For this chapter, a basic understanding/quick google about characters (no mention to avoid spoilers) may be helpful if you have trouble filling in blanks occasionally.
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Dark Paradise by Lana Del Rey
And there's no remedy for memory, your face is like a melody,
It won't leave my head; your soul is haunting me
And telling me that everything is fine; but I wish I was dead—dead like you.
Every time I close my eyes it's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you. I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side.
There's no relief; I see you in my sleep.
And everybody's rushing me, but I can feel you touching me
There's no release; I feel you in my dreams telling me I'm fine.
Every time I close my eyes it's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you. I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side.
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Chapter 12
Jane furiously jabbed the holographic keyboard while she bit her lip lightly. Her brow hung low on her features as she sifted through the information. Although happier than most days, the astrophysicist dove into her research.
Erik was somewhere, yet nowhere to be found.
And she needed him to bounce off her ideas with. Darcy at the least, but Fury had made it abundantly clear that bringing her aboard now wouldn't be wise for her intern's safety.
But they were all running out of time.
While tucked safely in Loki's arms last night, voices roused her into a restless slumber. They screeched across her mind, saying things roughly along the lines of knowing where she was, knowing her increasingly problematic feelings for whom they referred to as a monster. The voices guided her through a tour of horrific images: Loki cold in her arms, Thor brutally beaten and lame on the ground, the Avengers tortured beyond repair.
These were all the things she would stop.
If only someone threw her a bone!
"Damn it all to hell!" she spewed as (once again) the system rejected her into the system. Loki had changed into some woman SHIELD worker in order to entice information out of a man. But apparently, SHIELD was actually wise and separated information by levels or something.
The sliding hydraulic door opened, but Jane hardly paid the disturbance any mind. "Jane Foster," Natasha Romanoff commented while walking through the threshold into the laboratory, "what could you possibly be up to?"
"Agent Romanoff," Jane greeted curtly, "I'm glad to see that you're well again."
The agent chuckled as she took the time to lean against the bright white wall nearest to the entryway. The door slid closed, which she instantly locked from within. "I'm wondering why you would be here when there's no direct orders giving you reason to be here."
"Although I didn't ask, I'm glad you're able to keep tabs on harmless individuals who are only trying to further the world of science," she retorted.
Jane cursed again and turned her back to the SHIELD agent. Her fingers frantically flipped the pages of an older book. It only took her ten seconds to locate the needed information. With a sigh of frustration, the scientist bobbled on her toes in anxiety.
"I'll only ask you one more time, Dr. Foster. Why are you here?" Romanoff added a bit more forcefully.
When Jane's body hunched over the table, her attention withered away from reality just a bit, but she still replied, "Natasha, I know we have a common ally...of sorts."
A tense, strained growl left the agent's mouth, "Ally? Not quite."
"Are there any sensors or cameras in here that will make working problematic?" Dr. Foster quickly replied.
"While the labs are bugged, I've already taken precautionary measures to ensure our work here will go undisturbed."
"How?"
Footsteps sounded off behind Jane. Romanoff walked right up to Jane's side, turning around promptly and crossing her arms. "I've transferred old footage to this lab."
"Good," Jane retorted as her eyes finished scanning the pages. "I wish I had Erik's mind at my disposal right now. Hell, even Darcy would be more useful than anyone right now."
Jane straightened her posture and turned around to view the holographic computer. Her eyes narrowed, "Do you know of a way to bypass SHIELD's level requirement regarding the Tesseract?"
"What do you want with the Cube?" Agent Romanoff required.
Dr. Foster threw the book onto the table and paced back and forth, "How is Yuri Ivanov still alive? What purpose does he have with my equipment? Who followed me all the way to Alaska? On what scale will this all turn out to be? Why open more wormholes? What purpose does any of this serve?"
"You're asking a lot of questions that have little to no merit. We haven't had any sighting by anyone going by that name. There's no way he could still be alive. He'd have to be like Steve or something," Natasha told her.
Jane shook her head, "You don't get it. No one gets it." Her pacing stopped as Jane rushed over to the agent in order to grab her by her shoulders. The scientist's eyes looked in all directions while she searched for the words she needed to say, "What if the wormholes aren't just gateways to other worlds, but to different dimensions, too?"
Natasha pulled herself away from her, "I think you're sounding exactly how Dr. Selvig did when he came through from Loki's possession."
"Of course you do, which is why I need someone competent with the way I theorize here."
In an effort to still her patience, Agent Romanoff shook her head again, "Let's say, for now, we go with your theory. What then?"
"The effects of opening these holes would be catastrophic to say the least. The Tesseract is vital to sustaining the wormholes, but so much more, too," Jane began to explain, "Think about the potential this has on not only a global scale, but a universal scale. We're not after Yuri. We're not after whoever opened up the hole in Alaska. We're after someone who has access to power more potent than the Tesseract."
"You're not making sense."
"I know I'm not. Just help me, please!"
Romanoff swallowed, "I don't know if I should."
Jane's eyes saturated dully. She stepped away from the agent and went back to trying to log in to the system, "Then you should go. You're wasting my time."
As the system rejected the information again, Natasha sighed. "Jane," the agent hesitantly started, "No matter how much you want to, you'll never be able to save everyone."
When the scientist's eyes widened, her pupils dilated, pulsating between wide to narrow. Her lids narrowed to guard the collecting moisture. "I'm not doing this to save anyone."
Natasha pushed Jane away from the holographic monitor. "Then why are you doing this?"
Jane's eyes fiercely battled against Natasha's soft gaze. Words would not escape unless they were precise, calculated. "To erase my mistakes."
And, knowing exactly what she meant...how she felt...Natasha pushed Jane out of her way. She inputed a user ID and a password, which bypassed the log in altogether.
The information prompted hidden access files that were dated recently. "If you want to hack into the system, it's best if you let someone who does it on a regular basis do it for you."
Jane laughed, "What did you do? How did you-"
"It's a ghost file. I designed it with the help of Tony Stark and Pepper Potts a few weeks ago. It turns out SHIELD was designing mass nuclear weapons to combat the other worlds as a means of defense. I didn't sign up with mass murdering other planets throughout the universe. Fury kept us all in the dark, which I'm sure you know already. This account is meant for uncovering any hidden motifs without raising any brows," Natasha briefed.
Jane huddled by her in order to fish out any information.
"Where is he, by the way?"
"Who?"
"You know who..."
"You'll need to be a bit more specific."
Natasha paused and looked at Jane irritably. Jane rolled her eyes and sighed, "Loki is searching every last corridor for the Tesseract. He believes it is closer than we think."
"You think it's best the monster who nearly obliterated New York searches?" Natasha countered.
Jane scoffed, "Why do you ask? I'd like to see you turn yourself into someone else or disguise yourself so no one else detects you."
"Be that as it may, you know of his history with the Cube."
Jane shook her head, "I'm sorry you don't approve of what is the most logical option for us."
"I am a trained strategist and skilled assassin," she coldly told her, "It would have been nice to be included in the plans, since he involved me."
A loud huff came from Jane's smaller form, "Correction: he saved you."
"Ahh," a masculine drawl dramatized, "It is a pleasure to see we all get along."
Jane instantly glanced up, but, in an effort to stifle the need to be near him, remained where she was, "Did you find it, Loki?"
"Not at present."
"Quite the shame," Natasha feigned. The agent scrolled through more files.
"WAIT!" Jane shouted. "Go back!"
When Natasha lifted her hand back up, she dragged a video filed under a date occurring less than a week ago. The agent scrunched her brows and leaned in, "Good eye, Foster."
"I'm not entirely useless, despite the common opinion."
Natasha smirked; however, the grin was replaced by a frown. "What is Agent Sitwell doing here?"
"Who?"
The agent's eyes narrowed and immediately, she tightened her fists, "He's an agent not previously assigned to this helicarrier. Last I heard is that he was assigned to an elite task force in an effort to research the Chitauri's origins and biology."
"Maybe he's here with news?"
Natasha appeared doubtful. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, quickly opening them.
In the next few seconds, all three of them saw Agent Sitwell enter the receiving deck of the helicarrier with a large crate followed by a medium-sized posse. About eight people. Natasha recognized six of the individuals. Five lower-leveled agents and Erik Selvig. The other two were unknown.
"Darcy!"
The guards walking toward the eight were deterred by the agents as they fought against each other in a quick exchange. When the four agents were bested, Agent Sitwell halted and pointed toward the crate. Immediately, it was opened by another agent nearby. The man reached in and withdrew the same scepter Loki had used in New York.
"Holy Shit..." Agent Romanoff cursed.
"Oh, my god..." Jane added in shock.
Loki smirked, "Hello, friend."
"The Tesseract is here," Jane stressed. "This footage is a few days old. How did no one know of this?"
Natasha swallowed, "It was in the restricted section of the hidden database. But I don't understand."
Jane grabbed her arm roughly, "What could you possibly not understand?"
The agent's eyes were wide with confusion, "Only three people know of this database. Tony, Pepper, and me."
"Pepper. It's Pepper," Jane sighed. "They have Erik and Darcy. Who knows what they've been doing."
"I agree with you. Tony has been normal. Plus he's been in and out of this helicarrier following Director Fury's demands," Natasha replied.
Both women looked at Loki.
His smile faded, "What?"
"He can't go anywhere near the Cube."
Jane shook her head, "I need him to help me find Erik and Darcy."
"And they'll be near the Tesseract."
Jane's eyes grew darker. "This isn't necessary! We need to prioritize a bit."
Natasha moved closer to Jane and looked down at her, "The first priority is still the Tesseract. I will protect it from him and his kind with my life. I've seen what it's capable of."
"I'm not having this conversation as if he's not here, Natasha."
Anger pierced through the agent's gaze. "Perhaps I'll consort with people who will listen to reason," she threatened. "This ends now."
"No!"
A tilt disrupted an otherwise intense and focused expression over Natasha's features. "Let me ask you something Loki."
"I don't see how that would help," he quipped.
When she walked up close to him, she grabbed him by the collar of his attire, pulling him down to her, "When this little game of yours ends and the time comes to save Jane, will you choose to run like you did back in New York, or are you prepared to surrender the very life you protect so viciously?"
His playful, arrogant grin fell into a quiet state of melancholy. With hardened eyes, he shut his mouth, sealing it into a tight, thin line.
"Nevermind that."
Natasha tilted her head, crossing her arms over her chest as her fingers meticulously tapped against her black attire. "Why not let him answer? Isn't the answer what you want?"
"I want to take control of this before-"
The room shook. The bright, white lights turned off completely, and red lights replaced the glow of the bulbs. An alarm sounded throughout the sector of the helicarrier.
When the three stabilized, Loki rushed toward Jane and took her in his arms. His protective embrace sent a wave of calm through Jane.
Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. He nodded.
An unspoken agreement. To what, they both left undiscovered.
"-something happens."
Immediately, Natasha took charge of the moment by drawing her guns. "The ship is under attack. We need to get to the others."
"What about-"
"Bruce will be taken care of," the agent said. Turning, she ordered, "We need to move."
The door opened. "Already a step ahead of you. Don't explain anything to me now. HYDRA has risen and has taken over this vessel," Steve gravely announced.
Natasha rushed toward her comrade and they walked out of the labs.
Jane followed, prying herself away from Loki. "What do you mean-"
"Jane Foster, you don't get to ask questions. You also have a lot to answer for," Steve interrupted. "We need to find the others."
Steve pulled his shield and slide his arm in the stays. Natasha cocked her guns and cracked her neck. Loki lingered closely to Jane, his presence on high alert.
The two Avengers began to jog, transitioning into a sprint. Loki had no trouble keeping up the pace, but he chose to remain at Jane's side.
The red lights continued to flash through the halls they trekked.
As they ran, Jane began hearing a quiet buzz in her ears. Suddenly, time slowed down. Red now lingered for exactly ten seconds, while the bright flash lasted for five. Noises meshed together until all went silent.
A voice whispered in her ear as if behind, but when she glanced over her shoulder, there was no one. As her attention switched back to the party, she saw a female clad in black leather and green skin dodging Natasha's bullets and another female with long, straight chestnut hair fighting with Steve.
Loki turned her to him and he shouted something, but his words were eaten by the silence and the slow purr of the flow of moment. She stared at his mouth. He clearly spoke her name. The tight curve of his lips and the widening of his lips signaled such.
Jane turned to see Natasha succumb to the green woman. Steve dodged the other woman's arm. But when the arm was retracted, Jane's heart stilled.
Exact eye shape. Exact nose. Exact mouth. Exact face shape.
Different eye color. Different hair color by a few shades. Different softness in soul.
The copy stared after Jane through her bright green eyes. Her alter smiled wickedly as she sped up, breaking through Steve's control. She took him down quickly.
A tug pulled her away from the two assailants. Loki clasped his hands on Jane's jaw and pleaded for something unheard. Slowly, he turned from her and grasped her wrist, pulling her behind him.
But she didn't move.
She watched him shake his head. And vanish.
"JANE!" she heard Darcy cry as if from afar.
Jane turned toward the women taking the two Avengers in their custody.
"JANE!"
The mortal bolted, though everything remained blurred by the twist of time. Every step was delayed, every noise, every breath.
"JANE!"
"DARCY!" her voice echoed.
No looking back. Only looking forward.
The red lights drowned out the chaos around her. She chased the cries of her friend and dashed over bodies bloodied and still. She dodged a few agents fighting the betrayers.
And when she turned her head at the flash of a large red cape, Jane met Thor's eyes.
He had blood all over him. He was badly bruised. Agony etched its way into his irises. He breathed deeply, heavily. And when he reached out for her, she charged forward away from him.
Her chin redirected itself back to the path before her.
"JANE!"
"DARCY!" she called.
The wall beside her busted open. A large green arm emerged from the wreckage. Jane ducked in order to avoid the obtrusive appendage. After the monster moved on toward its prey, Jane pressed forth.
Suddenly, time righted itself. The slowness sped up nearly all at once. Her legs burned from their pace, but they would not surrender unless they brought her to Darcy.
As she rounded a corner, she threw the door open, seeing stairs. Taking two at a time, Jane raced up the seven flights of stairs encased in the small stone-walled room.
"JANE!"
And when she opened the door, the sun rays burned her eyes. When her eyes focused beyond the clashing rays, her eyes feasted on Darcy held by an unknown human who appeared to be an agent of SHIELD.
Tentatively, she rushed out of the dark threshold and ran to the center of the deck. The wind picked up violently, but she held her ground. "Darcy!"
"No! Run away, Jane! They'll kill you!" the raven haired assistant ordered before the man punched her in the stomach.
"Leave her alone!" Jane demanded.
When Jane was about to run to her, a rapid buzzing brought her to her knees. She winced and cried out in pain, but, suddenly, the mouse was gone. Jane shook, trembling in the aftermath of the tremors. When she glanced up, she was at the feet of a large, dark blue-skinned being.
Instantly, she knew who it was.
"Thanos."
To be continued...
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