Riding Out the Day's Events, Chapter 2- Hydra? That's going back on Cap's 'to-do' list.
Erik Selvig had been given a number to call in case of an emergency. He had created a system to help even HIS damaged brain recall it. He had it to the last digit, but was struggling to remember it. Was it 'three' for the odd trio of Foster/Selvig/Lewis? Was it 'one' for Thor being Jane's one true love? Was it 'five' for the number of cats he'd had as pets over the years? Was it 'zero' for a number he couldn't think of meaning for?
He raced into London traffic like the lunatic he'd become, desperate to evade capture and help Darcy. He found a functioning telephone box. He knew this number would not require payment. He just couldn't remember the damned number!
He cried aloud, "Loki, you power-mad bastard! What have you done to me?!" A family of tourists was passing near him. The mother pulled her son away from Erik and to her other side while sharing a look of alarm with her husband. Erik pulled at his coat lapels as though he wished he could hide behind them and not be seen.
And then he remembered that there were two horns on Loki's helmet. Of course! He dialed, pressing 'two' as the last number. He cried with relief as an efficient-sounding voice answered, "Hello. How may I be of assistance?"
Erik gasped, "Help! This is Selvig. I need someone at the SHIELD psychiatric hospital outside London. Yesterday, agents dressed in black and green uniforms took over. There was shooting, and shouting, and patients trying to flee, and some workers running out or dying. After they killed my favorite aide, I knew I was in trouble. Today our friend came to visit me, and I escaped but they captured her. Darcy! She's Jane's assistant! She needs help and there are interrogations happening there from what I heard, so God only knows what they'll do to her. Please! I-"
The voice interrupted, "one moment, please, Dr. Selvig. Mr. Stark is visiting Captain Rogers in Washington, DC. I will connect you at once. I have recorded your words and noted your location. A Stark Industries International employee has been dispatched to pick you up and bring you to a safe location."
Another voice burst in impatiently, "what's the 911, J?"
The calm voice explained, "Emergency call-in from Dr. Selvig, identity verified per voice recognition, Sir. If my interpretation is correct, Miss Darcy Lewis, assistant to the astrophysicist Dr. Jane Foster, has been captured by Hydra forces at the SHIELD Merriweather Psychiatric facility outside of London, England, Sir. Dr. Foster was last known to be in Paris, France with Mr. Odinson."
Erik yelled, "I used her visit to get outside, and had her use her Taser on a guard! I took her car while they grabbed her! She's just a kooky, loyal kid, trying to be nice to me!" He started crying guiltily. "Oh, Darcy!"
Tony Stark asked, "who do we have in London?"
The calm voice replied, "Mr. Barton reached a London safe house this morning, Sir."
Stark requested, "JARVIS, get me a picture of this kooky kid. Send out copies so Barton can have a good chance at…" He let out a whistle and muttered, "Shit! The tit-fairy outdid herself on this one! I feel betrayed that gravity couldn't overcome whatever's holding that sheet up!" Erik heard muttering in the background.
Another man groaned and could be heard to cry out, "Oh, my God! A dame like that doesn't belong in enemy hands."
Stark chuckled darkly, "Wow, Cap! Look at your face! Well, let's have Hawkeye rescue this loyal, kooky pin-up dame and we'll see if he can get her number for you. Maybe in your hands…" Cussing could be heard. Stark gasped, "Cap! You really were in the army!"
Stark directed JARVIS, "J, get a few more pix, please. If she went out dressed like that all the time, I'd have heard of her."
Erik whimpered, "Please! It's my fault… and they'll know that she's Jane's assistant. She's visited me a lot. She knows more than she even realizes about the Einstein-Rosen Bridge, the Convergence… and Thor, for that matter."
Stark sounded business-like and reassuring, "calm down, Dr. Selvig. I've texted her description and your information to one of the best master assassins in the world. Hawkeye will get her out."
A Rolls Royce pulled up alongside the telephone box. Selvig noticed that the hood ornament was in the shape of an Iron Man mask. A very attractive young blond stepped out, gun drawn but down against her leg while she scanned the area carefully. Stark voice offered an introduction, "Dr. Selvig, meet Agent 13, formerly of SHIELD, now working with Stark Industries as a liaison from CIA. She's the hot blond that just got out of the Rolls next to you."
Selvig nodded weakly to the young woman, and she smiled at him, gesturing for him to get in the car. He spoke into the phone, "can someone come for Darcy's car? It's the least I can do for her. She's looked after me while I was in that place, brought me cocoa and new journals. And I repaid her by running ahead and not going back when they got the jump on her!"
The pretty blonde opened the booth door, "please, Dr. Selvig, come with me now. Don't worry about anything. Let's allow the others to look after Miss Lewis. They will be less distracted when they know that you have reached safety."
So, Erik Selvig nodded and spoke again into the receiver. "Thank you."
The calm voice replied, "I am glad to be of help, Dr. Selvig. I hope that Mr. Barton is able to bring word of your friend's safe rescue very soon."
Erik placed the receiver in the cradle and leaned his face against it, crying again. He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder and turned, nodding to Agent 13 that he would cooperate. His insanity only ran so deep. He thanked his lucky stars that he had a way to safety, far away from the people who'd taken over the psychiatric hospital.
In a hotel in Paris, Jane Foster and Thor were making love when her cell phone first rang, so it was ignored in favor of bliss. The second time it rang, it nearly pierced Jane's fog of pleasure, but not quite. The third time it rang, the tone changed, becoming loud and shrill. Jane's head turned and she asked, "what in the world? I've never heard that noise before."
A very efficient voice spoke from the phone. "Dr. Foster? Is that you? Can you please speak again so that I might verify your identity?"
Thor turned at that sound and asked, "is that the Man of Iron's most-loyal servant?"
The voice replied, "Yes, Mr. Odinson. I am JARVIS. Please accept my apologies for overriding Dr. Foster's phone functions. Mr. Stark is trying to call Dr. Foster on a matter of urgency."
Jane moved out from under Thor and grabbed her robe. She'd heard too much about Tony Stark in the media to consider answering a call from him while naked, regardless of the urgency. She replied to the insistent voice. "I'm Jane Foster. I will accept Mr. Stark's call." She turned to Thor and asked, "why would he call me?"
Thor shrugged and sat up, hands behind his head, muscles rippling with his every move. Jane looked at him appreciatively. He was beyond perfect, to her thinking. She pressed the button to accept a call and put the phone on speaker mode. She moved back to the bed and sat by Thor. "This is Jane Foster." Thor put a protective hand on her shoulder.
"Foster, this is Tony Stark. Are you with Thor?" The call changed to video chat somehow and Jane was relieved she'd put on her robe. "Ho! Cover up there, big guy!"
Thor laughed unselfconsciously and pulled the sheet over himself. He sat by Jane and queried, "what is so urgent a matter, friend Stark?"
Tony Stark's expression grew somber. "I just got off the line with Hawkeye. He's taking a strike team to the Merriweather Psychiatric Facility outside of London as we speak."
Jane gasped, "Erik! That's the SHIELD hospital where Erik is staying. What's wrong? What happened?" Thor looked concerned.
Stark answered, "Dr. Selvig is fine. He called the emergency line and we brought him in. He'll be on a Stark Jet to New York within the hour. It's your assistant, Darcy Lewis. She went to visit Dr. Selvig today. I guess she didn't know that SHIELD has fallen, and many who were with SHIELD are actually Hydra."
Jane paled, "Darcy?! SHIELD fallen? Hydra?! I thought they were defeated in World War II?"
Tony quipped, "actually that's going back on Cap's 'to-do' list."
Thor asked, "What is this Hydra?"
Over Tony's shoulder they saw Steve Roger's face. It was battered with recent wounds. He looked anxious and angry. "Thor, Hydra is a group of psychotic fascists who sow chaos and terror, and my enemy from Earth's Second World War. The plane-load of Hydra bombs I crashed when I went under the ice was intended to destroy our greatest cities. They're evil."
Jane was shaking, "and they have Darcy?! What about Erik? How did he get away?"
Tony was looking at another screen. Steve answered, "the doctor indicated that he used her visit to get outside the building, and got her to taze a guard. Other guards grabbed Miss Lewis, but Dr. Selvig was able to make it to her car and escape. He sounded hysterical."
Thor looked somber as he noted, "the doctor has not fared well in the aftermath of his mental enslavement by Loki."
Tony informed them, "Hawkeye's team just entered the facility. Wait a moment and I'll update you further. Selvig told us that they were doing interrogations- that 'the screams of patients around him changed.' I guess he didn't want any part of that action! He may be saner than people give him credit for…"
Jane's shaking worsened, "Oh, God! What are they doing to her?" She started to cry. Thunder rumbled nearby. Thor always took umbrage when Jane was distraught, but was also worried for his friend, his 'small shield sister', Darcy.
Tony complained, "Thor! Don't screw with the weather!" Thor looked at the small screen with blind rage.
From the feed Tony and Steve were watching, they could all hear explosions, gunfire, and sounds of hand-to-hand combat. Hawkeye's voice was quiet and tense as he gave instructions to his team, urging them to capture all of the Hydra personnel they could for interrogation. After a long, silent minute, Jane and Thor recognized Darcy's voice, calling for Thor and then screaming with terror. Thunder rumbled more loudly as lightning struck outside their hotel.
Darcy rested fitfully, her head hurting from the excess blood pooled in it and her terror rising and falling like ocean waves, constant and insistent. As she heard gunfire and an explosion nearby, she strained against her bonds.
She tried to hold back tears. All she could bear to think was one name, 'Thor! Thor! Thor!' If she thought of anything but that hope of escape she feared she would lose her mind completely.
So, when the door to her room opened she reflexively shouted it, "Thor!" and then began to scream when a different man entered. While Hail-Hydra guy had been intimidating, this man oozed danger and deadly efficiency. He was utterly terrifying. If he wanted answers she would give them up immediately.
He put a finger to his lips. As she got a better look at him, she recognized him. He'd fought alongside Thor in the Battle of New York. He was an Avenger. She shut her mouth and stared at him desperately as he approached. He cut the straps and the bonds at her wrists and ankles. He pulled her upright. Her body overwhelmed from its ordeal, she passed out.
Steve ordered, "Stop that, Thor! Electrical interference hinders our communication." He took a deep breath. Then he swore colorfully.
Thor's eyebrows went up, "Captain! It is not your custom to speak so. What is wrong?"
Tony answered, "we have a video feed from the team. Your friend is alive, but she was being water-boarded." His tone was hollow. He continued, "Looks like she was beat up some, too."
Jane shuddered and put her head in her hands, tears flowing down her face and wordless sounds of pain making their way past her lips. Thor was filled with helpless rage as he pulled Jane into his embrace and vowed vengeance upon those who dared harm one who was of their family.
Behind Tony they heard Steve punch something, swearing, "Damn them! I thought it was all worth it! But they're bigger and stronger than ever, still tearing down the good and screwing up the world!" There was another sound of breakage.
Tony turned away from the phone. "Easy, Cap! If you don't stop putting holes in things I'm gonna leave your ass here in DC and not let you stay in my building with our awesome boy band for the reunion tour."
He turned back to Thor and Jane. "Okay. She passed out when Hawkeye moved her, probably for the best. He covered her up and is taking her out. His team has control of the facility. We have a private ambulance waiting to put her on the plane to New York with Dr. Selvig."
There was a knock on the door to the suite. "That'll be your ride to the airport. I'm guessing you might want to get to New York, too."
Jane lifted her head and nodded vehemently.
Tony continued, "I know you can fly hammer, Thor, but it'll be more comfortable for your lady if you take my plane. We'll see you in a few hours or so, at least me. I'm not sure when Cap'll get his lease broken and be ready to go… though they may want him out so they'll have fewer fist holes to fix in their walls. Your friends will get to New York before you. Hawkeye's staying with Darcy. We've got a medical team that will get her there safely and I have a Healing Ward in the tower now. By the way, I have a place for you two to live and work. Let's talk about that when you get to New York. Sorry to interrupt the sex, by the way."
Thor chuckled sadly and replied, "thank you for seeing to Lady Darcy's safety. She is special to us both. Given the dire circumstances, you are forgiven the interruption."
Jane cried, "Thank you so much!" She was still weeping and Thor pulled her close. Jane's face blanched in sudden realization at Tony's previous words, and she looked to Thor frantically, "cover her up? What? What else did they do to her?"
Tony offered, "glad Hawkeye got her out..."
He glanced over at Steve Rogers, who was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, gathering his emotions. Tony moved the phone so that Thor and Jane could see Steve. "By the way, Cap here seems to have fallen in love with her at first sight. He broke out sweating and nearly came out of his skin when he saw that vintage glam portrait of her. I can't wait to see how he behaves when he actually meets her."
Thor looked nonplussed, "it happens. She is lively, comely, and maidenly, a worthy woman for the Captain's affections. My friend Fandral was taken with her the last time he visited Midgard. He has sworn that if he ever decides to take a wife, it will be the Lady Darcy."
Tony's face filled the screen again as he laughed, "you ought to see Capsicle's face! He's got it bad. Anyway, get some clothes on and get on the plane and you can come see for yourself."
After they ended the call, Jane and Thor quickly dressed. He asked, "what is this 'water-boarded?'"
Jane was frantically throwing things into their suitcases, not paying attention to his, or hers, or theirs. They could sort it later.
At Thor's question she stopped and grabbed her phone again. She searched on Google and found a video of a reporter being water-boarded. She held the phone so that Thor could see it, explaining, "I'm scared if I hand it to you it'll get crushed."
She nodded to the phone, "It's really nasty torture that makes a person feel as though they are dying. This guy volunteered to have it done, so he would be able to communicate about how barbaric it is more effectively. But, he was able to stop when he wanted." She pressed her lips together tightly, looking nauseated and tearful as she shook her head, "when it's for real… Oh, Darcy!"
Thor watched the video. A full-blown lightning storm swept Paris in the next few minutes.
to be continued...
