156: The Mad God's Obsession

Aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Nick Fury stood before the command console, ordering the crew, "Prepare for takeoff!"

At the technicians' controls, the massive turbines on the sides of the hovering helicarrier lowered into the sea.

Their powerful thrust pushed the massive ship up into the sky.

The techs reported system statuses as the ship climbed.

At the entrance, two figures walked into the bustling control room - Steve Rogers, brought personally by Fury, and a more disheveled Bruce Banner.

While not as tidy as Rogers, Banner's fame was unmatched - the only man to survive exposure to gamma rays.

The radiation had cursed him with the uncontrollable alternate persona of the Hulk.

Black Widow had persuaded Banner to come, since Fury believed he was uniquely suited to tracking the Tesseract's gamma signature.

Fury checked the controls as the ship reached altitude.

"Engage reflectors!" he ordered.

The helicarrier shimmered out of view, cloaked by its reflective panels.

Fury turned to the new arrivals.

"Captain, feel free to look around."

Rogers nodded and handed Fury a $10 bill - settling a small wager between them.

When recruiting Rogers, Fury had claimed the modern world was beyond anything he knew. Rogers had doubted it. Their $10 bet was Fury's prize for proving his point.

Fury then approached Banner, "Doctor, thank you for coming."

Banner reluctantly shook Fury's hand. "Thanks for the invitation," he said politely, but his tone made his reluctance clear.

No matter Fury's assurances, Banner knew it wouldn't be easy to leave once aboard this ship.

"So how long will I be here?"

"Just until we recover the Tesseract," Fury replied matter-of-factly.

Banner nodded.

"Let's just get started then."

He clearly wanted this over with quickly.

Of all groups, Banner had spent years evading the American government. As a top scientist, he knew too many of their dirty secrets.

Compared to his brilliant mind, powerful officials were more interested in weaponizing the Hulk through studying Banner's blood.

A controllable Hulk army would cement America's supremacy, risking Banner's freedom.

He had only complied with Black Widow to avoid making an enemy of S.H.I.E.L.D. unprepared.

"Do you have a lab ready for me?" Banner asked.

"Absolutely," Fury confirmed.

"Agent Romanoff will show you there now."

Black Widow approached Banner.

"This way, Doctor. You'll love it, everything's set up and ready to go," she assured him.

"Sir, we've located Loki!"

Hill suddenly interrupted, hurrying over to Fury.

Fury's expression hardened. He swiftly crossed to the monitors running facial recognition searches globally.

Onematch caught his eye. "That's him alright."

"He's in Stuttgart, Germany," Hill reported.

"Wearing a suit."one of the techs added.

Rogers leaned in to peer at the screen, astonished by how easily this world could now track down anyone.

"Your turn, Captain," Fury said pointedly to Rogers.

Rogers nodded, understanding what had to be done...

Stuttgart, Germany

At an exclusive gala only the elite could access, Anna drew all eyes in her striking red evening gown. Her elegant beauty attracted many powerful men vying for her attention, which she artfully deflected.

Anna regretted agreeing to this event.

She would rather have been with Andrew back in New York. Thinking of lounging with him, she barely paid mind to the endless stream of arrogant men.

One stranger approached, unaffected by her subtle disinterest.

"You seem quite popular here, madam," he noted, offering her a glass of wine.

Anna smiled politely. "People do tend to wander past me often."

"Well, I dislike others taking what should be mine," the man said.

"So I will soon command the most attention here."

He handed Anna the drink and sauntered off before she could respond.

Anna watched him go, thinking he must have issues.

A friend beside her giggled, "He was handsome! See any potential suitors tonight?"

Anna smiled wryly, "He's all yours if you want."

That odd man could not compare to Andrew's easy confidence and poise.

Anna moved to a quieter area, hoping to avoid another weirdo.

But she had barely stepped away when her friend screamed -

"Ahhh!"

Anna whirled to see the man from earlier, now holding an elderly gentleman impaled on his jeweled cane.

He dangled the struggling man high overhead.

The crowd reacted in shock and horror, backing away.

The man smiled darkly at Anna. "I told you I would be the center of attention."

He tossed aside the lifeless body and strode toward the fleeing crowd. Anna stood her ground, though she moved back carefully, allowing others to escape while keeping this madman in sight.

His interest piqued at her lack of fear, the man asked, "No fear of death, Earth woman?"

***

New York City

In Gwen's room, Pikachu happily munched on snacks from a bag.

"Don't eat too much, Pikachu, or I won't be able to pick you up when you get all chubby," Gwen teased.

"Pika...chu..."

Pikachu waved his body, showing he was active enough not to gain weight.

Gwen smiled and returned to watching her computer screen.

With the Red Queen tapping global networks, Loki's location would surely be found soon.

The display kept flipping through people with some resemblance to Loki, filtering them out one by one.

Bored waiting, Gwen fidgeted with her watch.

"I wonder what Andrew is up to...who knows when he'll be back."

She was surprised by how much she already missed him after just a day apart.

They were normally together constantly, so she took it for granted.

"Target located, Miss Gwen," the AI announced.

"Where?" Gwen peered closely.

The footage showed Loki in a tailored suit, holding champagne at an opulent banquet - clearly a high society affair.

"He came to Earth for a party?" Gwen said incredulously. This made no sense.

"It is a gala for the upper class in Stuttgart, Germany. Miss Anna was also invited," the Red Queen explained.

The view switched to Anna among the glittering guests.

Gwen's expression changed.

She grabbed her phone to warn Anna to leave immediately.

But Loki was already approaching Anna on-screen.

"Damn it!"

Gwen cursed as the call went straight to voicemail.

In that dress, Anna had nowhere to carry her phone and turned it off at events to focus.

"Any way to get to Germany ASAP?"

Gwen asked desperately.

Short of suddenly manifesting flight powers, there was no chance.

Gwen breathed relief seeing Loki rebuffed by Anna and leaving.

But then he murdered someone, sending the party into panicked flight - except Anna, who stood unfazed.

"Don't worry, Miss Gwen. Help is already en route," the Red Queen assured her.

Two smaller feeds appeared - one inside a fighter jet with a man in a mask, the other showing Iron Man rocketing toward Germany.

Gwen instantly recognized the jet's occupant.

"Captain America!"

"Yes, S.H.I.E.L.D. dispatched him after locating Loki. Stark seems to be acting independently."

Gwen relaxed knowing they were coming. Tony could match her strengths.

"Contact Stark for me please," she requested.

Tony's voice came on, "Miss Spider! You hack into my channel unannounced, it's creepy you know."

But his tone made it clear he didn't really mind.

"There's a woman named Anna Granger there. Please protect her no matter what," Gwen urged.

"She's very important to me."

Tony understood immediately. "No problem, her identity is safe with me too."

"Thank you," Gwen said, smiling in relief.

"Anytime!"

Tony gunned his thrusters, now even more motivated to reach the gala in time.

Outside the hotel,

The panicked partygoers fled in all directions, only to find their paths blocked by duplicates of Loki springing up.

Those in front were stabbed without mercy, deterring the rest. Soon all were encircled by Loki's illusions.

Among them, Anna watched with a frown, realizing this being was no ordinary human.

"Mutant?" she queried.

Loki glowered, "Don't compare me to you insects."

He lifted Anna's chin with his scepter.

"But you interest me, woman of Earth. I require someone to witness my conquest as the rightful king."

Resentment at living in Thor's shadow had shaped Loki's obsessive need for worship and recognition. Now he would force it from humanity.

"And you expect me to help?" Anna retorted defiantly.

Loki just smiled smugly.

"You've no choice, Earth woman. Recording my glorious ascent is the highest honor for your pathetic life. You'll be my historian!"

He raised the mind scepter toward Anna's heart. Her eyes flooded with inky blackness.

Gwen watched in alarm.

"What's he doing to her?"

"I don't know for certain, Miss Gwen. But she seems unharmed," the AI offered uncertainly.

"If he hurts Cousin Anna, I don't care what realm he's from!"

Gwen clenched her fists as bones crackled under the pressure of her grip.

A blue blur interrupted the ceremony, smashing Loki away. Anna shook off the mental grip.

Captain America had arrived.

He spared Anna only a glance before focusing on Loki.

"Surrender, Loki!" he ordered.

Grinning slyly, Loki rose and launched himself and Rogers from the lobby into the street...

To be continued...