Chapter 96: Rubik’s Cube in Hand

Moments earlier…

On the Helicarrier, a command flashed on the monitor: "Commander Fury's authority has been revoked. Initiating Order 7A11."

"Order 7A11 confirmed. Preparing for takeoff," came the reply from the flight crew.

"Sir, we have unauthorized activity on the deck—a plane just took off without clearance!" Maria Hill reported, alarmed. She guessed the plane's purpose and yelled into the comm, "This launch is unapproved! Stop that plane! All units, halt the aircraft immediately!"

Nick Fury realized that the council had bypassed him and ordered a nuclear strike on New York. Without hesitation, he grabbed a bazooka, rushed to the deck, and fired at the plane, damaging one wing.

As he exhaled in relief, another fighter lifted off. Fury had no time to stop it. Frustrated, he tossed the rocket launcher aside and picked up his comm. "Stark, can you hear me? A fighter jet carrying a nuclear bomb is on its way to New York. ETA: three minutes!"

Stark's face went pale. New York was already in chaos, and if the bomb detonated, it would lead to catastrophic loss of life. Abandoning the battle with Chitauri forces, he diverted all power to his thrusters and raced to intercept the missile.

"Those idiots on the council actually dropped a nuke on our own people!" Natasha spat, unable to contain her frustration.

Thor stepped forward. "I'll handle it. I have experience in space."

He knew the risks of Stark flying the nuke through the portal—though Stark had succeeded in the original timeline, there were no guarantees. Gently but firmly, he pushed Stark aside, took hold of the nuke, and rocketed toward the portal.

"Natasha, close the portal as soon as I'm through!" Thor commanded.

Natasha hesitated, horrified. "No! Not until you come back!"

"Don't be foolish," Thor replied. "The nuke won't harm me, and I can use space magic to return instantly. Close the portal to prevent nuclear fallout and radiation from reaching the city!"

"Trust him," Nebula said, arriving just in time to hear the exchange. "He fought his way through my father's headquarters. He can handle this."

After a tense pause, Natasha nodded. "Fine. But you'd better come back alive." She pressed the scepter to the Tesseract, ready to close the portal.

In a flash, Thor shot through the portal, nuke in hand, just as it began to close behind him.

Carrying the bomb, he flew directly toward the Chitauri mothership, stopping in front of the terrified commanders visible behind the glass of the command bridge. Smirking, he taunted, "Thank Thanos for sending me the Mind Stone! Oh, wait—you won't get the chance." He hurled the nuke at them, watching as it breached the glass. Just before the blast, he summoned a golden portal and vanished.

On Earth, the Avengers and their allies—Nebula, Minerva, War Machine Rhodes, and others—fought desperately to hold off the endless Chitauri forces. The situation was dire, and the team was stretched to their limits.

Then, without warning, the Leviathan ships began to lose power, plummeting from the sky. Chitauri soldiers collapsed one by one, their connection to the mothership severed.

Natasha gasped, glancing around. "But Thor hasn't come back yet!"

The rest of the team looked equally uneasy. Tony clenched his fists. "I should've gone. This is my fault…"

Fury's voice crackled over the communicator. "Everyone stand down—the portal is closed, and the Chitauri are down. Thor's mission was successful."

Just then, Mjolnir started to hum in Jane's hand, as though resonating with a signal. She looked up, relieved. "Mjolnir tells me he's fine. Thor's alive."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that the crisis had been averted.

On the Helicarrier, Fury watched as New York's skies cleared. He knew the council's reckless decision to launch a nuke had nearly doomed the city. As long as he could prevent it, he wouldn't let them get their hands on the Avengers.

In the ruined office of Stark Tower, Loki lay battered and defeated, regaining his senses. Recognizing his defeat, he surrendered to the Avengers with an exhausted sigh. "I'll cooperate," he muttered. "Might I request that drink?"

Just then, the elevator doors opened, and a team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, led by Agent Sitwell, entered. "We'll take the scepter for safekeeping," Sitwell said smoothly, holding out his hand.

Natasha narrowed her eyes but handed over the scepter. "Handle it carefully—it's dangerous. We've already seen what it can do."

Sitwell nodded. "I'll be cautious. Now, about the Tesseract…"

"Your director already agreed to let me handle it." Thor's voice sounded from behind as he entered the room. "Apologies for the delay." Due to the vast distance he'd traveled, his teleportation spell had misfired, accidentally sending him to the edge of the solar system before he could return.

Picking up the Tesseract, Thor examined it thoughtfully.

Sitwell tensed, and his team raised their guns, aiming at Thor. "Put down the Tesseract! That's S.H.I.E.L.D. property!"

Thor laughed. "Really? My father placed the Tesseract on Earth millennia ago to prevent its misuse. When did it become S.H.I.E.L.D.'s?"

"Agent Sitwell, stand down!" Natasha ordered sharply.

Stark raised his hand, his repulsor charged and ready. "This is my building, so I suggest you don't do anything reckless."

At that moment, Fury's voice came through the comm. "Everyone, lower your weapons. The Tesseract belongs to Asgard."

"But Secretary Pierce—" Sitwell protested.

"I'm still the director here," Fury replied firmly.

Reluctantly, Sitwell lowered his weapon, glaring at Thor. On the Helicarrier, Fury turned to Hill and the other agents nearby. "Besides, I promised him the Tesseract. Its energy is far too dangerous. We've seen how easily it draws attention from powerful, malevolent forces."

He glanced at the screen, where the remnants of the Chitauri invasion still smoldered. "Earth isn't ready for cosmic-level warfare."

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