Odinson
“I don’t like it.” Wick said.
“What? Rock of Ages giving up so easily?” Tony quipped.
“Rock of Ages?” asked Steve.
“It’s a musical. Actually, it’s a movie now.” Tony said. “You must have missed a few things during your time as a… Capsicle.”
Matt chuckled. Steve looked at them both, amused but slightly disappointed.
“A lot of things.” he said.
There was a thunderclap. Loki stared out the window, watching carefully, and took a deep breath.
“What’s the matter? Scared of a little lightning?” Tony said.
There was an impact. The Quinjet shook. “Did we just get hit?” Matt asked.
“No.” said Natasha. “Something big just landed on us.”
“Deploy the ramp.” Tony said.
Natasha looked as though she were about to protest.
“It’s Rhodes.” Tony said, putting on his helmet. “Open the door, he’s out of missiles but God knows what he’s doing out there. Let me at him.”
She nodded and the back of the Quinjet opened. Cold air flooded the interior. Loki said nothing. Cap finished putting his mask on and faced the rear. Suddenly, a man in a flowing red cloak and shining battle armour landed on the ramp, wielding a hammer. Tony charged his repulsor- the man simply knocked him down with a blow, grabbed Loki in one hand, and tore him out of his seatbelt effortlessly. Wick reached for his gun. Matt tried to halt the man with his telekinesis, but in a burst of force he tossed his hammer and flew away, breaking his grip. Wick took aim, but held his fire to avoid hitting Loki.
Tony stood up. “Oh, great, it’s that… Calvin Klein model who killed that robot in Albuquerque.” he said. “Stay here, kid, I’m gonna go get him.”
“Wait, isn’t he a friendly?” Steve said.
“Doesn’t matter. If he frees Loki or kills him, Rhodey’s gone, and so is the Tesseract.” Tony said.
“I’m coming with you.” Matt said.
“No, you’re not.” Tony said, and jumped off the ramp, flying off into the clouds.
Cap began strapping on a parachute. Matt hesitated for a moment and looked at him. He nodded, and Matt pushed himself forward into the cloud bank, following the blazing repulsors on Tony’s suit.
“I’d sit this one out, Cap.” Natasha said.
“Don’t see how I can.” Cap said, finishing with the parachute.
“These guys come from legend, they’re basically gods.” she said.
“There’s only one God, ma’am, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t dress like that.” he said. He strapped on his shield and jumped out of the Quinjet.
Wick sighed and put his gun away.
The clouds buffeted Loki’s skin and the rain soaked his garments. He avoided Thor’s gaze- he was staring at him with an anger that was impossible to meet on even footing. The ground shot up at him and he slammed into it, and Thor was standing over him, hammer raised. He took a moment to catch his breath and then laughed.
“Where is the Tesseract?” Thor asked, unblinking.
“I missed you too.” Loki said.
“Do I look to be in a gaming mood?” Thor asked. He didn’t.
“You should thank me. With the Bifrost gone, how much eldritch energy did your father have to conjure you here, your precious Midgard?”
The hammer fell to the ground, tolling the mountain like a bell. Thor picked Loki up and brought him to the edge of the cliff. They looked at one another for the first time in too long. A bit of sorrow crept into Thor’s expression.
“I thought you dead.” he said.
“Did you mourn?” Loki asked.
“We all did.” he replied. “Our father…”
“Your father,” Loki said, raising his finger. “He did tell you my true parentage, did he not?” Thor broke his grip, and Loki walked away down the precipice.
“We were raised together,” Thor said, raising his voice. “We played together, we fought together! Do you remember none of that?”
“I remember a shadow,” Loki said, “living in the shade of your greatness. I remember you tossing me into an abyss- I who was, and should be king!”
“So you take the world I love in recompense for your imagined slights?” Thor said, his expression one of disbelief. “No, the Earth is under my protection, Loki,” he said, pointing at him.
“Jane Foster is under your protection. You couldn’t care less about Midgard.” Loki said. “I mean to rule them. And why should I not? They’ll be better off.”
“You think yourself above them.” Thor said.
“Well, yes.” Loki said.
“Then you miss the truth of ruling, brother. The throne would suit you ill.” Thor said.
Loki pushed him away and ascended the slope. “I’ve seen things, Odinson. I’ve watched worlds burn in the crucible of madness. I have grown, and I have come to know truths your father hid from us. I’ve seen the true power of the Tesseract, and when I wield it-”
“Who showed you this power?” Thor interrupted.
“Does it matter? Without my rule this realm will burn. Ask Odin! Ask him what his plan is for the next time the nine realms align.” Loki said.
“There are other ways than serving whoever controls you, the would-be king.” Thor grabbed him again.
“I am a king! And I will be your king, in time!” Loki snapped.
“You don’t have to keep secrets. Come home. We can solve this.” Thor said.
Loki’s expression shifted a few times, before settling on smugness. “I don’t have a home.” he said. The hammer sprung into his brother’s hand.
“You need the Tesseract to bring me back,” Loki said, “but I’ve sent it off I know not where. I’ve already won.”
“Listen carefully, brother-” Thor began, reaching towards Loki- but his hand halted. He pushed forwards harder and it was as though an invisible wall was between them. “What sorcery is this?” he said, raising his hammer.
Loki smirked and looked around. “Don’t hurt me, please!” he shouted, and backed away even further towards the cliff’s edge. Thor spotted a humanoid form floating in the darkness. “Arcanist, do not keep me from him! I am here to deliver justice.” he shouted.
“You’re Thor, right?” came a slightly unsteady voice in response.
“I am Thor, Odinson, god of thunder. What is your intention for Loki?” Thor’s frustration was building. He considered simply smashing the invisible wall with Mjolnir, but decided to wait to see who his enemies were.
There was a crash of metal against stone as a man in a suit of red armour landed just where he and Loki had been standing a minute earlier. He stood, and his armour unfurled a bizarre series of what Thor assumed were weapons. He was pointing every one directly at him. “Hey, MC Hammer? I’m running the show now. Why don’t you put that down before somebody gets hurt?”
Thor weighed his options for a brief moment. “If we are not enemies,” he said, “tell me, what do you intend for him?”
“We’re going to get him to tell us where the Tesseract is. Then, we’re going to put him in a cell somewhere. No part of the plan includes the words, ‘kill him before he can tell us anything useful’.” the iron man said. “Stay out of my way.”
Thor didn’t like his tone. He raised the hammer slightly and he felt the invisible wall approach, tighten like a vice around his limbs. He was not one to be trapped. He loosed Mjolnir and was immediately struck by repulsor beams, knocked down the slope to plummet towards the forest below.
Matt saw the hammer coming at him. He pushed directly on it to slow it down and focused all his energy into his barrier. It tore through the layers of telekinetic force like they weren’t even there. He began to dodge, but the hammer collided with the left side of his chest. He cried out loudly in pain and held his ribs as the hammer flew past him again towards where Thor had fallen.
As he began descending, Tony flew up to hover next to him. “Kid, you gonna be able to make it to the ground?” he asked.
“Yeah.” Matt said. It hurt to speak. He grimaced.
“Next time, do what I say and stay on the damn jet.” Tony said, then flew off into the forest below.
He landed, tossing up leaves, a few meters away from Thor, who staggered to his feet. “We can talk this out.” he said, levity in his tone and repulsors pointed at the god of thunder.
“The Tesseract belongs to Asgard.” Thor said, fuming. “So does Loki. Promise me they will return to their rightful place when this is finished, and I will help you. But I will not be left out.”
“You could have killed him.” Tony said, pointing back towards Matt. “I’m already the hot-headed idiot on this team, you’d cramp my style.”
“Your sorcerer struck first.” Thor said, gesturing to the mountaintop. “I was defending myself.” He crossed his arms.
“You know, on a better day, I’d kick your ass all over this forest.” Tony said. “But I don’t feel like it. Fury seems to think you’re humanity’s best bud, so he can have you. It’s up to him whether you get your cube.” He lowered his repulsors. “I’m gonna go get Loki before he runs off.”
“A shame. I would have liked to test your strength, man of iron.” Thor said.
“Actually, it’s Iron Man.” Tony said, and flew off back towards the mountaintop.
Thor considered going after him to make sure he kept his word, and was about to throw his hammer when a voice called to him from among the trees.
“Thor!” Cap shouted.
“Who goes there?” said Thor.
“Steve Rogers, I’m with Stark, where is he?” Cap said.
“Stark? You mean Iron Man? Or is Stark the sorcerer?” Thor said, confused.
“Stark’s the arrogant one with the flying armour.” Cap said, deadpan.
“I see. And the sorcerer?” Thor said.
“Matt Garetty. I… don’t think he can use magic.” Cap said.
“What name do you give to it, if not magic?” said Thor.
“Tele… telekinitis, I think. Are they alright? You guys didn’t have any serious problems?” Cap said.
“Of course.” said Thor, smiling. “I am a reasonable man.”
An hour and a half later, outside the containment room of the Helicarrier…
“I’m not saying it was your fault, I’m saying maybe you could have used a little less force. What the hell is that hammer made out of, anyway, to get through Matt’s barrier?” Fury said. “For that matter, why was your immediate plan to break into a military jet and just… grab Loki? I know if I were on a friendly visit to Asgard I wouldn’t just blow shit up. I feel like I’d probably outstay my welcome pretty quick.”
“Very well,” Thor said, not quite making eye contact, “I apologize. Now that I know where everyone’s loyalties lie, we may join forces.”
“I’ll be the arbiter of that.” Fury said. “As it so happens, I’m receptive to the idea.” He paused. “You got lucky. Try not to break anything else.”
Thor nodded. “On my honour as Prince of Asgard, your enemies are mine, and your allies are my charges.” he said.
Fury offered a hand. Thor took it. His grip was like iron, but Fury’s expression didn’t waver. He turned and walked through the door, Thor following.
In the containment room, Central was already standing at the control panel, arms behind his back. Loki glared at him from behind the thick walls of the chamber as Vahlen looked on, monitoring their prisoner.
Central began to speak to their prisoner. Fury walked up behind him.
“In case it’s unclear, you are under our complete control so long as you are in that cylinder.” he said, opening the hatch and raising his voice to exceed the sound of rushing wind from below, “The release mechanism launches the container down through this floor. The amount of force delivered upon impact to any occupants is… Let’s just say it’ll ruin your day.” The hatch closed.
“A certain insect metaphor springs to mind.” Vahlen said.
Loki glanced at her, looking contemplative, but soon turned his gaze back to Central. “This cage wasn’t built for me, was it?” he asked, smirking.
“I think you’ll find it exceeds the specifications necessary to contain you.” Vahlen said.
Without looking at her, Loki said “How did you survive the energy blast?”
Vahlen didn’t answer.
“What are you hiding?” he continued.
“Don’t listen to him.” Thor said. “He’ll try to turn you against your friends, make you doubt.”
Loki turned to him, scowling. “Friends. SHIELD is no friend of our people, Odinson. XCOM’s weapons were designed for you as well.”
Thor said nothing.
“Who is this cage for, Director? My brother? No. I think not. Tell me, where is your dog of war now, the beast who makes play he is still a man? How desperate are you, that you call upon such lost creatures to defend you?”
Fury looked at Central.
“It’s not desperation,” Central said, “but necessity. That mindless beast is smart enough to track down the Tesseract, and soon he will. Then we’ll see who’s desperate.”
“If I am not victorious, you are doomed. Without my army to bring order to this world, things yet worse will crawl from the woodwork. Your pitiful planet will burn while Odin turns a blind eye, and it will be your doing, not mine!” Loki said, with that sounded like a tinge of genuine frustration in his voice.
Central shook his head and left the room, taking measured, even steps. Fury followed him.
“Thor, if you would, I’d like you to meet me at my laboratory, tomorrow morning. I need a sample of your cells to ensure my preliminary results on Loki’s physiology are accurate.” Vahlen said, walking over to the console. Thor nodded and left the room, eyeing Loki suspiciously.
Vahlen turned the lights inside the cell up to 300% luminosity. Loki squinted and shaded his eyes, trying to meet her gaze through the glare. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you, Loki.” she said. “The technology you brought to Earth will surely advance our science by decades or centuries.”
“You won’t live to see that progress.” Loki said with chilling certainty. Vahlen’s eyes widened. She stood there for a moment, then left, dimming the lights in the rest of the room, leaving Loki trapped in a cylinder of inescapable brightness. He sat cross-legged on the floor and grimaced, then smiled as soon as she was gone.
The next day…
The infirmary on the Minerva didn’t smell like a hospital. It was just as new and fresh as the rest of the vessel, and had the same undercurrent of metal polish and Department of Defense money that permeated the rest of the ship. Banner knew that smell. He’d been in more than enough Army labs. He put an X-ray slide down on the table next to Matt’s bed.
“Good news. Results just came in and your lungs are fine. No punctures, no stray bits of rib, it looks like you’re alright, so long as you get some medical attention and time to heal.” he said.
Matt shifted a little to look at Banner. “When can I go back out there?” he asked.
“We got Loki. It’s done. You did well.” Banner said, smiling uncertainly.
“Colonel Rhodes is still out there. Mr. Stark couldn’t catch him, they need my help.” Matt said.
Banner shook his head. “I’m sorry. You’re in no shape to do anything. Look, part of one of your ribs was pulverized. Tiny bone shards, everywhere, you could really hurt yourself if you move around too quickly. You need surgery. Look, you caught Loki. You got him. I watched the tape, you ripped the scepter right out of his hand. Don’t worry about taking a little break, alright?”
“I have to do more.” Matt said. “You saw the feed from the containment room. It’s not over, and I don’t have the right to just do nothing.”
“Matt. Stark, and Thor, and Cap, they’re legends. They’ve done more than you or I could dream of. Let them handle this. Look, I… in Canada a few years back, I figured something out. It’s this meditation technique, and it only works when you just let go of all the things you’re concerned with. Every time I went to sleep, you know, I figured the other guy might wake up. If I had a nightmare, or something. You’re worried about this all being over, and whether we win or lose, feeling like you could have done better. Losing something, and feeling like it’s your fault for not controlling your powers well enough. Not being good enough.”
Matt couldn’t look him in the eye.
“Sometimes, you just have to sit one out. Trust other people.” Banner said. “I’ll show you the trick if you like, sometime. I know it sounds like New Age hippie bullshit but sometimes, hippie bullshit really works.” He smiled.
Matt couldn’t help but smile as well. He took a deep breath. It hurt a little. As he was about to speak again, Vahlen entered the room and immediately started talking.
“Dr. Banner, I’m finished with the xenobiology for now. Thor’s skin has the hardness and tensile strength of solid aluminum according to preliminary tests, it’s all very exciting,” she said, her tone neutral, “but we really do need to get to work on finding the Tesseract. All Loki’s minions need is a power source and they’ll be able to tear open a portal the size of a small building, and keep it open indefinitely.”
“That’s what the iridium was for, then?” Banner said. “How do you think he’s planning to heat the cube?”
“I don’t think he is. He doesn’t have the hardware. He’s just going to achieve fusion via quantum tunneling in the containment matrix in the cube. Given a few more weeks I could have done it myself; I reckon whoever employs Loki knows how it works well enough to turn the cube into an artificial fusion reactor.” she said.
“Then they can unlock it at any time.” Banner said, concern in his voice. “How can we stop that?”
“They still need to kick-start the reaction. I’ve had Fury focus surveillance on every nuclear power plant we have access to, put a moratorium on planned fusion reactors at PEGASUS-adjacent sites.” she said. “The only thing that might still be able to start the reaction is-”
Tony entered and looked around. “Hey.” he said, walking towards Matt’s bed. “Kid, you alright?”
Matt nodded. “He’s got four broken ribs. He’s lucky he didn’t get killed; as it stands, he should recover fully in a matter of weeks.” Banner said.
Tony put his hands on his hips and took a breath. “Sorry about that. I should have got him before he started playing whack-a-psychic, really, it’s on me. Good news, though, you get a break from fighting gods.” He turned to Banner. “So how many kinds of doctor are you, anyway? Are you really an M.D.? I won’t tell anyone if you’re not.”
“I went to medical school after the biochem Ph.D. I figured it was a logical step.” Banner said.
“Shows more initiative than me. You know I took a gap year after graduating from MIT? Went to a totally different school. Learned dead languages, antagonized the establishment. Good on you not getting overwhelmed.” Tony said.
“Professor Shen told me you neglected your studies. You could have been great.” Vahlen said.
“I am great.” Tony said. He paused. Banner smiled and shook his head slightly. “You and Banner need any help finding the cube?”
“No.” Vahlen said, her tone flat. “I’d appreciate it if you stayed away. We have more than enough inexpert handling of the data already. Selvig’s reports are nonsense and Shen’s engineers didn’t know the first thing about-”
“The quantum fusion matrix powering the wormhole engine?” Tony said offhandedly.
Vahlen glared at him. “Yes.” she said. “How did you-”
“I read the reports.” Tony said. “What do you think he’ll use to power it up?”
“If Fury does what I recommended, his only option will be to use an arc reactor or some sort of exotic alien technology like whatever powers the scepter.” Vahlen said.
“Arc reactor? No one knows how to make those, and I’ve got the… only…” Tony trailed off. “Damn it.”
“It looks like Stark Industries’s reputation for responsible distribution of destructive weaponry remains safe.” Vahlen said, smirking slightly.
“For the record: not funny.” Tony said, taking a step towards her.
“That’s probably because my expertise is in science. You’re the resident comedian.” Vahlen said. “My work is far too delicate to allow a loose cannon in my laboratory. If you have any brilliant ideas, please leave a message for me.”
“Do I address that to the lab or am I going to have to specify that I, unlike all other callers, actually want to talk to you?” Tony said.
Vahlen twitched slightly. “Banner, we have work to do.” she said, and left quickly.
Tony looked at Banner and shrugged. “What’s her problem?” he said.
“I’m not sure. I guess she’s not all that sympathetic to your company.” Banner replied.
“How does she know how much power an arc reactor emits?” Tony said.
“Could be guesswork. Could be that one of her professors was a correspondent of Anton Vanko.” Banner said. Tony looked at him, incredulous. “She likes to talk about her early work. I get the sense she was something of a prodigy, like you and me.”
“Prodigy or not, she’s out of line.” Tony said.
“That may be, but she’s right about one thing. I should get back to work. Nice talking to you, Matt. Careful not to make it worse, okay?” he said.
Matt nodded. Banner left.
“Mr. Stark?” Matt said.
“Yeah?” Tony said.
“Do you think SHIELD will find the Tesseract in time?”
Tony crossed his arms. “I sure hope so.” he said. “If we don’t, we’re in trouble. Thor says Loki has an army, and he’s bringing it here using the cube.”
“Can Vahlen do it?” Matt asked.
“I don’t know. I don’t think it’ll be clean and simple no matter what she and Banner cook up. You read about the Lubeck incident?” Tony said.
“No.” Matt said.
“Good; don’t.” Tony said. “If you’re worried now, that’ll only make it worse. Stuff of nightmares. But I’m sure she’s perfectly safe to have around here.” he said sarcastically.
He walked out of the infirmary, perturbed. Matt took another deep breath. It still hurt. He thought about putting his ribs back together, bit by bit, with telekinesis. Standing up and walking off after Stark. Making things right.
A single thought crystallized in his head and began to intrude upon the others. Why couldn’t he stop that hammer?