target of a global counter-terrorism organization. He won't be building a squadron of war-suits in peace."
Tony, surprisingly, didn't argue. He was still smarting from the kiting critique. "Fine. Fury owes me anyway. But if Vanko manages to somehow build an army of cheap drones before S.H.I.E.L.D. catches him, I'm reminding you that you could have just dealt with him."
"And miss out on an astronomical event of cosmic significance?" Su Yi countered, a knowing smile touching his lips. "Never. That's a waste of potential Destiny Points. Your corporate problems are small potatoes compared to what's coming."
Su Yi's mind was no longer on Iron Man, Arc Reactors, or Palladium poisoning. He had stabilized Tony and ensured the plot would run its course. His focus had shifted entirely to the signal he had given Coulson: the hammer in New Mexico.
Today, Su Yi planned to intercept Jane Foster. After a period of intense, focused study—catalyzed by the desire to quickly understand the mechanics of the impending Bifrost event—Su Yi now had a foundational understanding of astrophysics and astronomical theory that surpassed most laymen, approaching the knowledge level of a dedicated researcher. He could, at the very least, speak the language.
Coincidentally, Su Yi knew the current location of Jane Foster and her companions. They were currently in New York City. Dr. Erik Selvig, though a renowned expert in astronomy and theoretical physics, was not formally attached to a major university and often gave visiting lectures to earn money to support his own underfunded, unconventional research.
This time, he had received an invitation to give a talk at a local university on "The Potential for Extradimensional Energy Signatures."
After the lecture—a fascinating but sparsely attended talk on wormholes and Einstein-Rosen bridges—Su Yi seized the opportunity. He waited for the small crowd of remaining students to disperse before approaching Jane Foster, who was busy packing up equipment alongside Darcy Lewis.
"Ms. Foster, Dr. Selvig," Su Yi said smoothly, offering a polite, appreciative nod to the older, slightly disheveled scientist.
"That was a fascinating perspective on gravitational lensing anomalies. However, I was curious about your notation on the 'Yggdrasil-like' cosmic structure you briefly presented. If you model the structure as a stable, persistent bridge, shouldn't the gravitational pull be measurable, if infinitesimally small, across the majority of the nine dimensions? Your calculations seemed to only account for the local effects of the bridge's terminus."
Jane Foster, looking up from securing a stack of papers, initially gave Su Yi a guarded look. She originally thought Su Yi—handsome, impeccably dressed, and possessing an air of wealth—was just a regular student or, more likely, someone trying to hit on her with borrowed academic jargon.
She offered a simple, slightly condescending answer, "It's a simplified model, sir. The persistent structure is only theoretical."
"I understand simplification," Su Yi pressed, leaning against the lecture table, his eyes holding hers.
"But if the structure is not persistent, then the energy spike signature you are tracking in the south—the one I believe you're calling a 'rare astronomical phenomenon'—must be a transient event, a massive, one-time energy and matter transfer. If that's the case, your equipment needs to be prepared for instantaneous data capture, not continuous long-term monitoring. Are you ready for that kind of high-frequency surge?"
Instantly, Jane Foster's perception of Su Yi changed. He hadn't just read her general field; he had clearly digested the specifics of her unpublished, highly theoretical work and had immediately spotted a potential flaw in their deployment strategy.
His interest was not just for show; he was genuinely informed and his unique insight was valid. She immediately put down her papers, her own internal curiosity overriding her social weariness.
"That's..." she stammered, adjusting her glasses. "Dr. Selvig, what do you think? He has a point about the transient data capture."
Dr. Selvig, who had been listening silently, stroked his beard. "The young man is quite correct, Jane. We have been so focused on the location, we may have underestimated the speed."
Su Yi smiled. He had established his academic credibility.
However, due to their limited funding and their need to chase the signal, Jane still had to stick to their schedule.
"It was truly a pleasure discussing astronomical knowledge with you, Mr. Su," Jane said, regretfully. "But we will be heading south very soon. We have a specific location near the border, a high-altitude desert area. According to our latest predictions, a rare astronomical phenomenon—a localized, powerful energy spike—might be observable in the coming days. We cannot miss this opportunity."
Su Yi watched the three prepare to leave in their dilapidated RV, a vehicle that looked like it had been held together by duct tape, hope, and caffeine. "Why don't you take a plane?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
Jane Foster couldn't directly state the reason for their financial distress. "Oh, we're used to traveling and observing along the way," she said vaguely, trying to maintain an air of professional bohemianism.
Darcy Lewis, ever the blunt intern, couldn't hold back. She leaned in and whispered loudly, "It's clearly because we don't have money, dude. We're broke and running on expired granola bars."
Jane Foster looked a bit embarrassed; it was indeed the truth. Their research was profound but difficult to commercialize and generate profit from. Lectures didn't pay the massive bills that field research required.
Su Yi nodded respectfully. "Precisely so. Your passion and research are worthy of immense respect. I'd like to go with you all, if that's okay?"
Jane's face reddened with awkwardness. "Well, our RV probably can't accommodate so many people. And we don't exactly have the budget for..."
"I can solve both problems," Su Yi interrupted, his voice matter-of-fact. "I can drive my own car and go with you, and usually stay in a tent. Or, I can buy an RV. Are you in a hurry to leave? I think I only need one day to get ready."
Jane hesitated, but Darcy's eyes lit up like a supernova.
"Excuse me, I need to speak with Jane alone for a moment," Darcy declared, grabbing Jane and pulling her a short distance away behind a pillar.
Darcy immediately launched into her mission. "Jane, are you kidding me? You can't miss this opportunity! What opportunity? The one where the handsome, wealthy astrophysicist—who actually understands your weird theories!—offers to buy an RV just to hang out with us? Jane, he's clearly interested in you! Can't you tell? Look at him, he's a walking luxury problem solver who likes wormholes. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to date a non-brooding, non-research-obsessed person!"
"But we just met for the first time, Darcy!" Jane whispered fiercely.
"So, take him along! That's how you get to know him!" Darcy pressed, adjusting her glasses with the focus of a tactical operative. "If you don't like him after a week in the desert, then hand him over to me! I'm already very satisfied with him. Think of the gas money alone, Jane!"
The two were discussing aside, but Su Yi's enhanced hearing—a passive result of his strengthening—simply allowed him to hear every word. Listening to Darcy's perfect, enthusiastic assist, Su Yi couldn't help but show a slight curve at the corner of his mouth.
"Darcy, I'm very satisfied with you too," Su Yi thought, suppressing a chuckle. "Not only is your figure amazing, but you also proactively act as a wingman for the universe's plot. When the time comes, I will definitely reward you well... perhaps with a fully-funded PhD program."
Under Darcy's impassioned, logical persuasion, Jane finally confirmed her answer, albeit with residual shyness. The two returned, and Jane said with a smile, "You have to be prepared, Mr. Su. It might be very tough on this journey, and we travel fast."
"No problem, Ms. Foster. I believe the rewards on this journey will be greater than the hardships. I can match your pace."
"Then let's exchange contact information," Jane agreed, handing him her phone. "We will persuade Dr. Selvig to depart tomorrow morning. You'll need to be ready."
"OK. I will be," Su Yi confirmed.
The plan was now more than half successful. As long as he set off with them, he would be present for Mjolnir's arrival and Thor's dramatic introduction.
Su Yi watched Jane turn back to bid him a final farewell as she left, looking at Jane Foster's beautiful, intellectually curious face. He wouldn't let Jane eventually perish. In the comics, Jane Foster sacrificed her life to transform into Mighty Thor, the cancer-ridden hero who wielded Mjolnir one last time. It was a beautiful, tragic arc, but one Su Yi planned to rewrite.
The film adaptation had done a disservice to her character, but Su Yi recognized her true potential: immense courage, scientific brilliance, and a truly heroic heart. She was a woman worth saving and, more importantly, a powerful potential ally for the cosmic threats that lay ahead, such as Thanos and the dark armies of the universe.
"The last drop of Water of Life," Su Yi decided, his gaze intense. "It will most likely be used on Jane. Her life is worth more to the universe than its use as a simple power boost for myself or another temporary problem-solver. I will make her immortal. I will not let such a tragedy unfold."
He was confident that he would have opportunities to obtain more Water of Life in the future, so Su Yi wasn't worried about the cost. His focus was on creating a stable, powerful team to face the coming storm.
After bidding farewell to the three scientists, Su Yi immediately began his logistical preparations.
His first call was to a high-end luxury RV dealer. Within hours, a brand-new, top-of-the-line, fully-equipped Class A motorhome was delivered, featuring satellite internet, a full kitchen, a comfortable master suite, and enough storage capacity to house enough scientific equipment for a small observatory.
The goal was to provide a portable, luxurious, and highly stable research base, making their pursuit of the anomaly far more efficient.
He then contacted Tony's support staff, briefly informing them of his sudden travel plans.
"I'll be out of touch for a week or so, Pepper," Su Yi said over the phone later that evening. "I'm heading south to chase a highly theoretical astronomical signal I just learned about. Don't worry, the security situation is handled by S.H.I.E.L.D., and Tony is back to working on his new element. Everything is stable here."
Pepper, though surprised, knew Su Yi often followed his whims, especially when it came to science. "Be careful, Su. I'll call you every day to make sure you're not in a dusty ditch."
The final step was stocking the RV. Su Yi purchased enough non-perishables, high-grade scientific batteries, advanced sensor systems, and top-tier espresso beans to run a remote lab for a month. The efficiency was staggering: in one single day, Su Yi had easily prepared most of the things needed for a cross-country scientific expedition.
Everything was ready, just waiting for the next day's departure.
Su Yi arrived at the agreed-upon location the following morning precisely at the designated time, driving his gleaming, obsidian-black RV. It was less of a motorhome and more of a land yacht, humming with powerful, quiet efficiency.
The contrast with the group's vehicle was immediate and stark. Their RV looked like a beat-up, beige relic from the 1980s that had already seen three cross-country trips too many.
Dr. Selvig looked at Su Yi's vehicle, then at Su Yi, with distinct wariness. The contrast between the young man's wealth and his interest in theoretical physics was deeply unsettling to the older scientist.
"This young man is a bit too handsome," Selvig muttered to himself. "His intentions seem not to be simple. What's his real thesis? Marriage proposals in the desert?"
Despite his suspicion, Selvig still trusted Jane's judgment, as she had praised Su Yi's insights the previous evening.
"Hello, Dr. Selvig," Su Yi greeted, offering a warm, firm handshake. "I am Su Yi. You can call me Mr. Su, or just Su."
Darcy was positively vibrating with excitement, already circling Su Yi's RV. "Hello, Su! Is this thing yours? Does it have a plasma TV? Is that a built-in weather station?"
"Hi, Darcy. It has all the necessary scientific amenities, I assure you," Su Yi replied with a light smile.
Jane also emerged from their RV, but she was still wrapped in a worn, thermal blanket. She looked thoroughly groggy, her hair slightly disheveled from a night spent finalizing data models.
"Su!" she greeted, a weak wave accompanying her smile.
Darcy quickly explained, "Jane was researching all night, chasing a last-minute data crunch, so she lost track of time. She's running on pure caffeine and ambition right now."
"I can tell," Su Yi said sympathetically. "Jane, if you don't mind, you can rest in my car. It's quieter, and the suspension is excellent."
Jane quickly refused, her innate politeness taking over. "No need, I'll just rest in our original car. I need to be close to the primary data set."
Su Yi turned his gaze to Darcy. "Then what about you, Darcy? You can rest for a while, and then take over driving from Dr. Selvig later. That would be much safer."
"I... I'm very energetic, and don't need to rest for now," Darcy lied, clearly wanting to ride in the luxury RV. "But, can I sit in the passenger seat with you, just to assist with navigation?"
"Of course you can. Navigator and co-pilot, then," Su Yi conceded, winking.
After a brief discussion, the group of four set off, heading south on the long, dusty road toward New Mexico. One dilapidated vehicle was fueled by hope and expired granola, and the other, a high-tech mobile lab, was driven by a man pursuing a cosmic destiny.