The SHIELD transport had tracked a radiation signal farther east from the Solomon Islands, to another small island. It was remote and barely noticeable on the map. Lush tropical plants and ferns dotted the island. The sky was blue with the sun hanging high above. The only noticeable feature was an enormous crater in the center. The transport descended a ways back from the hole. Loki and Thanos exited the vehicle and made their way towards the hole. The two peered deep into it, unable to see anything in the dark abyss that hung open like a gaping maw.
"You're sure it is here?" Thanos asked.
"Positive," Loki said. "I was able to narrow down the location of the Tesseract using the computer on the ship. It resides within. Now, pray tell, how do we plan to withdraw it from its hole? We would be at a disadvantage to fight it down below."
"Perhaps a little magic is in order," Thanos suggested. Loki smiled and waved his fingers, having his scepter materialize in his hands. The blue energy pulsed wildly in it, much stronger than before. "I see you have retrieved your old scepter."
"I performed the old "bait and switch", as the humans say," he bragged. "They know so little about Asgardian technology that they won't be able to tell the difference between the two. Now…" Loki hoisted his scepter up high and slammed it into the ground. A shockwave resonated throughout the island, reverbing deep through the rock under their feet. A familiar noise graced their ears.
"Vrrrrr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr…" Thanos grinned.
"I will not underestimate the beast this time," he said.
"I thought our plan was to tame the beast, not kill it," Loki said.
"I have been patient, and I desire battle," Thanos said. "I shall have it, even if it is brief." The ground began shaking at brief intervals, with loud thuds echoing from within the hole. Two black forelimbs tipped with red rose from the hole, carrying the insect-like body of the MUTO with it. It stood tall over the hole, looking down at them and spreading its wings with a snarl. In its small hands was the Tesseract.
"I shall retrieve the Tesseract," Loki said. "You keep the creature busy."
"And then it shall be ours!" Thanos yelled, leaping into the air towards the MUTO. It let out a monstrous screech, only to be cut off by Thanos's fist landing in the center of its head. The MUTO staggered back, thrown off balance by the small creature. In retaliation, it smashed its forelimb into Thanos's torso. He managed to stay on his feet but skidded back through the dirt. The brute crashed into a tree, which toppled over from the force. Loki fired bolts of blue energy from his scepter, stinging the carapace of the MUTO. It stomped its forelimb onto Loki, who ended up fading in a burst of gold light. It turned to see Loki again, which earned him a stomp. He also faded in similar fashion to earlier. The MUTO found itself surrounded by many Lokis. It swept its forelimb through them all, taking down several trees with them. While the MUTO attacked the Lokis, the real Loki was maintaining his balance on its tiny middle arm. His illusion copies distracted the beast while he attempted to pry the Tesseract from its gangly fingers. Thanos leapt upon the MUTO's head and slid its fingers under its jaw, pulling it back. The MUTO reared back in pain, flapping its wings violently. "Get it, you fool!"
"I shall have it!" Loki replied. He put more pressure on his specter, still trying to pry it out of the MUTO's vice like grip. The scepter was being pulled into his chest, but the Tesseract was still locked within its fingers. Thanos grew impatient and leapt from the MUTO's head down to its torso. It landed on the other arm and grabbed the forearm. The brute pulled it back away from the Tesseract, his foot planted firmly on the creature's elbow. Even with only one arm holding onto the cube, Loki had difficulty prying it out of the MUTO's fingers. With a frustrated yell, he stabbed the blade on his scepter into the creature's wrist. Blood splashed out of the serration Loki had created. A pained screech rang out over the island, and the MUTO's hand twitched and spazzed. The Tesseract hit the dirt , kicking up much of it upon impact. "It is free!" Loki and Thanos leapt down off the MUTO and landed on the island floor. The MUTO licked at its wound and peered down at them, its mandibles contorted in a sneer. Thanos wrapped his thick fingers around the cube and pointed it at the MUTO.
"Enough of this!" he shouted. The Tesseract began to crackle with blue electricity. "Obey, creature!" The MUTO snapped at them. "I am Thanos, the Mad Titan! The savage Chitauri obey me, and so shall you! You will obey! Obey! OBEY!" A blindingly bright blue beam of energy shot from the Tesseract and phased through the MUTO but then fading as quickly as it arrived. The MUTO stood still, just watching them. The red markings on its body flashed blue and then quickly changed back to red. All that could be heard was it breathing and the sound of waves softly crashing upon the sandy shore. The MUTO shook its head. Thanos grinned. "It is ours now."
"Excellent," Loki said and walked towards it. It hissed at him, causing him to step back to Thanos. "I thought you said it was ours."
"It is," Thanos said. "To an extent." Loki glared at him.
"To an extent?" he asked. "You claimed you could control the MUTO with the Tesseract!"
"Controlling an animal is not the same as with a human," Thanos said. "Even with such a powerful object at my disposal, you cannot just erase millions of years of evolutionary primal instinct."
"Is that why it was hostile towards me? Loki asked.
"No," Thanos said with a grin. "That was for me." Loki gave him an icy stare. "The MUTO shall fight for us, but its need to feed, rest, and breed cannot be denied."
"Breed?" Loki asked.
"Yes," Thanos replied, staring into the Tesseract. "It is male. And looking for a mate." Loki was quiet, pondering something. A sinister smile crossed over his face.
"Then let us play matchmaker," he said. "Yucca Mountain awaits."
"Now THAT is a plan I can get behind," Thanos said. "It will surely be heavily defended, and the Avengers will no doubt attempt to apprehend us."
"We have the MUTO and the Tesseract now," Loki said. "What do we have to fear? The MUTO will surely sweep over them like the locust swarms of human mythology."
"Oh, but why let the monster have all the fun?" Thanos mused. "We have an opportunity on our hands for something great."
"Explain," Loki said.
"The two of us can head to Yucca Mountain and obtain the other MUTO," Thanos explained. "And the MUTO can keep the Avengers distracted in another part of the world."
"There IS a human settlement a distance from here," Loki said, remembering the chain of islands to the northeast. "You propose we send the MUTO there while we free the other?"
"Divide and conquer," Thanos said. "Once we have both MUTOs and the Avengers exhausted, we can create a portal for the Chitauri to enter from."
"And THIS time, my victory will be absolute," Loki said. "I get my planet. You get your Tesseract AND your battle." Thanos let out a deep chuckle.
"Excellent," he purred. He turned back to the MUTO, still standing there. "Go forth, creature, and wreak havoc!"
"Vrrrrrr-RAAAAH-AAAAH-AAAAH-AAAAHHH!" The MUTO flapped its wings and lifted into the air, heading northeast. The two watched it shrink along the horizon.
The Helicarrier drifted high over the Pacific Ocean, with most of SHIELD searching the region for the renegade MUTO. The United States Navy and Air Force had planes and ships lined around the country, watching the waters and airways. With no plan of attack, the Avengers sat onboard the Helicarrier, growing more restless the longer they were inactive. Tony was busy running maintenance on both his and Rhodey's suits. Natasha and Clint were sparring downstairs in the gym, pushing themselves to outdo one another. Steve was lifting weights on the other side of the gym, listening to a playlist comprised by Tony, Clint, and even Natasha of some of America's best music since his time. Bruce was in his laboratory on the ship, doing independent research. Thor was unable to find ways to keep himself occupied and wandered the ship aimlessly. He wandered into the lounge and saw Professor Vivienne Graham organizing some papers.
"Excuse me," he said, walking over to her. She looked up at him in surprise.
"Oh, h-hello," she said. "Can I help you?"
"I find myself uneasy and wished to engage in conversation with someone," Thor said. "If it is of no bother for you…."
"Oh, no," she said. "I don't mind. It would be an honor to talk to you, sir." Thor laughed slightly.
"Please," he said, holding up a hand. "There is no need to be so formal, ma'am."
"The same goes for you….. Thor," she said with a giggle. "I'm sorry. It's just so odd to talk to THE Thor. Both a superhero and a mythological figure."
"Well, the myth is more truth than myth," he said with a laugh.
"Right," she said. "Exactly what did you wish to talk about? What's on your mind?" Thor sighed.
"With this MUTO somewhere out there and my brother and his cohort running around unchecked, I find myself stressed," he admitted.
"Loki," she said. "Your adopted brother?"
"Yes," Thor said. "He's always be family to me, even if I must bring justice down upon him."
"What will you do when you find him?" Vivienne asked.
"Hopefully, return him and the Tesseract home. Seal them both away."
"Your home," Vivienne said. "Asgard. What is it like?"
"Oh, it's positively beautiful," Thor said. "The towers span high into the heavens and shine bright with gold."
"You must miss it," she said.
"Oh, all the time," he admitted. "But Midgard is just as beautiful." She looked puzzled. "It is the term for your Earth. Your Earth is so diverse and full of many things. The foliage and animals vary in ways too numerous to count. And your people. The humans are amazing. Such a strong and resilient race so bound to the notion of identity. And the way you learn just for learning is a testament to your prowess. Asgard could learn from you."
"You're too kind," she said, surprised by how humble he was.
"I mean it," he said. "Your Earth is full of surprises. Both good and bad. Like your MUTO."
"Speaking of the MUTO, I was wondering," she said, and then paused. "Well…. about… Godzilla. What do you think about him?"
"I believe you," he said. She looked up at him in surprise.
"R-really?" she asked.
"Of course," he said. "SHIELD and your military may believe he is no more, but you seem quite convinced he still breathes."
"Even without proof, you still believe?" Vivienne asked.
"It's a lot to take on faith, but I do believe you," he said. "I was a mere myth to your people, yet here I stand. Tony Stark built a metal suit to fly. Captain Rogers survived in ice for decades. Doctor Banner transforms into a super beast. And the MUTO itself, of course. Doctor Serizawa is convinced he shall come to best the MUTO. His belief must have some sort of basis."
"You honor Sensei with your words," Vivienne said. Thor looked at her, confused.
"Sensei?" he repeated.
"It's Japanese," she said. He still gave her a confused look. "It's an Earth language." Thor nodded in understanding. "It is a formal title for those you look to for respect. Like teachers. Doctor Serizawa is my teacher."
"Your Sensei," he said. She nodded. "Well, I suppose that Captain Rogers would be a Sensei to me."
"You respect Captain Rogers greatly, I see," she said.
"He is an honorable mortal," Thor said. "His feats are revered in your world. I would follow him into the gates of Hades, if needed."
"I would do the same for Sensei," Vivienne said.
"You two are adorable," a voice said. Tony was leaning against the side of the doorway, a smirk on his face.
"Hello, Mr. Stark," Vivienne said in a friendly tone. Tony laughed.
"Please," he said. "Just "Tony", dear." He walked over to join them. "You." He pointed at Vivienne. "I was talking to Coulson, and he talked about you so much."
"He did?" she asked, unable to hide her enthusiasm.
"Oh yeah," he said. "He went nuts when you said you liked his Captain America vintage cards."
"He has the whole set!" she said energetically. "They're vintage!" Tony laughed again and shook his head.
"Looks like Steve's got competition," he said, looking at Thor. He looked confused by his comment.
"You guys talking about me?" a voice asked. Steve came through the doorway, wiping his face off with a towel.
"Hello, Mr. Rogers," Vivienne said.
"It's just "Steve" for him," Tony said, patting him on the shoulder. Steve nodded. "Takin' a break there, big guy?"
"Yeah," Steve said, slinging the towel around his neck. "I've been restless all day. I can't just stay here on the ship while that MUTO is out there."
"I as well," Thor said. "Mjolnir grows itchy in my hands with the MUTO and Loki on the loose." Tony looked back and forth between Steve and Thor.
"I'm fine," he said, patting Thor on the shoulder. "Great, actually."
"How can you be so calm?" Steve asked. "With all those things out there? SHIELD has us here like sitting ducks."
"Oh, I'm not too keen on being told what to do," Tony said. "But what other plan do we have? Let SHIELD find the MUTO, and we kick its ass. Simple as that."
"I dunno how you do it," Steve said. "I just need some sort of action."
"You may be in luck," a voice said. They all turned to see Nick Fury standing in the doorway.
"Sir?" Steve asked.
"We've got a situation," he said. "The bridge. Now." They followed Fury up to the bridge, being joined by Natasha, Clint, Rhodey, and Bruce along the way. Fury didn't say a word until they entered the bridge. Agent Hill, Coulson, Serizawa, and Captain Hampton were waiting on them. "How bad is it, Coulson?"
"Bad," he said. "Admiral Stenz left for damage control."
"Damage control?" Steve asked. He saluted Captain Hampton, which he returned. "What's happening, sir?"
"Twelve hours ago, a Russian nuclear sub disappeared along the border of United States waters," Captain Hampton said. "We suspect the MUTO is involved, but the Russian government is pointing fingers at our boys due to our ships lined up and down the borders."
"Why were the Russians so close to the US?" Rhodey asked.
"One reason why the Russians think we had something to do with their missing sub," Captain Hampton said. "As of right now, the only other people besides us that knows about the MUTO is the US government."
"We can't keep this a secret forever, sir," Natasha said. Captain Hampton sighed.
"I'm aware, but the last thing we need right now is another Cold War," he said.
"Why are things so tense between us?" Steve asked. "I thought that things calmed down after Reagan and Gorbachev."
"For a while," Natasha said.
"Things have changed in recent years, Mr. Rogers," Rhodey said. "A lot."
"I'm still a bit behind on things," Steve said. "Does it get any worse, sir?" Captain Hampton looked to Agent Hill. With a nod, she pulled up a holographic projection of a map of the Pacific. A marker appeared on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. In the jungle outside of Honolulu. The Avengers all grew tense.
"That's a civilian area," Rhodey said.
"How many people live on that island?" Steve asked.
"A little under a million," Agent Coulson said. "A third of them live in the city."
"We need a game plan," Tony said abruptly. "Now." His usual calm demeanor was nowhere to be found.
"My thought exactly, Mr. Stark," Captain Hampton said. "You and the two SHIELD agents will enter the forest to locate the sub. Check for survivors. We'll need to evacuate the civilian population in the event the MUTO attacks the city. Captain Rogers, you'll be in charge of evac. Colonel Rhodes, I want you, Thor, and Doctor Banner to help organize the defense force in the city. We'll be watching the skies and defending the evac from the MUTO. If we can get through this, we can all go home. Now, let's move! Double time!" The Avengers quickly left the room and went their separate ways to suit up.
"Hey, Steve," Tony said. With a plan to go by, he was now much calmer. "After all this, what plans do you have?"
"Well, me and Thor were gonna watch some movies," he replied. "Figured it would be a fun way to learn more about all that's different."
"What did you have in mind?" Tony asked.
"Professor Graham said Doctor Who, and Agent Coulson said Star Wars."
"Star Wars," Tony said. "Excellent choice. My advice: start with the best one of them all. The Phantom Menace."
"Ooh, that sounds pretty good," Steve said.
"Trust me," Tony said with a smile. "You have no idea what to expect." Steve nodded his head, liking the sound of that.
"Well, thanks, Tony," he said, patting his friend on the shoulder. "I'm sure Thor and I are gonna love it." He went into the other room to retrieve his uniform. Tony went to his lab to slip into the Iron Man suit. He was stifling a laugh the entire time.
