***THIS HAPPENED SOME TIME BEFORE CHAPTER ONE***
Deep underground, Loki's operation bustled with activity. Machinery buzzed incoherently, spitting code only identifiable to those educated to its numbers. Any enemy of Shield was a tool usable to the God of mischief.
"The Tesseract has shown me so much!" Selvig exclaimed, "It's more than knowledge, it's truth."
"I know," Loki dismissed him, "It touches everyone differently."
Selvig nodded, his eyes glazed with the Tesseract's power.
"What did it show you, Agent Barton?" Loki glanced towards Hawkeye.
"My next target."
Selvig chuckled hysterically, "Stick in the mud you've got no soul. No wonder you chose this, this tomb to work in."
"Well," Hawkeye seemed annoyed, "The Radisson doesn't have three levels of lead lined flooring! Between shield and that cube…"
"I see why Fury chose you to guard it," Loki smirked.
"You're going to have to contend with him sir, "Hawkeye started walking, "As long as he's in the air, I can't pin him down. He's putting together a team."
"Are they a threat?" Loki narrowed his eyes.
"A threat to each other more than likely, but if Fury can get them on track, then he might throw some noise our way."
"You admire Fury," Loki accused absently.
"He's got a clear line of sight."
"Is that why we failed to kill him?" Loki walked off.
"It might be, I was disoriented, and I'm not at my best with a gun."
Loki slowly turned around, "I want to know everything you can tell me about this team of his. I will… test…. their battle. I'm weary of scuttling in shadows. I need to rule this world, not borrow it."
"It's a risk."
"Oh, yes," Loki chuckled.
"You're set on making yourself known," Hawkeye observed, "I could be useful."
"Tell me what you need," Loki began to grow excited.
Hawkeye strutted over to his bow and twanged the string, "I need a distraction. And an eyeball."
"A possible blight has come to my attention," Loki mused, "That could ruin or aid my plans."
"And what's that?"
"Not what," Loki grinned, "Who."
