TONY
We'd been seeing reports for the past few weeks, even investigated the aftermath of a few attacks, but we never got to face these odd creatures that came out of nowhere.
Bruce and I had even located a carcass, but it disappeared somewhere during transportation and we never found out who did it. I think Coulson might have had an idea, but he didn't talk to us about it.
So it comes down as a shock when we receive the distress call saying they're attacking at multiple points of interest and in daylight.
That was a new one.
Breaking into logical teams, we make haste.
Gotta admit, while slippery, Hulk's got a flare for catching them, so I mostly do my best to keep those things away from innocent civilians and encourage my gamma-enhanced buddy.
Once we're down with our lot – which a head count reads as fifty – we move to go assist Captain Spangles and Legolas.
Just as we're getting there, we get a message for back up at Central Park.
"You guys go ahead! We're almost finished here!" Steve orders.
"See ya in ten, then. Hulk, follow me buddy! There's more this way!" I tell my best friend's alter ego.
For such a mindless creature, the Hulk does understand a lot of things. While he's prone to smacking Steve and Thor around, he's more careful when he yells and waves at Natasha and Clint.
Me? He just loves to keep his sight and barrel into me when I don't see an attack coming and he can get to me. It's almost like a pet and master relationship.
I just haven't figured who owns whom yet.
Our arrival at Central Park shows we're just in time. Out of the ten S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents sent here, four are dead or injured, six struggling to keep that number stable.
And boy am I glad to see they've got help!
Niko Leandros reminds me of a Death specter, moving easily and bodies dropping left and right, dead before they hit the ground.
Caliban Leandros is slightly less elegant, but as effective. He's covered in gore and blood, but he doesn't stop to wipe his knife clean. At least his moral seems to be on the upside as we banter slightly.
But what does he mean, by 'Originals'?
So many questions, so little time. Especially with Nik trying to get the Kid to concentrate every few kills.
When additional back up arrives – from the brothers' side of the group – I get to see an all new degree of efficiency. Three blade users and a dual blade/gun user does a lot of damage.
These guys keep coming, from the woods it seems, and I can't see the end of them. If I were truthful, their number of arrival has actually increased.
Cal starts goofing off verbally again – and is that really Miss Nottinger? – and its barely a second later that Niko suggests the good Agents make a strategic retreat. Hill argues – as she usually does unless directly ordered by Fury – but Robin supports Niko's idea.
And apparently these things are called Baes; who would have thought?
I'm actually facing Hill when the portals open around her. The same type of portal Cal does to get to her in time, saving her at his own expense.
For a brat, he doesn't have cold feet. I've never seen someone as wounded as he is able to still stand after his 'supports' all disappear by portals. Much less shoot through that portal at the end of his gun and hit his target dead on!
But the game's apparently not over as the air shimmers behind the Kid and 'Loki' steps out of nowhere, placing his hands on Cal and smirking to the rest of us.
"Cal!" Niko yells, and I glance over to see he's already taken down the slackers.
By the time I turn back, Loki and Cal have disappeared and Niko's finally reached the place they'd been standing; Hill sitting still, shocked.
We all move closer, but only Promise dares to kneel before the clearly distraught Niko, passing her gloved hands over his cheeks and hair, whispering soothing words.
"Everything will be fine, you're not alone anymore. We'll find him just like the last times he's gone missing and-"
She's cut mid-sentence as Niko roughly grabs her wrists and pushes her arms away from him. He gets up, looking lost.
"I need to get back to the apartment. The tracker…"
Robin seems to start at those words, hurriedly taking out a six by three inches tablet.
"Right here! I've brought it!" exclaims hurriedly the Puck.
Niko jumps at him and almost rips the device out of his hands, but it's clear Robin's seen this behavior before and he only puts a supportive hand at the small of Niko's back as he peers over the blonde's shoulder.
"There's nothing," Niko says, extremely puzzled.
And I know exactly why.
"One of those things got their claws in his chest. There's a high percentage that it broke," I reveal, not at all pleased.
Niko suddenly looks so broken, I can understand why Robin wraps an arm around the other man's shoulders.
"Fear not, Brother Niko!" suddenly booms Thor's voice, making all of us jump in surprise. "If anyone can help Caliban survive his grievous wounds; it is my own brother!"
I realize he probably got here just before Loki transported Cal away, because Coulson is now helping Hill to her feet and my favorite Agent does not look too happy.
"I heard Leandros call for your retreat; why did you not?" he scolded in a low voice.
"There were more coming and-"
Not in a million years would have I ever witness such a drastic come back from reality for a woman on such a high horse.
Rob Fellows slaps her so hard her lip splits and his twisted features of pure disgust made us all shiver.
"Know your place, wretched Human! There are situations – and beings too! – beyond your capabilities. Because of your feeble needs to prove yourself, you've just caused the possible destruction of two of the purest people to ever walk this century!" he snaps, looking ready to slap her again just for good measure.
But we all get sidetracked by Niko, who's looking at Thor with hopelessness.
"Why?"
Thor gives a small, sad smile.
"Because of his misfortunes, many a times he has need for Healers. Over the millennia, he has learned of all medical spells and remedies one could ever need. Not to mention Hel loves her father greatly; she will not allow Caliban's soul to enter purgatory while Loki is with him."
I just stare, because I've heard the stories. And read some more. Hel, only daughter of Loki, overlord of the realm of the dead.
No wonder the guy's got issues!
"Where would he have taken my brother?" Niko's voice is so small, I can barely believe it's the same man.
"To the place he has been keeping hidden from us, I would imagine. Should he manage to keep him alive, the process will take some time and the more comfortable Loki is, the better are Caliban's chances of a thorough recovery."
I see Clint tense up, knowing he'd come to the same conclusion as me.
"So, we should delay all searches for your brother," I state.
Thor nods.
"It would be in Caliban's best interest."
Robin places a hand on Niko's shoulder before asking the question surely burning on Niko's lips.
"And should Cal die? How will we know?"
"While vindictive, Loki is not cruel. He will bring you back the body for the burial of your people."
Niko looks about to be sick, so I step forward and look directly into his grey eyes, and it strikes me at how they are exactly the same as Cal's.
"You should go home and rest. If you don't feel comfortable to go there yet, you're always welcomed at Stark Tower. I'm sure we'll find something to keep you occupied with, until we get some news."
He looks hesitant, as if not knowing what to do, but Promise comes up on his free side and grabs his hand into hers.
If that doesn't spell possessive, I don't know what it is.
"Thank you for the offer, Mr. Stark; but I believe Niko will be better off with people who know him," she tells me politely. "Now, we had best go, before the media are allowed any closer."
"Yes, because people would absolutely recognize you as you are dressed presently!" snarls Robin.
Boy, am I glad no one can see my face right now 'cause I'm totally smiling. It's not like I know her or anything, but she's always rubbed me wrong.
Especially the five times widowed thing.
"In any case, the offer's open. Any time, any day, we've always got someone roaming about."
"Unless we're out and about," quips Clint.
Niko nods, then gets led away by Robin and Promise.
I myself turn my attention to my buddy Bruce, who's back to peachy skin color, butt naked for the world to see except for Thor's cape, the guy having handed it over as soon as Hulk calmed down.
"So… pick a body? Study time?" I joke.
"Let S.H.I.E.L.D. do the preliminaries. I need rest," yawns Bruce.
Nodding, I wait for them to all shove into the back of a S.H.I.E.L.D. transport before going by air.