Chapter 105: The Night Deepens.

In a rowdy bar in New York City. A member of the Knight security team is drinking on his day off while trying to pick up a girl.

Being a member of the Knight Industry has its perks. More accurately, two perks. He is drinking some shots and then licking the perks for some salt. 

Suddenly, the bar became quieter. The attention of the people there is focused on a woman with green hair and green eyes who just comes into the room. She is wearing silk woven clothes, almost transparent and with nothing underneath.

Amora arrives in New York. She had changed into some clothes that belonged to the mortal. She looked around the bar, then she saw her target behaving lasciviously while holding some girls in his arms. He is putting some salt on the girl's chest before he is doing another shot.  

She smiles as her mission is becoming easier. 

"Leave, all of you," She ordered the crowd there. A blonde woman who is wearing a wet crop top and a mini skirt snorted as she heard what the newcomer was saying. Unexpected to her, a big, bulky man, grabbed her and dragged her outside. 

Instantly, there is only Amora and the dude from security there. Ten burly men are encircling those two.

"W-whatever is it, we can talk about it," The security guy is anxious. Amora brushes her finger on the guy's face before she grabs his chin. 

She pulls him close and kisses him deeply. A minute later, Amora pulls her head back. A string of saliva is seen connecting Amora's mouth and the random dude's. 

"Now, bring me someone important in the Knight industry," She ordered

"Yes, Mistress Amora," The random dude obeyed her instantly. He has a hazy look on his face as if he had been charmed. 

…

In Paradiso, a hidden island. 

"So, we had to fight…in a cosplay?" Yelena asks while holding the green helmet near her face.

"That is the Boba Fett armor, and it's not for you," Park Shin snatched the helmet away from Yelena.

"More accurately, Ryan asks to fight while looking like an alien," Yinsen explained Ryan's weird request. The girls are tilting their heads, confused. Only one man nods in understanding.

"That is a good thing, what he is doing. It will greatly ease the public," Frank Castle said. He picks up the greenish-grey armor that Park Shin put down. He got unlimited ammunition. Anything he wanted. Frank grinned when he thought about what he was going to do.

"Dad, you're smiling creepily…" Richard, who is walking using a prosthetic leg, is checking out the spaceship his father is going to be in. His eyes are glittering as his imagination comes to life. 

"C-Can I do…something?" the kid asked Yinsen. The dean smiles and he pats the child's head. 

"This is not your fight," Frank interjected and said decisively. Yinsen smiles softly and says, "You can't fight, but there is something else you can do."

"What is it? I will do anything," Richard asks excitedly. Frank became solemn. He signaled Yinsen to make him stop. However, Yinsen dismissed him.

Frank is afraid as he thought Richard is a soft child. Yinsen knows that the child has hidden capabilities in him. He notices it when Richard joins his class.

"I need assistance in building some fighter jets. Will you help me?" Yinsen asks. Richard nods furiously in case Yinsen changes his mind. 

Dawn teleported to the group of people with a tablet in his hand.

"This is a list of other humanoids you can turn to. I need your decision in an hour."

Dawn is sharing with Yinsen some of the detail, when a short, furry figure is panting hard, running toward him. 

"Boss, I finally caught up with you," Meowth said as he desperately caught his breath. 

"What do you need Meowth?" Dawn asks.

"Boss, the ones who are fighting the need to be an alien right, what about me?" Meowth is posing for Dawn to be picked. It's been a while since he had been fighting. His claw is itching for some action. 

Dawn thinks for a while. He is trying to remember Ryan's guidelines in case something unexpected happens during the New York War. At first, Ryan wants to avoid the war from happening, but Wong comes to him with a message from the Ancient one. 

Wong pointed to Ryan and told him he needed to stay there. It's a little weird for Wong as the Ancient one specifically asks him to point at Ryan Knight. That gesture made Ryan understand immediately. 

"Okay Meowth, you can join in," Dawn said unexpectedly. Meowth is elated as he is now the newest member of Defender of the Universe. Dawn teleported away to make some preparation. 

"Hey, Kai had met with the crazy god," Annika reported to the group. However, her face is solemn. 

"What is it?" Yelena asks. Annika didn't answer and showed them the video instead. After watching for a few minutes, the girls have murder in their eyes. 

"He dared to do that to Kai.. (laugh dryly) HA HA," Park Shin said as she let out her killing intent. She let out so much pressure that Annika had to stop her. 

"Shin, you're scaring the kids…" Annika said as she shields Richard from the pressure. Even the trained military commander is feeling a little weak in his knees. But he steeled himself and didn't fall. 

Park Shin retracted her pressure. "I'm sorry Richard," she crouches and patted Richard on his head. Inside her mind, she is killing Loki multiple times already.

In another part of the island. Hela is inside Dawn's quarter.

"I can feel my father is weakening," Hela said as a bright smile was displayed on her face. She smiles so innocently that people might think Dawn is giving her a present on her birthday.

"That is just him using dark magic to send your brother here on Earth," Dawn said as he checked out the island satellite. An Einstein-Rosen bridge had been opened on earth. 

"Still. It won't be long for him to fall asleep," Hela said seductively. 

"My King. A war is coming…(and all you can think about is sex,)" Dawn said the sentence only halfway. 

Hela projection laid down on her back on Dawn's bed. "I miss it."

"What? Asgard?" Dawn asks. He is sitting down on his chair, overseeing the entire operation at this time.

"No…war!" Hela said in a loud voice. She misses it dearly. The games help, but she wanted to fight using all of her abilities.

"Hmm, I can bring you if you want. Although you won't be able to do anything," Dawn tries to comfort her. 

"I'm…listening…" Hela said as she turned to look at Dawn while laying down. 

…

In the helicarrier. Kai finally arrives at the aerial moving base. He had to wait another hour before the second jet came and picked him up.

Initially, there was another jet nearby. It is heading to the Schafer Research lab in case someone tries to steal the iridium. However, the agents are too late. Hawkeye shot down the Quinjet and killed all the agents inside.

Getting out of the jet, Phil is waiting for him at the docking area. His face is solemn, his conscience is pricked even when he had nothing to do with the incident. 

"Kai…I.." Phil tries to make excuses. To tell Kai he's not told about Kai's family's true murderer. However, he choked.

"...am sorry…" Phil bowed his head to Kai. A big, warm hand grabs Phil's shoulder and stops him.

"It's alright Phil. It wasn't anyone's fault."

To be honest it's Ryan's fault. Phil looks at Kai's face. The man is smiling at him. But that smile makes his heart feel twisted and beaten. 

"I will do anything to make it up to you…" Phil said in a shaky voice. In an agent's life, it's very hard to make friends. He got a rare opportunity when he met Kai. 

Kai knows Phil is feeling guilty. But it's not like he can do anything about it. Loki's plan had put him in a tough spot. Fury even wants him to get a psych evaluation. However, it is rejected firmly by Steve and Coulson.

Kai said firmly to his friend. "I trust you, Phil."

Phil nods. He leads Kai to the entrance where he takes a different path to do his work. Kai walked inside the room where Banner had paired up with Tony Stark and there was an additional guy there. Steve is the only one sitting at the table with 7 seats there. 

"Thor?" Kai asks the blondie.

Thor smiles softly at Kai and shakes his hand as mortals do. "Thor Odinson, Prince of Asgard," 

"Dr. Kai Vera," Kai shakes the god's hand. When Thor clasped Kai's hand, his brow furrowed a little bit. He can sense the strength behind the man. It didn't reach his level, maybe a quarter of it. 

"You're a strong warrior, Dr. Kai. That must be why Loki is coveting you," Thor praised openly. Fury raised his brow as he listened to the god. Thor didn't praise anyone in the room except for Kai. 

"I am still trying to do better," Kai said with a smile. He looks around, but he doesn't see where Natasha is. Instead, Tony is waving at him.

"Hey, Kingsman, do you like the suit I sent you?" Tony said from afar. He didn't walk to Kai as he is going with Banner to search for the cube.

"Kai, you're the Kingsman?" Steve asks. Kai nodded at Steve and turned to Tony. 

"Yeah. It's really nice. Too bad I had to send 9 out of the 10 suits away…" Kai said helplessly. 

"Why did you send them away?" Steve asks curiously. He had been having some bad vibes from the new Stark.

"Someone put in an analyzer, a DNA…" Kai tries to list out some of the things Tony put in the suit. Tony quickly cut him off.

"That's too bad, I will send you new ones directly from the tailor this time to ensure this doesn't happen again."

Steve rolls his eyes at Tony while Thor is wondering what they are talking about. 

"So, you're going to betray us?" Tony asks the question point-blank. Fury and the others are shocked. This kind of thing couldn't be treated lightly. The man just saw his family die for a second time!

"Tony!" Fury yelled. Why did he bring the guy on the ship? Banner is stunned. The guy next to him is a madman. 

"Why would I betray you? You are not the one who kills my family. Even if Loki did hold the guy captive, I don't think it will be pleasant imprisonment," Kai tries to reason. Fury looks at Kai's eyes the entire time he is talking. He breathes a sigh of relief. It seems that Kai is being rational as his eyes are clear and steady. 

Fury walks to Kai and tries to shake his hand, "I am sorry you had to relive the experience. Shield will make it up to you."

However, Kai ignored Fury and walked toward Banner and Tony. He is going to help them find the cube. Fury retracted back his hand that's been hanging. Kai trusts Coulson. Not Fury. The director gets the message. 

'I can only count on Captain to keep him in line…' Fury thought. Shield's relationship with Kai had cracked. All because of Loki. 

Inside the laboratory. 

"Oh, you're joining us?" Tony asks the latecomer. 

"It's not like there is anything else to do," Kai said as he picked up a tablet. He changes some of the perimeters of the detection, making the scanning more efficient. 

"Aren't you a medical doctor?" Tony smiles softly as he asks. He knows that Kai is the one who realizes what Iridium is used for. The man's intelligence couldn't be underestimated. 

"I did some reading in my spare time," Kai replied and turned to Banner. "Does the scepter emit radiation too? Can it affect you?"

Banner smiles awkwardly. He knows what Kai is thinking about. "It does. But it won't turn me into the other guy,"

"You're… tiptoeing doctor. You need to strut," Tony said to Banner. He approaches the doctor who is studying the scepter. 

"You need to come to Stark Tower sometime. All ten floors. Top R&D. It's Candy land," Tony is lingering around the doctor. Kai is eyeing Tony to see what he is doing. 

"Thanks, but the last time I was in New York. I kind of … broke Harlem," Banner is focusing more on the scepter rather than Tony. 

"Well, I promise a stress-free environment. No tension, no surprises…" Tony tries to zap the doctor with a small stick, but Kai flicks a pen toward Tony's hand. The stick falls to the ground as Tony's grip loosens.

"O-oww!" Tony exclaimed as he looked at Kai. He is punished unnecessarily. He isn't going to hurt Banner. Just gives him a little shock.

"Are you crazy?" Steve said as he strode inside the lab. He turned to Kai, "Good catch."

"Is he here to be a nanny?" Tony is dissatisfied as he looks at Kai. 

"Is everything a joke to you?" Steve confronted Tony. There is a table separating them. 

"Funny things are," Tony said unbothered.

"Threatening the safety of everyone inside the ship isn't a joke. No offense doc." Steve gestured to Banner. 

"That's all right. I wouldn't come on board if I couldn't handle pointy things," Banner said dismissively with a hint of self-depreciation. 

"You need to focus on the problem Mr. Stark," Steve is trying to keep everyone in line. There is a war coming. He couldn't let Stark ruin the dynamic of the team. 

"Do you think I am not? Why did Fury call us now? Why not before?" Tony throws a blueberry inside his mouth. "What is he not telling us? I can't do all the equations unless I have all the variables." 

"You think he is hiding something?" Steve confirmed. He does think there are a few weird elements, but he pushes them away because he needs to be ready. 

"Captain. He is a spy. He is 'the Spy'. His secret has secrets." Tony said confidently. 

"As you can see what just happened to the doctor next to you," Tony presented his evidence. Kai shakes his head. 

"It's bothering all of us. Banner too," Tony added. 

"Doctor?" Steve turns to Banner to hear what he says. 

"A warm light for all mankind. Loki's jab about the cube," Banner takes off his glasses and puts them away. 

"I've heard it," Steve said. 

"I don't," Kai is sad. He arrived late. 

"I will tell you later if you provide me a blood sample," Tony said to Kai. He isn't convinced that Kai is just a normal man. 

"I will just hear it from the Captain later," 

"Tch," Tony snorted and turns back to Banner. 

"Well, I think the sentence is meant for Tony," Banner said unbothered by Tony and Kai's exchanges. 

Kai is mostly silent during the whole exchange, trying to fix up the perimeters. It leads to Tony telling Steve about him hacking the helicarrier and so on. Steve walks out of the lab and is trying to find evidence on his own. 

Meanwhile, the one who is supposed to be working hard is just now waking up from his sleep. 

"Mmm, what time is it?" Ryan asks Albus. Instead of the AI, Gwen answered him. She is wearing a mask and is sitting next to the bed.

"It's almost 2…" she replied. She had carried him to the bed after she found him passed out at the table. 

"P.m?" Ryan is still groggy. He casts the disease cure spell quickly in case Gwen notices something is off with him. His mind cleared up again. 

"No, 2 in the morning…" Gwen said, shocking Ryan. 

"Wait, I have passed out for a whole day??" He sits up quickly from the initial lying-down position. He checks up with Dawn and Kai to see what he missed. A lot. He misses a lot. 

"Ryan doesn't get up. You have mono. I have fed you medicine but you have to rest for a few weeks," she says firmly.

"Gwen, that is just a fake-out. I am fine, really…" He tries to make her lenient, but she presents the result that she tested herself. 

"Rest. No excuses!" She pushes him back on the bed before she goes outside. Ryan needs to be quarantined. He plops back on the pillow, puffing his cheeks.

"This is exactly the thing I want to avoid,"

He sighs as he checks out the surroundings. Gwen is in the kitchen, making him some soup.

"After months of searching, I finally bought the jutsu I wanted," He makes a t-sign with his finger, and another him pops out in the room. 

"Standby for anomalies," He ordered the shadow clone.

The shadow clone chided, "Why couldn't I stay in bed while you go out?"

It is unfair he needs to stand in the cold while Ryan is spoon-fed soup by a goddess. 

"There is no time for debate. She is coming. Hurry and go!" Ryan whispered urgently. The clone is showing a fed-up expression and asks for the magic suit. Ryan gives him the Eclipse's suit and the shadow clone teleported away.

"Hmm, is someone here?" Gwen asks. She saw a figure for a split second there as she walked in carrying a food tray. 

"Must be your imagination. Now, feed me. Aahhh…"

Back to the helicarrier. 

Natasha is tasked with interrogating Loki to learn about his motives. She approaches Loki who is in a cage made for the Hulk. He is wandering around there, thinking about his next course of action.

Suddenly, Loki can feel someone is close to him. He smiles as he can figure out who it is. 

"There are few people who can sneak up on me…"