96

### Chapter 96: Tesseract in Hand

A few minutes earlier...

The flight crew on the space carrier received a message: "Commander Fury's authority has been revoked, and Order 7A11 is in effect!"

"7A11 has been confirmed and is ready for execution!"

"Sir, there's an anomaly on the deck. A plane took off without authorization!" Maria Hill exclaimed anxiously. She guessed the reason for the unauthorized takeoff and shouted into the communicator, "The takeoff was not approved! Stop that plane immediately! Attention everyone, intercept that aircraft!"

Nick Fury realized that the council had bypassed him and issued the order. Grabbing a bazooka, he rushed to the deck and aimed at the plane's wing.

Just as he sighed in relief, another plane sped off the runway and took off, leaving no time to prevent it.

Fury angrily threw the rocket launcher aside and picked up the communicator. "Stark, do you read me? A plane carrying a nuclear bomb is headed towards New York. It will arrive in about three minutes!"

Stark was shocked. With New York in chaos, a nuclear explosion would result in countless deaths and injuries.

He abandoned fighting the Chitauri and channeled all the energy into his thrusters, heading towards the approaching nuclear bomb.

"Damn it! Those idiots in the council are actually dropping nuclear bombs on their own people!" Natalia cursed.

"Leave it to me. I have experience in space."

Thor knew it was risky for Stark to deliver the nuclear bomb into the portal. While it had worked in the past, there was no guarantee of survival this time. He pushed Stark aside, grabbed the bomb, and charged towards the portal.

"Natalia, close the portal immediately!"

Natalia was momentarily stunned but then shouted in panic, "No, I'll wait for you to return!"

"Fool, the nuclear bomb won't harm me. I can use space magic to return immediately, no matter where I end up! Close it now to prevent nuclear shock and radiation from affecting the city!"

"Believe in Your Highness; he once fought his way through my father's headquarters!" Nebula, who had appeared unexpectedly, said.

She knew Thor's strength well and believed that anyone capable of causing chaos in Thanos' sanctuary would not be threatened by a nuclear bomb or a mere Chitauri.

Natalia gritted her teeth and shouted, "Come back alive!" She then ruthlessly shut down the portal control on the Tesseract.

A loud noise echoed through the sky as the portal began to slowly close.

Thor charged through the portal and vanished into thin air. Moments later, the portal completely disappeared.

With the nuclear bomb in hand, he approached the Chitauri mothership, stopping at the front. He sneered at the terrified Chitauri commander behind the glass: "Thank Thanos for sending me the Mind Gem! Oh, you have no chance."

A bolt of lightning shattered the cabin glass, and the nuclear bomb was thrown inside. A golden halo appeared behind Thor, and he disappeared into it.

On Earth, the Avengers battled to fend off the steadily advancing Chitauri forces. Alongside the Avengers, Nebula, Minerva, War Machine Rhodes, Falcon, Sam Wilson, and others joined the fray, making the situation dire.

Suddenly, a Leviathan in the air lost control and fell heavily. Simultaneously, Chitauri soldiers plummeted from the sky.

"No, Thor hasn't returned yet!" Natalia suddenly exclaimed, causing everyone to tense up.

"Damn it, I should have gone!" Stark exclaimed, with Steve and the others displaying complex expressions.

"I want to know who authorized the nuclear bomb!" Natalia demanded, her fury evident as Black Widow's intensity became palpable.

"Wait, Mjölnir tells me Thor is fine!" Jane Foster intervened. "As old partners for millennia, they share a connection."

The Avengers sighed in relief.

Nick Fury, aboard the Helicarrier, also felt a sense of relief seeing the nuclear bomb sent into the portal and the Chitauri falling.

He resolved that these cold-blooded politicians must not be allowed to control the Avengers, or it would lead to even greater disaster.

"I'd like a glass of wine, if you don't mind."

In the Stark Building office, Loki, who had regained his sanity, surrendered to the Avengers, something he was used to by now.

The elevator door opened, and a team of commandos entered. The leader, Sitwell, said, "Hand over the scepter. We'll ensure its safety."

Natalia eyed him warily but handed over the scepter. Despite her mistrust, it wasn't the time for confrontation.

"Attention, this item is extremely dangerous. It was controlled by it."

Sitwell nodded, "I'll keep watch. As for the Tesseract..."

"Your chief has agreed to hand it over to me."

Thor's voice came from behind. "Sorry I'm late." Thor's space teleportation was imperfect, and he had ended up at the edge of the solar system, causing delays.

"Speaking of which, if it weren't for my divine nature, ordinary magicians wouldn't dare attempt interstellar teleportation. Just the vacuum of space alone can defeat most ordinary mages."

Thor seized the Tesseract and examined it.

Sitwell was stunned, and his team raised their guns, aiming at Thor. "Put down the Tesseract! This belongs to S.H.I.E.L.D!"

Thor smirked, "You're joking, right? My father placed the Tesseract on Earth to prevent its misuse. When did it become S.H.I.E.L.D's property?"

"Sitwell, lower your gun. Thor is not the enemy!" Natalia commanded.

Stark also raised his hand, readying his laser cannon. "This is my territory. I suggest you don't act impulsively."

At that moment, Nick Fury's voice came through the communicator: "Lower the weapon! The Tesseract belongs to Asgard!"

"But Secretary Pierce said..."

"I am the director now!"

Sitwell hesitated but eventually lowered his gun with a scowl.

On the Helicarrier, Nick Fury explained to Hill and the others, "Not only did I promise him, but the Tesseract's energy is too dangerous and could attract malevolent forces."

"Earth is not prepared for high-level conflict."