Checkmate
Chapter 27: Checkmate
The days spent in Hesperia while waiting for Rhodes’ signal was an awkward one between Loki and Stella. They rarely stay alone with each other in one place, which Thor and Natasha separately but silently noted to themselves. Stella spent most of the time with Jane and Darcy, learning about their fields and stargazing with them.
Rhodes’ word came with him when he visited them on Wednesday. “Alright, I have everything.” He placed a bunch of scrolls and some documents down the dining table. Everyone entered the dining room and sat on the chairs around the table. James opened one of the scrolls, showing them a composite map of the Mojave desert. “Here’s their compound.” James tapped a finger on the huge grey area on the map. There was a massive building in the middle of the compound. It branched to different sides, extending to 5 smaller buildings.
“And they come from here.” James traced a path from the compound to the edge of the town on the map. “Most of the vehicles coming in and out are military trucks.”
“Government?” Natasha asked.
“Mixed. Government and private.”
“What’s their front?” Stella asked.
James passed a folder to her. Stella flipped it open and there were pages of documents about a company. “An ammunition factory.”
“That’s...not so subtle,” Stella commented.
James opened another scroll. It was a map of the town. “This is their first checkpoint.”
Darcy peered over the map and went back to her tablet. After a few taps, she passed the tablet to Stella. “Google Maps picked the location alright.” Stella grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down the address. “Good job, Darcy.”
“You’re welcome.” Darcy smiled proudly to herself.
“Are there more checkpoints along the way?” Steve asked.
James shook his head. “Nothing else. Second checkpoint’s -” he removed the second scroll and pointed at the gate of the compound - “here.”
“Can Tony break through?” Natasha asked.
“Not really.” James passed an envelope to Natasha. Natasha opened it and pulled out some photos. “That’s what he could get. Nothing else. He couldn’t get inside.”
“That means they have a strong firewall system.” Natasha flipped through the other photos. “Stella, can magic block modern technology?”
Stella bit her inner cheek as she paused to think. “Not that I know of. Maybe?”
“Either of the two then.” Natasha returned to the photos.
Steve peeked over Natasha’s shoulder. “There are guards roaming outside. And they’re wearing desert camouflage.” Steve pointed at something in the photo. The photos were passed to the rest of the people in the room.
“They don’t have guards on the roofs?” Loki asked James.
“Nope. But they have towers,” James pointed out.
“They must have massive ceilings. One that we can’t break easily,” Stella suggested.
“I can break them,” Thor said.
“Hopefully we won’t need to do that,” Loki replied.
James looked at Stella. “Do you think what we’re looking for is finally here?”
“Jericho’s transmitter connects to this address, so there might be something here.”
“What were you looking for again?”
“Any information as to where Ares is because wherever Ares is, the tesseract is with him.” It was Loki who replied.
James crossed his arms on his chest and nodded. “What will happen if Ares is here?”
Stella fidgeted on her ring. “Then we end it there.”
James raised an eyebrow, concern written all over his face. “Can you take him down?”
“I understand your concern. But we have to. I mean, I have to.”
James sat down. “I have to admit, we can’t bring him down. It’s all up to the three of you.” They looked at Loki, Thor, and Stella.
“I have to agree with James,” Sam added, his brows furrowed. “This is too risky, knowing that we have to infiltrate this massive compound. All we could give is backup.”
Stella leaned forward. “I know. I understand completely. And I am grateful for all your help. I don’t want you to worry about your lives. That’s what I’m here for. I know who I have to face and I’m ready to put my life on the line just to end him.”
“You don’t have to do that alone. You have us,” Thor told Stella. “This isn’t just your fight. This is also ours.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. Stella smiled at him.
On the other hand, Loki was sitting somberly next to Thor. For a moment he forgot what Stella’s purpose was, and her words just reminded him of what he was about to lose - or protect. For the whole planning session, he wasn’t saying anything. He was just sitting there, listening, thinking of what he has to do, and what to expect.
“To be honest, I don’t know what to expect,” Stella voiced out the same thought Loki had. “This is a gamble on our part.”
That night, Stella took time away from everyone and headed to the roof. During their time there, Stella discovered that she could hang out on the roof. She had also invited the others up there. Well, except for Loki and Thor; she thought the roof would break under Thor’s step and Loki...that’s a different story. Her heart would break, not the roof. Or both.
Tonight, Stella quietly sneaked to the roof alone. She brought a blanket with her and settled under the moonlight. She laid down, head on the higher incline of the roof.
It must’ve been minutes since Stella accidentally closed her eyes. She removed her arm that was covering her eyes and her eyelids fluttered open when she heard creaking on the roof. When her eyes adjusted, she saw someone standing above her.
“Loki,” she said when his face registered. “Why are you here?” She asked, though her tone wasn’t interested nor glad that he was there.
Loki closed his hands into a fist. He could still sense the spite from her voice. “It’s getting cold. You should come inside now. You might get sick.”
Stella sat and folded her knees. She rubbed her eyes and rested her arms on her knees. “Yeah. After you.” Her eyes wandered straight ahead.
Loki remained standing still beside her. Stella was just waiting for him to leave but his presence was starting to disturb her peace. She knew he wanted to say something and that thought was starting to tear open the fresh wound he had left in her heart. Stella clenched her jaw, preventing the pain from taking over her.
Loki relaxed his right hand. “Stella, I’m so-”
“Loki, stop,” she said without looking at him. “Not now, please.” She stood up. “If you have anything else to say, wait for this mission to be over.”
“But what if I -”
“By that, I mean after we defeat Ares.” She walked past him.
His shoulders dropped. “What if I won’t get to have that chance? Who knows what will happen?”
Stella stopped. The fresh wound has opened. She took a deep breath and bit her lower lip in utter disgust. “You really think you’d lose the chance?” She turned her head to the side, only seeing his figure in her peripheral vision. “Loki, can you at least for once be not selfish? We have a fatal mission to pull out tomorrow and I’d like to put all my focus and energy to that.”
Without waiting for him to reply, Stella entered the house through the attic window.
They didn’t waste time. The operation rolled out immediately the next afternoon. Jane and Darcy were sent back to New York for their own safety. The house was emptied, erased of all traces of them staying there. It was a precautionary measure. They didn’t want their activities there to be tracked, especially that they had Darcy and Jane with them.
During their whole ride, Stella was crouched on her seat in the back of the truck, elbows resting on her knees, her forehead against her hands. It was her first time to feel so nervous she was close to throwing up. Part of her was also blaming Loki’s approach last night.
She wanted to cry, but she mentally fought herself against it. There was no time and opportunity to falter.
The ride from the house at the edge of the town to the compound covered four hours. They intend to arrive early in the evening, thinking that there would be lesser activity within. They divided themselves into two trucks. Loki and Stella are in the first truck while the rest stay in the second truck, on standby in Hesperia.
Natasha was initially against the plan. She wanted to be with them in the first truck, but Stella said it would be best if she remained with the second team, saying that she couldn’t promise to protect Natasha against a horde of demigods.
The truck stopped; Loki and Stella looked at each other. Even in the dark, Loki could still see the outline of Stella’s face. She had a somber look on her face the whole time. He could feel her energy fluctuating. She’s nervous, he thought. Even without sensing her energy, he could see it with the way she sits.
They heard people talking and boots wading through the sand. Then white light filled the truck’s ceiling. They blinked as their eyes adjusted to the small amount of light. They were comfortably hidden behind piles of boxes, and they released a certain agent that would mask humans’ smell so they wouldn't be detected by sniffing dogs.
“All clear!” They heard a man say and the truck lurched forward.
“This is it,” Loki said. Stella nodded and they pulled a black mask on their head. Most of their faces were covered sans their eyes. From the information that they had gathered, the compound was guarded by a private military formed by demigods. All of them don black, combat uniforms. The military in camouflage stationed outside? They were government military.
The truck jerked to a halt. Stella and Loki waited in the pregnant silence of the truck. The doors opened, the two people who Loki enchanted got off the truck, then closed the door. The driver unlocked the clasps holding the thick tarp and slapped the tarp on his side twice, signaling them that the coast was clear. Stella mentally counted to five before standing up. She pushed open the tarp behind her and she slipped out of it. Loki went after her.
Stella pressed her back to the side of their truck. They were now in a large warehouse where the trucks park. Loki fixed the tarp, locking it in place.
“We’re in,” Stella reported to her intercom.
“And your red blips are up,” Tony replied in their earpieces. “Surprisingly, I could see you on my radar. I thought I wouldn’t. Reindeer Games? Haven’t heard you. I miss you.”
“Confirming that we can also hear you,” came Natasha’s reply.
“I’m here, Stark,” Loki replied.
“Good.”
“How’s your magic?” Stella asked Loki.
He took a deep breath and felt the low hum of his energy. “Still here.” He brought a hand to hold Stella’s arm. “Yours is also intact.”
“Right. Let’s get moving.” Loki dropped his hand and he moved to the end of the trucks to check. Stella checked the front. There was another row of trucks on Loki’s end and a path on Stella’s.
“There’s a door on my 10.” Stella heard Loki through her comms. Loki craned his neck and saw some people entering it. “Could be a door to the main building.”
Stella gave her side a last look before walking to Loki. “Let’s go.”
They left their truck and crossed the path. They passed by 4 more rows of trucks before reaching the door. There was a sign above it that said MAIN BUILDING. There were more trucks entering and leaving the warehouse when they entered.
There was a long hallway illuminated in bluish-white light. A group of 5 private military personnel entered the corridor from the other end and they nodded when they neared Loki and Stella. The two nodded back.
Stella’s nervousness from earlier disappeared. She managed to empty her head of it, allowing herself to focus. “No magical signatures coming from them,” she reported when they distanced themselves from the group.
“Is it possible for some demigods to have no magical energy?” Loki asked.
“Yeah. If both their parents or one of them are half-bloods, their magical energy cannot be passed on to the next generation.”
They reached the end of the hall, revealing a bigger open space that extends upward. Stella looked up. “Can you see it? 5 floors. There are four elevators, two on each end. Glass-walled corridors.”
“Yes. The cameras are working,” Natasha chimed in.
“Ditto,” Tony added.
Fuck. This place is so huge, I don’t know where to start. Stella turned to Loki, doubt showing in her eyes. Loki noticed it, he gave her a reassuring nod.
“Let’s check this way,” Loki suggested and they moved to the left side. There weren’t that many people walking the halls. Stella noticed there were other people wearing different uniforms on the upper floors. There were people in lab coats on the third floor.
“The lab must be on the third floor.”
Loki’s eyes went to the said floor. “We could check it out later. You think they would hide it in a lab?”
“Probably.”
“It would’ve been better if it was underground or a separate building.”
They roamed the first floor, checking each of the rooms that they passed by. There weren't any outstanding rooms so far. The biggest room that they checked was the building’s almost empty canteen. There were a few people who were dressed like them and fewer people wearing lab coats.
“Do you think there are guards patrolling on the upper floors?” Stella asked Loki.
“I’m not sure. We could check it out,” he replied as they moved on.
“Hey, you two!” They heard someone call after they passed by a corridor.
They stopped walking and glanced at each other before Loki turned to the source of the voice. “Yeah?” He asked casually.
“We need people to help unload the crates. Come.” The man waved his hand and walked back to the corridor.
“That’s convenient,” Stella quipped.
“Let’s go. It might lead us somewhere.” Loki walked past Stella and she followed suit.
The path they took led them to another warehouse - no, a hangar since there’s a row of 4 aircraft lined up in the middle. The first cargo plane’s hatch was open, and there were people wearing the same uniform as them unloading crates. Stella and Loki entered the plane.
“I can feel some magical energy from some of them. I just can’t pinpoint who.” Came Loki’s voice through the comms.
“I can feel it too,” Stella echoed. She checked the labels on the crates. “They’re from Russia and China.” She pushed the crates but it wouldn’t move. She moved on to a smaller box and lifted it. “Jeez, this is also heavy!” She said through her teeth.
Loki walked over to where Stella is and helped her with the box. “Quickly, before they can notice we’re snooping.” They unloaded the box and went back for another box. Stella pulled a utility cart up the plane and loaded it with boxes.
“Can you see through the boxes?” Stella asked through the comms.
“Uh, let me do something,” Tony replied and after a few seconds he said, “okay, give me a view.” Stella looked at the boxes as she pulled the cart out of the plane. “One of the boxes you’re bringing contains bullets for semi-automatic rifles.”
“No wonder they’re heavy.” Stella returned to the plane.
“Yeah, they’re weapon parts. There are some shells at the back. That one guy who passed by you was carrying empty rocket shells. That box Loki is touching contains canisters of gunpowder.” Tony sighed. “Damn, that’s a lot of weapons.”
“Hey, you two!” Someone from the inside of the plane called out. Everyone in the cargo hull looked at them. “No, just you.” They pointed at Stella. “And you.” Then at Loki. There were a few boxes left to unload. Everyone around them resumed working.
“Us?” Loki said.
“Yeah. I need you two up here.” They ascended the stairs.
Stella and Loki glanced at each other, still frozen in place.
“Uh oh.” They could hear Tony mutter.
“Let’s just hope they need help for something,” Natasha stated.
There was no telling what would happen. “Let’s go.” Stella started moving. “We’ll raise suspicions if we don’t follow.” She got up the stairs.
“I have a bad feeling about this.” Loki followed after her.
When he appeared on the next floor of the plane, he saw Stella’s hands were already raised above her head. Her headgear was pulled out of her, revealing her startled, anxious face. Someone pulled him from the stair entrance and dragged him next to Stella.
“Wait! What’s happening?!” Loki had yet to notice the private army pointing guns at them.
“Raise your hands if you want to live.” One of the men told him and Loki obeyed. Someone from behind him pulled his headgear. Loki glanced to his side, to Stella.
Stella had recovered from her shock and is now staring down at the man who just spoke. “What are you going to do with us?” She asked.
“You wanted this, right?” A hologram lit up in front of them, showing the tesseract. “We’ll bring you to it. We just need you to trust us.”
Stella shook her head. “You’re all Ares’ demigods.” She clenched her fists, covering her hands in blue sparks. “ARGH!” The sparks disappeared and Stella dropped to the floor.
“Stella!” Loki dropped to his knees and one of the demigods plunged a syringe on his neck. “No!” Loki was about to hurl the man over his shoulder but the tranquilizer worked its way through his veins, knocking him unconscious. Two men caught him and tied his arms on his back. The same thing they did to Stella.
“Bring them to the passenger area. Make them cozy,” Their leader instructed and the men carried Loki and Stella to the other part of the plane. The plane roared to life and began its taxi.