PART 3: DISCOVERY
"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore"
-Andre Gide-
Bulgaria, 2014
The snow had never been comforting. Far beyond her was a vast white expanse of a forest. There were no sign of human being around her, just endless pines and misty morning fog. The cold air would be stinging the backs of ordinary people, but not Ase's. The temperature was almost welcoming, reminding her of Birger's cozy home. It amused her how the other five agents with her did not feel the same. They had not questioned her outstanding resistance to cold temperatures, which was evident from how she had worn only her thin jacket. This was one of the many questions that hovered over their heads since they had started the hunt for Loki's scepter last year.
Unfortunately, however, the hunt had so far not been successful.
Ase and her team of agents had tracked the scepter across Europe, relying more on human intelligence than computer technology. The scepter had not emitted gamma radiation like the Tesseract, which made espionage their prime source of information. It was discouraging, however, to find that HYDRA was in the actual possession of the scepter.
One of the agents beckoned her to come closer. Ase trudged wordlessly in the snow, constantly alert of her surroundings. There had been no resistance from HYDRA so far, only them playing cats and mice. They did not attack them, and they could not find them either. She sighed whenever they came to another dead end. She hoped they would get their enemies this time.
"We noticed several heat signatures just now," the agent reported. "Inside one of the caves. There." The agent pointed towards the northeast, to a small opening covered by dense shrubs. "Must be their hideout."
"How many?" Ase asked again. The agent hastily reassessed his observations and looked at her with conviction.
"Only ten. We can take them," he said surely. Ase nodded and touched her earpiece.
"You hear that people?" Ase said to the others. "I will take the lead. All of you cover for me. Leave one alive." Ase gazed at her comrades, gesturing them to move forward slowly. If they discovered them like this, their enemies would have expected them as well. Although they were only five, her abilities would turn the tables effectively.
They continued to shuffle in between the trees. Silence reigned over them, enveloping invisible fear which gripped each of the agents. They had not been too experienced, she had noted before she started the mission. But it was better than having no agents supporting her blind search at all.
I must make this confrontation without casualties from our side, Ase promised herself.
Then there was a loud crumpling sound behind her. Ase held out her hand, warning her agents not to move from their positions, but the sound continued. She whirled around just too late to see a syringe being plunged to her neck. One of the agents gazed back at her. She glanced around, demanding explanations, but none moved from their positions—just like what she had instructed.
They were planning this all along. They were targeting her. Ase's skin shivered as whatever he had injected began entering her system. They might want to kill her or merely drug her. There must be a reason for their actions. Had she committed a crime? Were they doing a secret mission?
Traitors.
The thought stuck to her mind for a long moment. She didn't want to draw conclusions, or kill these men needlessly. But she realised she was correct when the HYDRA agents mentioned emerged from their caves. They approached her calmly, undisturbed by the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
Ase's heart began to race. Her instincts kicked in and she crouched to the forest ground. These enemies were trying to subdue her cunningly, but they had forgotten they were playing in her domain. Ase's eyes blurred into scarlet orbs and she heaved. With a powerful gust of wind, frost crept from her hands and around her, spreading like flood crashing the fields. In an instant, her adversaries were turned to frozen statues, still living but dying quickly from frostbite.
Desperately, Ase tried to gather her breaths, realizing that whatever substance was injected was incapable of killing her with her Asgardian body—there was too little encounter with Asgardians to understood their physiology and weaknesses completely. They must have inserted a sleeping drug, Ase realised, sensing it taking effect slowly but surely. I must get out of here.
The drug was disturbing her magic flow, but she could still think. Painstakingly, she performed a teleportation spell, and found herself immediately in the warehouse where they had camped before the mission's execution. She was eternally grateful that no one was there, leaving her with only her laptop. Ase scrambled to it and hastily contacted Fury. Once, twice, he did not reply her call. Ase fidgeted and switched to her phone. It received the same treatment.
Fury was a busy man, but he had never denied her phone call. Ase's anxiety worsened when she found out she could not contact Steve Rogers, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff, or any of the S.H.I.E.L.D. associates she trusted. A horrifying realization came to her.
S.H.I.E.L.D. has been overthrown. HYDRA is behind it.
Ase swallowed the situation for a moment, then threw her phone away. They were hunting her, as did the others. She did not know what means they had against her magical powers, but numbers always wins, she reckoned. Ase swayed slightly, feeling her consciousness being threatened for a moment, then in panic transported herself far from the city. She landed on a forest, but certainly not the forest before.
I need to get somewhere safe, Ase thought as she paced farther. She could not teleport herself anymore with her drowsiness, and she hoped drowsiness would remain the side effects of the drug. She could go to Tony, but it would threaten his safety. It was the same for Banner.
Ase sighed in frustration and forcefully accepted her fate. She was a runaway now.
oOo
Paris, 2015
Clint had never thought he would find Paris so imposing. Beyond the beautiful sceneries and the tourists mingling here and there, there were the dark alleys where the criminals and black market merchants settled and watched the world revolve around its centre. It was here that the runaways lived as well, at least temporarily. But the person he was searching for was not any of them, at least not anymore.
Warily he glanced around, for he couldn't help but feel apprehensive in the eerie silence. Several months before, S.H.I.E.L.D. had been fully usurped by HYDRA agents. He had been on a mission when his own teammate attacked him. Fortunately, he had managed to escape their grasp and travel around America for a time. He could not contact any of his teammates safely, and he presumed Steve was doing his part in battling the main forces of HYDRA.
Tony finally contacted him and told him that he was reassembling the Avengers just a week ago. It was time for them to launch a counterattack towards HYDRA for causing all the problems so far. So far all of them had gathered together, with one exception.
He had never known this before, but Ase was quite a stealth operative. Tony had a difficult time finding her, because she had cut off all mobile and digital communications for several months. Barton even presumed she had resorted to walking through forests just to evade surveillance cameras.
Eventually, Tony identified her in Paris. It was quite an abrupt carelessness she made, but Clint figured out she did so in purpose. He had not met her for more than a year, and he wondered what kind of misfits she had had in Asgard.
Clint arrived of a small, deserted warehouse. He drew his weapon, just in case Tony's intel proved to be wrong and he found a HYDRA agent instead. Clint swallowed nervously before he kicked the door open. "Ase?" he called out.
Suddenly, someone pounded against his head hard. Clint instinctively elbowed his assaulter in the stomach. He heard a feminine grunt, but was not able to turn his head when a blade was held against his neck. Clint widened his eyes as his opponent drew the dagger closer.
"Don't move," she whispered. Clint glanced over his shoulders and was overjoyed when he saw Ase's face.
"Ase, it's me. Clint," Clint told her slowly. "I come for you. Tony is reassembling all the Avengers."
Upon hearing his words, however, her blade grew closer. "How do I know if you are Clint, or just a person wearing his face?" Ase demanded sharply, her voice filled with hostility.
"You mean mask?" Clint asked. His voice broke in a soft laughter. He could not help but find the idea amusing. "Where do you think we are? A freaking Mission Impossible movie?" When he said that out aloud, he cackled further. As a result of the foolish display of his humour, Ase lowered her blade and sighed. There was no one with this low level of humour other than her bird friend.
Without speaking, Ase released him and closed the door. Clint finally got a good glimpse of her, and he was not amused anymore. First thing he noticed was her hair. It was cut, cropped short just below her chin, with its edges dyed black, suggesting she had coloured her hair to remain unidentifiable. Then the skin under her eyes, which was the same colour as the tiniest of her hair. She had gone far lengths to hide herself, he was sure.
"Can't help it," Ase explained as she sheathed her dagger back. Where did she get her dagger from? "HYDRA has been chasing me all around Europe since our agents turned against me when I was tracking Loki's scepter."
"Didn't we all?" Clint scoffed. Ase's face darkened and he realised he had triggered her. "Wait, how many agents came after you?"
Ase packed up her things, which consisted of her laptop and some food and drinks. "First time? Ten, at the same time. The number continued persistently. 50, I believe."
Clint gulped and stared at her in horror. He had only been hunted by several agents, and after he had finished them, he was not bothered directly. But judging from how many HYDRA personnel were dispensed to kill Ase, she must have been a real threat to HYDRA's plans. It was increasingly terrifying to realise that all of them had been killed instead.
"What did you exactly learn when you were away?" Clint asked.
Ase shrugged her shoulders and threw him something. It was a plastic bag full of instant coffee packs and latte cans. Clint raised brows.
"Help me throw that later," Ase said as she opened the door. Seeing Clint still stood bemused, Ase beckoned him to come. "Come on. What are we waiting for?"
Clint grinned and led Ase away from the dilapidated warehouse, ending her exile once and for all.
oOo
Stark Tower, New York
Tony Stark's corporate building was nothing but impressive. Climbing up to the skies, its massive façade and countless windows hid hundreds of advanced technologies and the secrets of its inhabitants. Ase and Clint arrived at the reception lobby, looking like idiots among the finely dressed and neatly suited employees. It was fortunate that Ase had changed her dirty attire to a new one, or else the shame would kill her.
They entered a lift, crowded by too many people, and squeezed themselves in. Somehow, they took their attentions to her. Ase ignored them and endured the painstaking ride to the top floor. By this time none had accompanied them in the lift, which was a comforting experience.
When the lift opened, they were immediately greeted by the sight of the Avengers. All of them were there, her old friends. Steve had not changed, though his uniform did, but his visage hid a dark experience. Natasha too, still looked as fierce and menacing as before. Bruce appeared older, but she could see less signs of stress wrinkled on his face. Then there was Tony, always wearing that smug expression, always the billionaire man.
Ase sank in nostalgia when she saw Thor. He smiled at her sincerely, but now it pained her to see him.
"Welcome back," Tony said once they entered the room.
"Nice haircut," Natasha commented. "Glad you're still alive." Natasha smiled and hugged Ase briefly, patting her on the back. There were so many questions in Ase's mind. Where had they been? What had they been doing?
"What happened?" was the question she decided to ask first, to Natasha and to Steve. Steve tensed and remained silent, so Natasha took the liberty to explain.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. was infiltrated by HYDRA deep into its core," Natasha told her. "The higher-ups even. We lost it, but not without a fight. We also destroyed several Helicarriers, and Fury is dead. Or at least he appears so." Ase raised her brows, not knowing what to expect from the man.
"Now there is no S.H.I.E.L.D." Natasha glanced at Steve hesitantly, asking him a telepathic question. Steve nodded reluctantly and looked away. Natasha sighed and took leaned against the wall. "We also found out that Bucky, Steve's former deceased friend, was used by HYDRA as another supersoldier. They experimented him to become the Winter Soldier."
All the information almost overwhelmed Ase, but she managed a nod. "Where is he now?" she asked further. Steve shrugged her head as an answer. "So it appears we have no backing from S.H.I.E.L.D. now."
"We don't, but I am backing us up. And we are still operating," corrected Tony. He tapped his pad and opened up a hologram. Ase stepped closer to the display and studied the map projected on it. There were several areas marked, including Sudan. "We've been attacking various HYDRA bases around the world after the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. So far they've been successful, but we've found nothing of significance in their bases."
Ase's eyes lit up indescribably. She snatched her rucksack and fumbled with its contents. She took out a thumb drive and inserted into the USB port embedded on Tony's computer. A burst of information emerged on the hologram as JARVIS filtered out the data inside the drive.
"What are all these?" Bruce asked as he straightened his glasses.
"These, are all my research of the Mind Stone," Ase explained. Tony closed in and began swiping through the loads of information. "I didn't just sit around and wait for HYDRA to come at me. I tried to continue my original mission, to find the Mind Stone." Ase stepped in and moved her hands across the hologram.
"Did you find it?" asked Thor enthusiastically.
"I did," Ase replied and looked at them all. She returned to the holographic map and zoomed in Europe. "It's here. In Sokovia." Ase pointed out at a location in the remote country. "There is a research facility here. People said things have 'gone awry' since a research began a year ago."
Seeing her friends' doubtful stare, Ase continued, "I've been there. I sensed it, the Mind Stone. It must be there."
"Whoa, wait a minute," Tony intervened. "You said you sensed it. How does that even work?"
Ase searched for ways to describe it. Her experience in Asgard was nothing short of mythical, even magical. How could she explain this to two scientists, who believed nothing but logical explanations? But another more important thought came to her, which she doubted Fury had divulged to them. "First of all, you need to know about the Infinity Stones." Ase flicked her fingers on the hologram and a projection of six stones displayed itself to the others. "The Tesseract, the stone on Loki's Sceptre, and the reddish dust which appeared back in Greenwich. They are all part of a six, formed from the singularities of universe's creation."
"There are six of them?" Clint exclaimed. Ase nodded and sighed as well. "Where are the others?"
"Hopefully not on Earth," Steve suggested. Ase looked at him discouragingly. Earth was an anomaly, a place where somehow so much chaos occurred.
"The Tesseract is in Asgard and the Aether is with the Collector," Thor assured them. Tony looked at Ase and mouthed "Who's the Collector?"
"They will protect the stones. These stones also radiate energies that my kind can sense," Ase continued. She cleared her throat and reluctantly added. "Sorcerers. Magicians, if you will." This rendered Bruce more confused than before causing Tony to scoff in amusement.
"Should I demonstrate it so you would believe me?" Ase asked, her right hand glowing red. Tony staggered back and Bruce held out his hand, trying to stop her.
"No, please," Bruce pleaded. "We don't want fire in here." All of them laughed and Ase joined them. It felt too good to be reunited with her friends again. They had not changed much since she last saw them; still the goofy and solemn bunch of folks. Beside her, Clint offered a can of coffee. Ase thanked him and looked at the drink pensively. She had not told him of Coulson yet. She wanted to, but Fury's last orders were to keep silent about the matter and believe that Coulson would be better off alone with his new team. She believed it.
She had not told anyone about Loki either. Rather, she would not do such a thing. She was not ashamed of her feelings. It was better, she thought, that she kept everything a secret. At least, until she deemed it was proper to announce it; if it was worth announcing at all.
Tony clapped his hand and shifted the hologram to display the area Ase had pinpointed out. "Good then. We now have a magician and our confirmed target. Coincidentally, we wanted to attack the place before you mentioned it too." Tony tapped his pad and the scenery changed entirely. Their eyes caught numerous heat signatures on the map, and a detailed plan of the research facility. Ase stood impressed, realizing he had researched the place thoroughly as well.
"So what's the plan?" Natasha asked.
"Simple," Steve answered. "We go to their doors, and knock them hard."
oOo
Ase yawned pensively and played with her staff. The flight to Sokovia was longer than expected, or seemingly like so. They did not rest after her arrival and proceeded with their plans to capture the HYDRA base there. She did not mention it, but she had not been asleep for almost a week. Boredom was only the minor cause of her sleepiness. But she could not afford to rest now—she could do that after she accomplished this mission.
Natasha and Clint were piloting the ship, whilst Tony was trying to explain to Steve the main plot of Mission Impossible. Bruce merely observed how exasperated Tony was when Steve pointed out the flaws in Ethan Hunt's approach to situation.
Thor sat across her, unusually calm and collected. "So," Ase began, her voice slurring due to her exhaustion. "How is Asgard?"
She waited for a long moment, then Thor started with a sigh. "It is in good shape, I believe. Father has started rebuilding Asgard and its ties with the other realms, though I see that his methods are unorthodox. So unlike him. I think it's because of his grief over mother's death."
Ase's suspicions towards Odin resurfaced once more. She sensed something wrong with him before she left, though she could not discern what it was. Perhaps, as Thor had said, it was only lingering grief, but Ase figured out there must be another reason. "Has relations with Jotunheim been good?"
Thor nodded optimistically and smiled. "Jotunheim is now a close friend of Asgard. In turn, Asgard has sent sorcerers to help rebuild the communities there." Ase listened to him expectantly, and Thor realised what she was waiting to find. "Your father is a good leader. He is certainly not Laufey."
Ase sighed in relief. Even though her father had told her not to worry over his wellbeing, she had been keeping him in her mind for months now. It was a reassurance that her father was doing well. Even though perhaps she sensed she belonged on Earth most, she could not deny that she cherished Asgard and Jotunheim as well.
"We are reaching Sokovia," Clint reported. "Get ready to alight." The ship was descending, landing on a small patch in a forest, where the snow covered the floor. Ase could see the HYDRA research facility not far and she could sense the Mind Stone there, emanating energy. Once the ship settled on the ground, its passengers began moving about.
"Ase," Thor said, suddenly his expression darkening, halting Ase's footsteps. "You do remember that we didn't find Loki's body, don't you?"
Ase froze to the ground and turned to look at him. It was true that Loki's body was gone when they tried to search for it after the Greenwich battle. She had assumed the sand storm had buried it, or any other catastrophic weather event had blown it away. "Yes, I do. Why?" Ase said apprehensively.
Thor stood up and looked at her. A sudden realization washed upon her. "You don't think Loki is still alive, do you?"
Thor furrowed his brows and looked away. The hatch to the ship had opened and the Avengers were now alighting, except for Thor and Ase. "It is always a possibility," Thor whispered.
"If he is, then where is he?" Ase asked. Thor gave her a meaningful look and she gasped with understanding. "Don't tell me Odin is Loki in disguise." Again, Thor merely looked at her, and marched forward. Ase grabbed his arm and stopped him. A surge of hope and confusion brimmed her conscience. There was no need for Loki to hide anymore. He had protected Asgard and he deserved to be released from his prison, so why the effort to disguise himself as a king? Was it to fulfill his goal to rule Asgard?
"Why haven't you stopped him?" Ase demanded. "Where is Odin?"
Thor smiled sadly and looked beyond the forest. "Because he has done nothing but ruling well, Ase. He is redeeming himself for his faults." Ase processed his words carefully, wondering if Loki did push himself to rule justly. Or, Thor was covering up for him. But why would he do that?
One thing was for sure. If he was truly alive, that means he was watching from Asgard.
Ase glanced to the sky. She clutched her necklace and prayed that their assumptions were true. "That's it," Ase declared as she leapt to the ground. Not far, Natasha reported that they were detecting several heat signatures. "I am going to return to Asgard after this."
"That's a good spirit," Thor commented. Ase smiled, and marched forward to another battle.
oOo
Being a replica of Odin was nothing but interesting. He now managed to earn the respects of his subjects, of the Warriors Three and even Heimdall. He had power in his hands to change Asgard, to reshape the city to his liking. He had the courage to speak to delegates from other realms, who did not now a single bit who was behind Odin's façade.
After another meeting with the head sorcerer, who had settled in Jotunheim to aid in the reconstruction there, Loki slouched to his chair and closed his eyes. It was undeniable that everything comes at a price. He had not stopped working since the day Odin gave away his throne to him. "I am too blind to continue, my son," he had said. "I am giving you a chance."
"A chance, huh?" Loki mumbled. So far, he had done as she had instructed. Never to stray from his duties, always caring for the people. He did mischiefs here and there, but they were barely noticeable compared to his accomplishments. He made sure he was fulfilling his promise to her, to be a good ruler.
After a brief slumber, Loki took his leave from the palace and walked to Heimdall's observatory, though the place no longer belonged to him as Loki had sent him away from Asgard under the charge of treason. But Loki did not banish him just uselessly, for he did not want to waste his talent. Thus, Loki placed him in Jotunheim, on the grounds that he was the best to watch over the rebuilding there.
The people cheered for Loki as he walked past, conveying their gratitude to his efforts and his kindness. They were worthy for his endeavours, and it should have made him proud, but somehow Loki only felt… emptiness.
"My king," greeted Skurge, the new gatekeeper, whom Loki had chosen out of mere instincts. Surely, he thought, nothing could go wrong with a person merely opening the Bifrost gates? Loki acknowledged the man and walked to a newly constructed device: a lens which resembled the device used by Rhea and her sorcerers when they had studied the Convergence. It had been significantly enhanced to zoom in closer to the other realms, Earth no exception.
Loki stood in front of the lens, then moved his fingers over the smooth surface. He saw Midgard, the same even after the disasters which had occurred there. He looked closer to the regions, tracking the red dot which marked her position from the necklace she was wearing. A scene played before him, with Ase and Thor standing side by side. He could not hear what they were saying, but it appeared that they were walking to another battle.
"I am sure he's going to be alright," Skurge said in his gruff voice. "I don't know about the woman though."
Loki smirked and prayed in his heart. "I am sure she will do better," he said. It pained him to see her tread her journey alone. But he could not come to her, at least not now. He had so much to do, so much to redeem. He only hoped that their next meeting would be on better circumstances.
He could only hope that he would be a better man when they meet again.