Goddess of Deception
Death of an Agent
We make it to the Helicarrier. The guards take Loki. We walk inside and sit around a table.
“Banner! It's nice to finally meet you. I spent years looking for you.” I said shaking his hand
We sit down and watch the screens. Fury talking to Loki.
“In case it's unclear, you try to escape, you so much as scratch that glass. Thirty thousand feet, straight down in a steel trap. You get how that works? Ant. Boot.” Fury said putting Loki in a cage
“It's an impressive cage. Not built, I think, for me.” Loki said
“Built for something a lot stronger than you.” Fury said
I look up at Banner.
“Oh, I've heard. The mindless beast, makes a play to be a man. How desperate are you? You call on these lost creatures to defend you.” Loki said
“How desperate am I? You threaten my world with war. You steal a force you can't hope to control. You talk about peace and you kill 'cause it's fun. You have made me very desperate. You might not be glad that you did.” Fury said
“Ooh. It burns you to come so close. To have the Tesseract, to have power, unlimited power. And for what? A world for all mankind to share, and then to be reminded what real power is.” Loki said
“Well let me know if real power wants a magazine or something.” Fury said walking away as the screen turns off.
We turn and look at each other.
"He really grows on you, doesn't he?" Banner said
“Loki's gonna drag this out. He’s not going to give up the Tesseract.” Nat said
“So Thor, Runa, what's his play?” Cap said
“He has an army called The Chitauri, that none of Asgard nor any world know. He means to lead them against your people. They will win him the Earth. Return, I suspect, for the Tesseract.” Thor said
Loki is always full of surprises. Now he is trying to conquer Earth. He doesn't give up. I like that.
“An army, from outer space,” Cap said
“I know it's hard to believe, Trust me, I've been in your position before,” I said
“So he's building another portal. That's what he needs Erik Selvig for.” Banner said
“Selvig?” Thor said
“He's an astrophysicist.” Banner said
“He's a friend,” Thor said
“Loki has him under some kind of spell, along with one of ours,” Nat said
“I wanna know why Loki let us take him. He's not leading an army from here.” Cap said
“Loki is a master of manipulation. No one knows what he's up to besides himself.” I said
“I don't think we should be focusing on Loki. That guy's brain is a bag full of cats, you could smell crazy on him.” Banner said
“I care how you speak of him. Loki is beyond reason, but he is of Asgard, and he's my brother.” Thor said
“He killed eighty people in two days,” Nat said
“He's adopted,” Thor said
“Yeah…He may not be our best example.” I said
I’ve defiantly killed more than 80 people in two days back in the day.
“I think it's about the mechanics. Iridium, what did they need the Iridium for?” Banner said
Stark and Phil walked in.
“It's a stabilizing agent. Means the portal won't collapse on itself like it did at S.H.I.E.L.D. No hard feelings Point Break, you've got a mean swing." Stark said to Thor
"And Agent, if your even an agent, what’s your name again?” Stark said
“It's Runa,” I said
“Yeah, Also, it means the portal can open as wide, and stay open as long, as Loki wants. That man is playing Galaga. Thought we wouldn't notice, but we did." Stark said pointing at a man on the computer
"How does Fury even see these?” Stark said coving one eye trying to look at the computer screens.
“He turns.” Maria Hill said
“Sounds exhausting. The rest of the raw materials, Agent Barton can get his hands on pretty easily. Only major component he still needs is a power source. A high energy density, something to kick start the cube.” Stark said messing with the computers
“When did you become an expert in thermonuclear astrophysics?” I asked
“Last night. The packet, Selvig's notes, the Extraction Theory papers. Am I the only one who did the reading?” Stark said
I rolled my eyes.
"Does Loki need any particular kind of power source?” Cap said
“He got to heat the cube to a hundred and twenty million Kelvin just to break through the Coulomb barrier.” Banner said
“Unless Selvig has figured out how to stabilize the quantum tunneling effect,” Stark said
“Well, if he could do that he could achieve Heavy Ion Fusion at any reactor on the planet.” Banner said
“Finally, someone who speaks English,” Stark said
“Is that what just happened?” Cap said
I laugh. Stark is so full of himself it's bizarre.
“It's good to meet you, Dr. Banner. Your work on anti-electron collisions is unparalleled. And I'm a huge fan of the way you lose control and turn into an enormous green rage monster.” Stark said
“Thanks.” Banner said
“Dr. Banner is only here to track the cube. I was hoping you might join him.” Fury said walking in talking to Stark
“Let's start with that stick of his. It may be magical, but it works an awful lot like a Hydra weapon.” Cap said
“I don't know about that, but it is powered by the cube. And I'd like to know how Loki used it to turn two of the sharpest men I know into his personal flying monkeys.” Fury said
“Monkeys? I do not understand.” Thor said
“I do. I understood that reference.” Cap said excitedly
“Don’t worry, it's from a movie. Flying monkeys aren’t real.” I said
“Oh,” Thor said
“Shall we play it, Doctor?” Stark said
“This way, Sir.” Banner said as they both walk to the lab.
Phil walks over to me.
“Glad to have you back,” Phil said
“Glad to be back,” I said
“Well, you look… different.” Phil said
“Well, this is my casual look,” I said joking because I was in my full Valkyrie armor.
“So you're not from Asgard. I heard Stark call you agent.” Cap said listening to our conversation
“No, I'm from Earth and an S.H.I.E.L.D agent, but Thor is my Father,” I said
“He doesn’t look old enough to be your Father,” Cap said
I laugh
“Well, you don’t look old enough to be 90 either,” I Said
“Technically I'm not 90. The doctors say I'm 28.” Cap said
“Technically I'm 1,328. The doctors say I'm 25.” I said
Cap looks shocked
“If you're 1,328 years old then how old is he,” Cap said pointing to Thor
“4,678,” Thor said
“Oh…” Cap said
“Look… I know this is hard for you to take in. A man from your time” I said
“Yeah. The world's changed, I have to change too.” Cap said
I turn to Phil
“You need to fill me in on everything that’s happened while I was gone,’’ I said
“Hope you have a few hours. A lot has happened.” Phil said
Phil explains how the Avengers initiative was put into action. How they found Captain America frozen in ice in the Arctic. He tells me about Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S at the Joint Dark Energy Mission Facility where Fury was working with Selvig on the Tesseract. How Loki took Clint and Selvig to work for him.
“As soon as Loki took the doctor we moved Jane Foster. We've got an excellent observatory in Traunsee. She was asked to consult there very suddenly yesterday. Handsome fee, private plane, very remote. She'll be safe.” Phil said
“Thank you. It's no accident Loki taking Erik Selvig. I dread what he plans for him once he's done. Erik is a good man.” Thor said
“He talks about you two a lot. You both changed his life. You both changed everything around here.” Phil said
“They were better like they were. Fury was right,” I said
“We pretend on Asgard that we're more advanced, but we. We come here battling like Bilchsteim.” Thor said
“Like what?” Phil said
“Bilchsteim. You know; huge, scaly, big antlers. You don't have those?” Thor said
“I don't think so,” Phil said
“They are repulsive, and they trample everything in their path. When I first came to earth, Loki's rage followed me here and your people paid the price. And now again, in my youth, I courted war.” Thor said
“War hasn't started yet. You think you can make Loki tell us where the Tesseract is?” Fury said
“I do not know. Loki's mind is far afield, it's not just power he craves, it's vengeance upon me. There's no pain that would pry this need from him.” Thor said
“A lot of guys think that until the pain stops.” Fury said
“What are you asking me to do?” Thor said
“He’s asking, what are you prepared to do?” I said
“Loki is a prisoner,” Thor said
“Then why do I feel like he's the only person on this boat that wants to be here?” Fury said
“I've got Romanoff interrogating him. We’ll find out soon enough.” Phil said
“Loki means to unleash the Hulk. Keep Banner in the lab, I'm on my way. Set the door locked. Send Thor and Runa to the lab” Nat said over the radio
“Let's go,” I said to Thor as we find Banner
“I was wrong, Director. The world hasn't changed a bit.” Cap said
“Do you know about this?” Banner asked me pointing to the gun on the table
"No," I said
“You wanna think about removing yourself from this environment, doctor?” Nat said
“I was in Calcutta, I was pretty well removed.” Banner said
“Loki's manipulating you,” Nat said
“And you've been doing what exactly?” Banner said
“You didn't come here because I bat my eyelashes at you,” Nat said
“Yes, and I'm not leaving because suddenly you get a little twitchy. I'd like to know why S.H.I.E.L.D. is using the Tesseract to build weapons of mass destruction.” Banner said
“Because of them.” Fury said pointing at Me and Thor
“Woah. What the fuck. I've been an agent for nearly a decade. I've been apart of your stupid little Avengers initiative since the beginning.” I said
“That was before last year when Earth had a visitor from another planet who had a grudge match that leveled a small town. We learned that not only are we not alone, but we are hopelessly, hilariously outgunned.” Fury said
“My people want nothing but peace with your planet,” Thor said
“But you're not the only people out there, are you? And, you're not the only threat. The world's filling up with people who can't be matched, they can't be controlled.” Fury said
“Like you controlled the cube?” Cap said
“Your work with the Tesseract is what drew Loki to it, and his allies. It is the signal to all the realms that the earth is ready for a higher form of war.” Thor said
“A higher form?” Cap said
"You forced our hand. We had to come up with something.” Fury said
“A nuclear deterrent. cause that always calms everything right down.” Stark said
“Remind me again how you made your fortune, Stark?” Fury said
“I'm sure if he still made weapons, Stark would be neck deep...” Cap said
“Wait, Wait, Hold on. How is this now about me?” Stark said
“I'm sorry, isn't everything?” Cap said
“I thought humans were more evolved than this,” Thor said
“Excuse me, did we come to your planet and blow stuff up?” Fury said
“We can...,” I said before being cut off
Everyone is talking over each other and I can't hear what anyone is saying.
“You speak of control, yet you court chaos,” Thor said
“It's his M.O., isn't it? I mean, what are we, a team? No, no, no. We're a chemical mixture that makes chaos. We're...we're a time-bomb.” Banner said
“Why shouldn't the guy let off a little steam?” Stark said
“You know damn well why! Back off!” Cap said
“Oh, I'm starting to want you to make me,” Stark said
“Yeah, a big man in a suit of armor. Take that off, what are you?” Cap said
“Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist,” Stark said
“I know guys with none of that worth ten of you. I've seen the footage. The only thing you really fight for is yourself. You're not the guy to make the sacrifice play, to lay down on a wire and let the other guy crawl over you.” Cap said
“I think I would just cut the wire,” Stark said
“Always a way out. you know, you may not be a threat, but you better stop pretending to be a hero.” Cap said
“Put on the suit, let's go a few rounds,” Cap said
“You people are so petty, and tiny,” Thor said
“Hey,” I said
“Sorry,” Thor said
“Yes, this is a team.” Banner said
“Agent Romanoff, would you escort Dr. Banner back to his...” Fury said before being cut off
“Where? You're renting my room.” Banner said
“The cell was just...” I said
“In case you needed to kill me. but you can't! I know, I tried. I got low, I didn't see an end, so I put a bullet in my mouth and the other guy spit out. So I moved on, I focused on helping other people. I was good until you dragged me back into this freak show. and put everyone here at risk. You wanna know my secret, Agent Romanoff? You wanna know how I stay calm?” Banner said picking up the scepter
I start reaching for my swords on my back
“Dr. Banner. put down the scepter.” Cap said
The alarms start going off on the computers. They found the Tesseract.
“Sorry, kids. You don't get to see my party trick after all.” Banner said walking to the computers.
“Located the Tesseract?” Thor said
“I can get there faster,” Stark said
“The Tesseract is coming with us,” I said
“No human is a match for it,” Thor said
“You're not going alone!” Cap said to Stark
“You gonna stop me?” Stark said
“Put on the suit, let's find out,” Cap said
“I'm not afraid to hit an old man,” Stark said
“Put on the suit,” Cap said
Then a huge explosion happens. We are blown through the glass door. Then we can hear the Hulk. I look to Thor.
“We have to stop the Hulk. He will take this whole ship down.” I said
We jump down into the hole Nat and Bruce fell into. We see the Hulk, and Thor just jumps straight at him. I see Nat on the ground.
“Are you ok?” I asked
She is in shock. I run to help Thor. Everyone is just standing around.
“Get out of here,” I yell to everyone.
They start to run. I grab one sword from my back.
“We're not your enemies, Banner,” Thor said blocking one of the Hulk's fits.
Hulk hits Thor with his other hand and Thor flies to the other side the room.
“Agh,” I yelled jumping at the Hulk slicing the back of his leg.
He tries to grab me, but I roll out of the way. He backhands me and I fly into one of the steel beams. Hulk charges after Thor again. Thor calls for Mjölnir and hits Hulk in the face with it. Hulk flies into a jet and then rips the wing off and throws it at Thor. Thor throws Mjölnir at Hulk and Hulk tried to pick it up. This distracts Hulk enough for Thor to jump on his back. Hulk jumps through the roof onto the next floor. I jump up and follow. Hulk is throwing Thor like a rag doll. I see the fighter jet about to open fire on the Hulk through the window. Thor is about to get up.
“No!” I yelled jumping on Thor stopping him from getting up
The jet starts firing and Hulk jumps out at it. Hulk is off the Helicarrier. Then the Helicarrier starts to lean to one side. Thor and I start sliding across the floor towards the open window. I pull out my swords and stab into the floor right at the ledge. Thor goes sliding by and I grab him before he falls out the window. I throw him up onto his feet. I get up.
“We have to check on Loki,” I said
We run to the container. We see Loki walking out.
“No!” Thor said running towards him
Loki disappears. Thor falls into the container and he closes the door.
“Are you ever not going to fall for that?” Loki said
I run up behind Loki and swing my sword but he disappears. Another Loki is behind me. I turn around and kick but he disappears too. Thor hits on the glass of the container but it doesn’t break and part of the container shakes loose. Loki appears on the other side of the room.
“The humans think us immortal. Should we test that?” Loki said going to press a button to drop the container.
“Move away, please. Do you like this? We started working on the prototype after you sent The Destroyer. Even I don't know what it does. Do you wanna find out?” Phil said holding a giant gun
"Phil get out of here," I yelled
Then the real Loki appears and stabs Phil in the back with the scepter
"NNNOOOO!" I yelled jumping across the room
Loki blocks my swing with his scepter. he kicks my leg from under me and kicks me under the container that Thor is trapped in.
"No" Thor yelled
I look up and see Phil's lifeless body then back at Loki. Loki pushes the button and I drop. I create a lighting rope and lasso it around a piece of metal. I am hanging there hitting the side of the Hellicarrier. I see the container fly by with Thor in it.
"No" I yelled
I kicked off the side of the Hellicarrier and back into the room. I run to Phil.
"Oh my God," I said
Fury walks in.
“I'm sorry, boss. The guy rabbited.” Phil said
“Just stay awake. Eyes on me” Phil said
“No, I'm clockin' out here,” Phil said
“Not an option,” I said
“It's okay. This was never gonna work if they didn't have something to.....” Phil said as he died
“No…” I said as I punch the wall
“Agent Coulson is down. The medical team called it.” Fury said to everyone.
After everything was taken care of Stark, Cap and myself are sitting around a table. I still had Phil's blood on my hands. Fury is standing at the end of the table.
“These were in Phil Coulson's jacket.” Fury said throwing down the Captain America trading cards with Phil's blood on it.
“Guess he never did get you to sign them. We're dead in the air up here. Our communications, location of the cube, Banner, Thor. I got nothing for you. Lost my one good eye. Maybe I had that coming. Yes. We were going to build an arsenal with the Tesseract. I never put all my chips on that number though, because I was playing something even riskier. There was an idea, Stark and Runa know this, called The Avengers Initiative. Runa was the first person drafted into it. The idea was to bring together a group of remarkable people, see if they could become something more. See if they could work together when we needed them to, to fight the battles that we never could. Phil Coulson died still believing in that idea, in heroes.” Fury said as Stark gets up and leaves
“Well, it's an old fashioned notion.” Fury said
I still can't believe Phill is gone. We have been partners for the past 9 years. He gave me a home when I didn't have one. I owe so much to Phil. I will Avenge him.
