A Briefing Before the Mission May Have Been Useful…
A clock ticked down to our arrival in Germany. I stared at it. My leg bounced in double-time to the blinking of the seconds.
Someone slid onto the bench next to me in the small craft that broke off from the Helicarrier. Natasha was currently helping pilot. “I won’t say that everything’s going to be okay,” said Steve, “That would be stupid. But I’ve taken down a guy with a cube before. I believe that with Agent Romanoff and Stark in his suit, we can take this one down too.”
“I have no doubt in your abilities. But this guy… he’s an alien. Who knows what he’s capable of? He’s the wild-card.”
“You’re right. We’ll just have to be ready for anything. And based on what I’ve been told about your abilities, you’ll help us do that. I’m glad to have you on my team, Evie.”
For the first time in a while, I turned to look at Steve who had gotten his suit on. The dark blue seemed to bring out even more blue in his eyes which seemed to draw me in. His famous shield leaned against his legs. This man had seen his way through many battles. He knew his tactics, and I knew that he was right.
“I’m glad to be on your team, Cap.” I smiled.
“Coming over Germany, now. Arrival time less than one minute.” Natasha announced.
We both stood. “Good luck, Steve. Please be careful.”
“I can try,” He grinned and moved over to the door, ready to jump from the ship.
I walked over to a wall of screens to watch for anything they might need my help with. I could see the man, Loki, herding everyone into a group.
Were those multiples of himself? How was that possible?
He ordered them to kneel.
Okay, what kind of god complex does this guy have? Now, he’s giving a speech. What a classic villain move.
That’s when I noticed he was ready to attack the man who stood up against him. My eyes widened, “Steve…!”
Just then, Captain America jumped in front of the man and deflected the power. “Oh thank the gods,” I pressed my hand to my heart.
“You know, the last time I was in Germany, I saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing.” Steve quipped as he moved toward Loki.
“The soldier,” sneered Loki. “The man out of time.”
“I’m not the one who’s out of time.”
Natasha swung the ship to face Loki, and I heard her voice over the PA system as well as with my own ears— she was piloting not far from where I stood. “Loki, drop the weapon and stand down.”
Before she could even finish her sentence, Loki was firing another blue blast at us. Natasha was quicker though, moving us out of its path. I was forced to grab onto a bar on the wall to keep myself steady.
I looked back up at the screens to see Steve had thrown his shield at Loki’s head and was now locked in a one-on-one battle. Eventually Loki had him on the ground, telling him to kneel.
Steve, not one to give up, shot back up fighting. “Not today.”
“The guy’s all over the place.” I heard Natasha say.
“Do you think I should get down there?”
“Not yet. I’ll give Steve a few more chances to try and pin this guy down. I don’t want him knowing about you until he has to.”
I turned back to the screens to see Steve getting thrown again.
Then, Tony’s voice comes over the PA. “Agent Romanoff, Evie. You miss me?”
AC/DC’s “Shoot to Thrill” blared as Tony flew in and blasted Loki.
“Man always knew how to make an entrance,” I laughed.
Tony took an offensive stance with Steve at his side. “Make your move, Reindeer Games.”
Loki suddenly was surrounded in golden light and his armor disappeared. He held up his hands in surrender.
“Good move,” Tony replied as his blasters went back to their places in his suit.
“Mr. Stark.”
“Captain.”
I realized then that the two had not formally met yet. This trip would be fun if that tension continued…
They got Loki restrained and sat him directly across from me. He gave me a smirk when he first saw me, but all that he was doing now was staring at me. I knew I had to stand my ground, so I stared right back.
Fury’s voice came through the coms. “Is he saying anything?”
Natasha responded, “Not a word.”
“Just get him here, we’re low on time.”
We kept up our staring, even as Tony and Steve spoke. “I don’t like it.”
“What, Rock of Ages giving up so easily?” Tony replied.
“I don’t remember it being that easy. This guy packs a wallop.”
“Still, you are pretty spry… for an older fellow. What’s your thing, Pilates?” I wanted to roll my eyes at Tony’s words but didn’t want to give up my staring. It seemed like Loki was looking for something in me, but for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what that might be.
“Hey!” Steve shouted, noticing our staring contest. “Stop staring at her!”
“Oh, I don’t know. The view is so nice here,” Loki smirked.
Steve moved to block his view when a roll of thunder seemed to shake the very air around us. It made Loki finally look away from me to the windows. I was relieved to be out of his electric blue gaze, but he seemed nervous now.
Steve noticed. “What’s the matter? Scared of a little lightning?”
“I’m not overly fond of what follows.”
Just then, a thump that seemed to come from the roof rattled the jet. We all were looking around confused when Tony put his helmet back on and opened the hatch doors.
I stood up to stand in his way, “Tony! What the hell are you doing?!”
He merely walked around me to the opening. I turned just in time to see a brawny, long haired blond man land in the doorway.
“Who the hell are you?” I asked.
He gave no response and instead used his giant hammer to fling Tony backwards. His body clipped mine and sent me sprawling. Steve caught and helped me up as the blond man grabbed Loki from his restraints by his neck.
I raised my hands to use my powers to stop him, but Steve tapped my arm and gave a minuscule shake of his head. He didn’t want Loki or this other guy to know about my magic. I lowered my arms. Steve was right. I had to keep that as hidden as I could. For all I knew, that might be a helpful ace up the sleeve later.
The man took Loki and leapt out of the open hatch door straight into clouds full of lightning.
Tony groaned. “And now there’s that guy.”
“Another Asgardian?” Shouted Natasha from the cockpit.
Another? Who the hell else is an Asgardian? What the hell is an Asgardian?! I really should have asked to be briefed before agreeing to come on this mission. I mentally smacked my head on a wall.
“That guy’s a friendly?!” Steve retorted.
“Doesn’t matter,” Tony answered. “If he frees Loki or kills him, the Tesseract’s lost.”
Tony turned to fly out the way Loki and the man had gone, and I pleaded with him to stop and think for a moment.
Steve spoke up too. “Stark! We need a plan of attack!”
“I have a plan. Attack.”
Tony flew out of the jet. Steve and I looked at each other for a beat before he reached over and grabbed a parachute.
“What are you doing?!” I shouted.
“I’d sit this one out, Cap,” Natasha said.
“I don’t see how I can.”
“These guys come from legend. They’re basically gods.” Okay. Really. What did I miss?!
“There’s only one God, ma’am. And I’m pretty sure he doesn’t dress like that.” Steve grabbed his shield and jumped from the jet.
“Where is he going?! Should I help him?” I asked Natasha.
She turned back to look at me. “Given that relations between Stark and Cap don’t seem to be going so hot, you might need to intercede. Only show the power you need to. Don’t let Loki see all that you can do.”
I nodded and turned to the open hatch.
“And Evie,” I looked back at Natasha. “Be careful.”
With a deep breath, I took a running leap out of the jet. I let myself free fall for a second before I used my power to fly. Soaring beneath the cloud cover, my eyes strained for any sign of the four men who had gone out before me.
I saw a brilliant light and gently landed where it had flashed. Tony and Steve looked as if they were struggling to get up.
I need to make sure they are healed when we get back to the jet.
Around us, land was smoking. Pine trees were bare of their needles if they were even still standing.
“Come on, guys. You really destroyed a perfectly good forest for a dick measuring contest?” I put my hands on my hips. “And where the hell is Loki?”
“Right here,” he spoke up right behind me. “Shall we go back to the flying ship now?”
A general yes was mumbled before Natasha showed up with the jet.