Chapter 115: The Chitauri (Part 3)

"He doesn't seem to be hiding at all," Daniel Davis observed as he and the team entered the main hall. The large screen displayed Loki, dressed in a sharp suit, mingling at a gala in Stuttgart, occasionally glancing up at the cameras with a smirk.

"He's at Königstrasse in Stuttgart, Germany," Hill reported promptly, pinpointing Loki's location.

"Captain, it's up to you," Fury directed at Steve Rogers.

Fury addressed Captain America because, among those present, he could only officially command Steve, Black Widow, and Sherry. Stark, Daniel, Peggy Carter, and Bruce Banner were outside his direct authority. Given Loki's Asgardian power, Fury believed Black Widow and Sherry might not be sufficient, leaving Captain America, with his super-soldier strength, as the best option. Of course, he hoped the others would volunteer to help.

"I'm in. I'm quite curious about Asgard," Tony Stark said. He hadn't forgotten the humiliation of being bested by the Destroyer, which Loki had sent.

"Count me in too," Daniel added after some hesitation, noticing the hopeful glances from Peggy and Fury. He knew Loki's plan to be captured but realized the others weren't aware.

Daniel, Captain America, and Black Widow soon boarded a Quinjet piloted by Natasha Romanoff, heading to Stuttgart. Stark took another Quinjet to suit up in his Iron Man armor before engaging in the fight.

"Tony, how's Pepper?" Daniel called Stark on his phone during the flight. If Ada needed a heads-up, so did Pepper.

"I've arranged for her to leave New York," Stark replied.

"Good to hear."

"Loki showed up, but what about the Tesseract?" Fury questioned back on the Helicarrier.

"Contact all labs in the area equipped with gamma radiation detectors and have them place the detectors on their rooftops," Banner suggested.

"Hill, you heard him."

"Understood." Hill immediately began instructing S.H.I.E.L.D. staff to contact labs across New York equipped with gamma radiation detectors, following Banner's directive.

New York, being one of the world's economic hubs, had thousands of labs, not to mention countless smaller operations, from professional setups to garage labs. When including these, the number rose to tens of thousands.

"That's brutal," Daniel commented, averting his gaze slightly as he watched Loki use a high-tech device to extract the retinal scan from Dr. Heinrich's eye. The scene was painful to watch. With advances in technology, security had also evolved, incorporating fingerprint, facial, and even retinal scans, making systems seemingly impenetrable. However, such high-tech methods could still be bypassed.

While obtaining someone's fingerprint, facial data, or retinal scan might seem challenging, for those equipped with the right tools, it was quite simple—just a matter of scanning.

Loki was currently using a device to scan Dr. Heinrich's eye, transmitting the data to Hawkeye, who then accessed the vault to retrieve the iridium.

Seeing Loki's ruthlessness, the gala attendees screamed and fled the hall in panic, leaving Loki alone with the bodies of several security guards. The terrified crowd didn't get far, though, as Loki's duplicates, clad in Asgardian armor and horned helmets, appeared on both sides of the street.

Loki then stepped out onto the staircase, commanding the cowering crowd to kneel and delivering a speech dripping with arrogance and dominance.

By this time, Daniel and the others had arrived. Captain America, now donning his updated uniform, leaped from the hovering Quinjet, descending about thirty feet to confront Loki.

"It's illusion magic. Asgard's magical system is indeed impressive," Daniel thought as he watched the surrounding Loki clones.

"You're not going to help?" Natasha asked as she steadied the Quinjet.

"Relax, the Captain won't go down that easily," Daniel replied. Captain America, with his indomitable spirit and indestructible shield, was not easily bested.

Indeed, Loki was caught off guard. His scepter's energy blast was deflected by the Captain's shield, rebounding and striking Loki, leaving him slightly disheveled but uninjured.

"You soldier!" Furious at being humiliated, Loki charged at Captain America with his scepter. The two engaged in a fierce battle, sparks flying as scepter clashed with shield, appearing evenly matched.

Seizing the opportunity, the kneeling civilians scattered and fled. This time, Loki did not attempt to stop them.

As the civilians escaped, Natasha maneuvered the Quinjet's weapons to target Loki. Just as she was about to fire, the screen in front of her changed, and the sound of rock music filled the air.

"Looks like I'm right on time," Tony Stark's voice echoed through the jet. Iron Man descended from the sky, his repulsor blasts knocking Loki off balance and away from Captain America.

"Stay down, Reindeer Games," Stark said, his armor bristling with weapons aimed at Loki, who crouched on the ground.

Simultaneously, Natasha had her weapons trained on Loki.

Realizing he was outgunned, Loki raised his hands, his armor vanishing in a flash of light, replaced by his formal suit.

"Looks like it's up to me after all," Stark said smugly, glancing at Captain America.

"Impressive durability," Daniel noted as he observed Loki, who remained unscathed despite taking multiple repulsor blasts. Reflecting on how Loki later survived a direct hit from Coulson's high-powered weapon, Daniel mused, "He really does have the body of a god."

"Is something wrong?" Natasha asked, noticing Daniel's thoughtful expression.

"It's too easy. It's almost like he wants to be captured," Daniel replied.

"Deliberately?" Natasha nodded, not saying much more. Soon, Stark brought the handcuffed Loki onto the Quinjet, and they set course back to the Helicarrier.

"Technically, if we confiscate his scepter, the portal can't be opened, and the Chitauri invasion could be prevented," Daniel pondered, glancing at the scepter Stark was holding. However, he knew he had no justifiable reason to take it, short of seizing it by force.

Boom!

As they flew back to the Helicarrier, thunder roared, and the sky lit up with lightning. Loki visibly tensed at the sound.

"What's wrong, Bambi? Afraid of a little thunder?" Stark teased.

"It's not the thunder. It's what follows," Loki replied with a hint of apprehension.

"Something is approaching from behind," Natasha noted, glancing at the radar.

"I'll check it out," Stark volunteered, rising from his seat. Without a suit removal device onboard, he had to remain armored.

As the rear hatch opened, Stark spotted a figure flying toward them. Before he could react, the figure—a man—pushed him aside. When Captain America tried to intervene, he was also brushed off. The man grabbed Loki and flew off the Quinjet.

"Damn it," Stark cursed, recognizing the figure as Thor. He immediately took off after them.

"Wait, Captain," Natasha tried to stop Steve, but he had already jumped out, parachute in hand.

"Fine, I'll go help," Daniel sighed as Natasha turned her gaze toward him. He stood up, retrieved a flying broom from his bag, and took off.

Boom!

As Daniel flew out, a blinding flash erupted below. He guided his broom toward the source of the light.

"You didn't run. Curious," Daniel observed as he landed on a cliff where Loki stood, watching the battle between Iron Man and Thor unfold.

"I'm in handcuffs," Loki replied, raising his shackled hands with a smile.

"Handcuffs that can't really restrain you," Daniel muttered to himself. He watched as Captain America joined the fray against Thor, turning it into a three-way battle.

"Enough! Thor, what do you want?" Daniel shouted, flying between the combatants.

"To take Loki back," Thor answered, halting his attacks. His sudden appearance caused the others to pause as well.

"Impossible. Do you know what he's done here?" Stark protested.

"Whatever he's done, he will be brought back to Asgard for judgment. He's my brother," Thor declared firmly.

"He's killed over eighty people," Stark retorted, not exaggerating. This was the grim reality, though not all in one day.

"He's adopted," Thor corrected, his voice softening slightly.

"Talk about a fragile brotherhood," Daniel thought, surprised by Thor's quick change in tone. The old Thor would never have admitted that. Clearly, his time on Earth had changed him.

Reflecting on Thor's current state compared to his later transformation into an overweight gamer struggling with his battles, Daniel couldn't help but think, "Just goes to show how influential Earth's culture can be, even for gods. If only Thanos spent more time here, he might abandon his plans for galactic control and focus on gaming instead."

"We can't make that decision. Let's take you to someone who can. Is that acceptable?" Daniel suggested.

"Fine."

"You must be the one in charge. Regarding Loki, I must take him back to Asgard for judgment," Thor declared upon arriving at the Helicarrier and meeting Fury.

"Let's solve the immediate problem first," Fury responded, clearly troubled by Thor's presence. Thor's arrival had complicated matters due to his significance, and Fury needed to tread carefully.

"This is an interesting setup. Not designed just for me, I assume. More likely intended for a beast," Loki remarked, observing the specially designed glass cell while looking at Banner, causing the latter's expression to darken.

There was no mist

aking whom Loki referred to by "beast" among those present.

"This is just a precaution, Doctor, not aimed at you," Fury quickly reassured.

"Precaution, huh?" Loki's mocking smile made Fury uneasy.

Despite the Helicarrier's security measures, Loki had an inside man—Hawkeye. With his knowledge, it was impossible to keep Loki in the dark about the Helicarrier's facilities. As the God of Mischief, Loki lived up to his title.

Loki's apparent underestimation of Earth's defenses wasn't due to a lack of intelligence but rather his disregard for humans.

"Loki, what's your plan?" Fury demanded.

"Heh," Loki sneered, offering no response.

"Whatever you're planning, it won't succeed," Fury declared before leaving, realizing they wouldn't get any useful information from Loki.

Given Loki's status and Thor's presence, harsh interrogation techniques were out of the question. The situation required a more diplomatic approach.

"Don't you think Fury wasn't entirely forthcoming?" Stark asked, munching on snacks as he chatted with Banner in the Helicarrier's lab. Banner was examining Loki's scepter.

"That's not my concern. I just want to finish my work," Banner replied, focusing on the scepter. Knowing the glass cell was designed to imprison him made Banner uneasy, but years of self-control helped him suppress his anger.

"What about those Infinity Stones? Any thoughts?" Stark turned to Daniel, who was also snacking.

"There are some things even I don't fully understand," Daniel admitted, glancing at Banner. He seemed on the verge of asking something but decided against it. "Maybe later."

Daniel's simple goal was to ask Banner for a sample of his blood.

Ding.

At that moment, Stark's tablet emitted a sound. Stark immediately set his snacks aside and picked up the device.

"Let's see what Fury's been hiding."

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