CHAPTER 37
Standing in Stark's mansion as an Asgardian was a new experience for Darcy, to say the least.
Sif and the Warriors Three being there made it no less awkward.
After Darcy had been told of her powers, her time in Asgard was brief. Loki, Jane, and Thor had been waiting anxiously when Frigga delivered her to them, leaving her to explain that she was now a Goddess of Patience, so to speak. Thor had slung an arm over her shoulder saying there was no more fitting element needed to play Loki's counterpart in his court, since whoever had to put up with him would need a deep reserve of it. Hugging Jane had felt like coming home somehow, like her time as a Frankenstein creation was over because she was allowed to hug Jane. She had not been able to hold back the few tears which had fallen, and neither had the astrophysicist. They both knew their was so much to say to each other, but no time. It felt like there was never any time. Of course she could slow time now, but she didn't quite know how to do that yet. The nine of them, Mammoth included, who was watched very closely and kept at a far distance from her and Jane, had wasted little time taking the Bifrost back to Earth. Darcy couldn't imagine Jane was too comfortable with Mammoth supposedly on their side either. She had also been attacked that night with her. Thor, for all he did to play the diplomat, must have exercised some severe control to not take his favored hammer-to-the-face approach. Darcy had to admit she was impressed.
And here they all stood: the Avengers, Loki, Sif and the Warriors Three of legend, Mammoth, the hopeful king of the Frost Giants, Jane, a Woman of Science. And her. Only she wasn't just there to make coffee or stitch someone up this time. They weren't trying to hide her in a corner. They expected her to help. It was a strange feeling. Rogers, Barton, Banner, and Romanov had taken the news that she was now a super-powered Asgardian with the ability to slow time -though, how that worked was a little rusty- surprisingly well. Seeing Natasha had brought back everything she had said to the assassin before she left. She wanted to go to her. She wanted to make everything right, with her, Steve, and Tony. She just wanted to know everything was going to be alright. But they didn't have time to talk about their feelings and make everything okay before they fought. Maybe that was something they had always endured as heroes, and she was just now learning to understand it. There were things more important than themselves that had to be tended to first. No matter what she had done, willingly or no, she was there and able to help. When Loki had turned on the Chitauri, no one demanded answers, they had accepted his help until it was over.
Sometimes, their feelings just didn't matter.
And so she was okay that everyone just kind of ignored what had gone on. They all had to if they were going to survive.
Darcy stood between Loki and Jane and avoided looking at Mammoth's massive form towering over all of them. It was weird being all in the 'plan of attack' talk. Even Sif and the Warriors Three were there, with no smaller amount of discomfort at the Frost Giant's presence. At least, the one who looked like a Frost Giant. Introductions to the four of them in Asgard had been brief, but relatively nice. Fandral had been overtly friendly and complimentary. Volstagg was boisterous and welcoming, and Sif was kind as well. Hogan was reserved, but civil.
They all seemed aware of her recent biological changes, but none seemed aware of her relationship with Loki, especially since the general air towards the God of Mischief was silent acceptance. They all knew Thor would tolerate no less. She decided it was maybe for the best that subject just not come up until everything was over. Loki had said he didn't exactly aim to make friends with them during his short reign as king, not that he had tried to antagonize them either, but they had betrayed him. (She had explained that perhaps sending a giant robot to kill a town was probably a bit of an overreaction, a town that she had been in at the time. He had not been interested in defending his actions after that.) Based on the dark but non-confrontational look Loki had shot Fandral when the warrior had kissed her hand, he had similar ideas about not broadcasting their relationship. She had no idea why Loki could let her exchange sexually suggestive jokes with Tony without batting an eyelash, while apparently Steve and Fandral got the jealous streak going. Although, of course, Tony had Pepper. But Steve was the most unassuming man she had ever met, and from what Darcy remembered, Fandral had struck her as a guy who was probably friendly with a lot of women, so she thought little of it. But the warriors were willing to add themselves to their small numbers. Darcy never thought they could face anything worse than a Chitauri Army. Facing an army of superheroes wasn't exactly promising.
"Heimdall has seen the attack on Stark's source of energy," Thor said. "Shaw appears to be trying to reroute the power to his own lab in the capitol, the location of which has been given to us by Mammoth." The Frost Giant stood pensively in the corner, purposefully unconcerned with the eyes on him. "We must stop him from activating his created army. While his numbers are smaller, we stand a better chance."
"If they run on computers, then Darcy, that needs to be your primary target," Steve said. Darcy froze as she realized she was being given an order from Captain America. She nodded anxiously. "Whatever you feel like you can do with your powers, do, but don't put yourself directly into battle. You're the best chance we have of shutting Shaw down. Stark, you assist Darcy if you can, but we need you on the front lines. You, Banner, and Thor need to be in the thick of the fighting. Mammoth?" The Frost Giant raised his chin at Rogers' address. "What can you tell us about Shaw's powers? Darcy said we can't attack him directly. Do you know about the powers of his army?"
"He absorbs all energy. It is part of his mutation," Mammoth said. "Anything you will fire at him, he will simply return. In theory, he could be restrained, if it wasn't for his ability to break into diamond dust and reform at will. If I knew how to kill him I would have done it myself. The only way to kill him would be to keep him from breaking into his diamond form, for it protects him from injury. His small army is composed of many powerful mutants throughout Midgard. They may throw elements, control water or the weather, or have superior strength and speed. They are not all necessarily as powerful as Shaw, but some come very close. He uses them for their mutations. His creations, though, are like Darcy was." He turned to Darcy, who kept her arms crossed as she almost glared at Mammoth. "They are perfectly designed for destruction with the many powers combined of his followers." His eyes shifted back to Rogers. "But unlike Darcy, they have been perfectly conditioned with their chip to obey on command. Your chances will be bleak if he manages to get the energy to the cells in which he keeps them and activates their controlled minds."
"You guys heard him. No direct hits on Shaw until we figure out how to take him down. Pay close attention to who you're fighting, and makes sure no one else has similar powers that can backfire. Romanov, Barton, Do your best to take them out from afar, and keep an eye out for Darcy while she tries to shut his system down. Loki?" The trickster lifted his chin, his spine stiffened, daring the boy to attempt to issue him an order. Darcy froze, hoping to all that was good that a fight didn't break out. "You are our best chance of figuring out how to take Shaw down. Can you help us?" Darcy shifted, surprised as the lack of a command in Rogers' voice. As soon as she thought about it, just as Loki seemed as if he was almost reluctantly nodding in agreement, it made sense to her. Loki was an X factor. He would never be controlled or a solid part of the team. Rogers recognized this, and knew how to work around it. Whatever it took to get the job done, even if it meant asking for help from an enemy.
"Good, then we all know what to do."
Never show you are afraid in battle, Darcy, she heard Loki whisper in her mind as they approached the facility. She could still feel uncertainty about Mammoth's intentions haunting her. It was ironic that the whole reason she had been kidnapped was to mess with Loki, as killing Loki was Mammoth's price to get Shaw into Asgard for the Tesseract, and he was now working with them. You face what you need to face in your mind. A clever enemy can manipulate fear; you must give them no quarter to work in your head. If they get in your head, you lose. It is you who must get in their head, for that is our area.
You mean your area, Darcy thought loudly enough for him to hear. She turned to see him smirk ever so slightly, though he did not look at her.
I've seen what Shaw did to you. He is formidable, but he attacks with the mind, for he can only truly do the most damage if he is assaulted directly. You were scared of him because he showed no fear of us. No matter what happens, you pretend like you knew that it would, that it was part of your plan. The doors to the facility were locked. Tony pulled out a laser to carve a place in the solid metal door. Most people might have tried hacking the keypad, she mused. Tony was apparently taking the more direct approach. Darcy felt her insides quiver, the sight of Tony getting them further into danger sending shivers through her. She thought she might throw up. Technically, this was her second battle, third if she counted New Mexico, but she had never fought before.
Easy for you to say, she thought, taking a calming breath. You always know someone's next move.
Or so you have always thought, he said, humor in his voice. Good. She needed that.
Your mind reading privileges end after this, she thought back to him.
It is you who are communicating telepathically, darling. I am not reading your mind. Another Asgardian perk, she guessed. How many of those would be popping up? She breathed in heavily again as the door fell before them. Remember that though you are stronger and will be able to withstand more damage than a human, you are not invincible and do not yet know your limits. Please do not take any unnecessary risks. Remember, this was not Shaw's plan all along. He wanted the Tesseract. No matter how confident he seems, this is an act of desperation. Darcy quietly nodded in response, looking down at her strange armor, hoping it would hold up against what she was going to face.
The sound of an alarm echoed through the corridor, getting louder as they ventured down the twisting path. She could tell they were approaching the main observatory. She supposed there was no sense in hiding. Shaw knew they were coming. And Mammoth was about as stealthy as a wrecking ball. She watched as Natasha and Clint both disappeared into the metallic scaffolding that rose up beside them as they entered the observatory. It somehow made her feel better, knowing that at least a few of them were working in the shadows, and she could only hope they were not spotted. The twenty something foot frost giant would hopefully draw the attention. Not to mention, Bruce looked like he was about to get a little angry. She suddenly grew uncomfortable knowing the rest of them were on a catwalk. They had to get on stable ground quick.
The first thing that caught her attention was the soft, bright, purple emanating from dozens of pillars that started at the ground below and extended up several stories. Each pillar looked like they had very large, opaque cells attached to them. She could see into them though, and horror flooded her as she realized there were people in each of them, some of them even children. All of them, like her, according to Mammoth. Kidnapped. Mutated. Torn into something else. There were hundreds of them, if not more, in the giant pillars. She gasped briefly until she felt Loki's hand on her shoulder.
Silence, he said harshly in their minds. There will be nothing you can do for them if Shaw wins, or if he succeeds in waking them up to attack us. Do not lose sight of your target.
"Looks like this guy watched The Matrix one too many times," Stark said. Darcy supposed she should have been offended, but she had learned long before that the suit was not the only armor Iron Man wore.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" a bone-chillingly familiar voice echoed through the massive room. She watched as Thor, Mammoth, and Steve immediately moved to the right as Bruce and Tony went to the left. She and Loki remained in the center, looking down as Victor made himself visible between the pillars below. "I have you to thank for it, sweetheart," Victor said as he approached, two mutants on either side of him. Darcy recognized the man made of rock that had been with them during her captivity. A woman she did not recognize was at his side. She was very pretty with honey blonde hair but with completely black eyes. Darcy did not want to guess what powers she had. She looked around as much as she could, waiting to see other mutants. "There were several elements of the neural reprogramming I hadn't quite mastered. My trip to Jotunheim wasn't a complete waste of my time. I got to solidify my technique on that ice cube." Darcy forced herself to smile sweetly.
"I aim to please," she said. She watched Victor's thin lips quirk into a serpentine smile.
"I see you have somehow gotten rid of my work. How sad. You were quite the masterpiece. It is a shame you have gone through the trouble only to come here to die with your friends." His eyes turned to Loki. "And this is the one who caused all of the trouble for you, I see? If I had been you, darling, I would have cried for someone a bit more imposing to come save me." Darcy said nothing, but could feel Loki's rage bubble in her mind; for a moment she thought it would give her a migraine. Looking over at him, he seemed the perfect picture of serenity, his face betraying none of the emotions she felt emanating from him. With everything she had, she tried to concentrate on slowing down time. It was not a smooth process, and she could feel it wearing on her mind immediately, but as she let her eyes glance around the room everything seemed to slip into slow motion. She moved only her eyes, so that he would see nothing amiss. She could see shadows behind the pillars. There were many of them lying in wait.
She tried thinking to everyone where they were. She knew Loki heard her, though he had probably already known, and only Thor, Sif, and the Warriors Three seemed to indicate they heard as they glanced back at her. Maybe it was easier to talk telepathically to Asgardians. Darcy stared blankly at the woman standing next to Shaw, her mind dangerously tired, wondering for a moment what it was that had brought her to a place where she would follow someone like Victor. She had once been at the side of a villain, trapped somewhere between helplessness and sympathy.
"I'm not really the one with great one liners," Darcy replied softly, bracing herself. "Stark?"
"Leave it to me, kid," Stark said, lifting his hand. Darcy panicked for a moment as he fired a bolt right next to Shaw, blowing concrete up right next to him. Shaw had looked prepare to repel the blow, and glared up in consternation, knowing he was being taunted. It was a flurry of movement after that, and Darcy thought her breathing would stop as the scene rushed before her. As she covered her head and ran down a ramp on the side of the catwalk, she remembered Thor's boisterous voice in her mind, proclaiming great tales of brave battle. Thor never spoke of being nervous; he always sounded so brave. Loki knew she was scared, but he had told her to never show that to the enemy.
Loud explosions erupted behind her. She recognized the sound of the Hulk's roar, of Mjolnir being thrown into something, of Tony's suit charging and firing again. But she couldn't watch them: she knew what she had to do. As soon as she was on the ground, her eyes darted around, desperately looking for where the heart of Shaw's control would be. Mammoth had described it to her, in one of the more uncomfortable exchanges of conversation in her short life. Considering Loki had once tried seducing her moments after he had let his mind control of her wear off mere hours before he tried taking over her world, that was saying something. She could hear the sound of Victor's diamond form tearing through the air. She turned to see Loki teleport out of the cloud of diamond shards, only to appear in several spots as Victor came back together.
She forced herself to look away, ducking to the side as she headed for the back of the observatory. Being so close to the pods along the giant pillars in the room was making the bile rise to the top of her throat, especially knowing he had been working to power them up. They could be waking up at any moment. But they hadn't yet. She had to repeat what Loki had said. As powerful as Shaw was, they had caught him off guard. This was not his plan, she chanted to herself.
Darcy saw the room in the back, just as Mammoth had vaguely described it, as much as someone from Jotunheim could describe a room full of computers. Sprinting faster once she saw the target, she suddenly felt her feet being pulled out from under her. She rolled over quickly to see a man almost completely covered in fur with cat-like features holding her leg with his tail. She panicked as he came closer, deadly, painfully familiar looking claws coming closer to her. She clenched her jaw, trying desperately to concentrate on slowing time down again. She breathed heavily as the man-cat brought his claw up for the strike, but did so achingly slowly as she worked to unravel his unusually long and strangely boneless tail from around her leg. She gasped as she looked up, seeing an arrow slowly move above her head and into the heart of her attacker. The magic pulled at her mind as she felt herself losing control, and getting dizzy as everything sped up. The mutant feline's roar rang in her ears as she tried to shake the dizziness and made a dash for the control room, locking the door behind her.
The program was encrypted, but Tony had given her the same device he had used to plant JARVIS on the SHIELD helicarrier. Together, they had developed an even more sophisticated version. She placed the small drive in the port and looked out the single window in the room at the battle raging in the observatory.
"I don't think many saw you," said a voice behind her. She gasped quietly as she turned to see Loki's double. Breathing heavily in relief, she returned to the computer.
"Shouldn't you be focusing on wherever your body is?" she asked nervously, fingers flying over the keyboard.
"Can you get that infernal contraption to do what you want?" he asked, ignoring her question.
"There's some serious juice running through this place, based on the look of this," she said hurriedly, casting glances through the window. "He's already got the program running, and it's locked. He's trying to buy time. Where's Shaw?"
"I'm having a bit of difficulty at the moment, I'm afraid," he said. "I was hoping to get close enough to at least touch him with the scepter, but he is quite evasive." Darcy threw a worried glance to him and then quickly returned her eyes to the computers, her mind still reeling.
"You are trying to control-y stick him?"
"Why not," he questioned casually as he also cast his eyes outside. "It is my only solution so far. It is no energy he can cast back at me. If I can catch him before he transforms, I might be able to capture him." Darcy froze as a terrible groan of metal grinding sounded and she looked up to see one of the pillars opening up their bottom pods.
"Shit, shit shit!" Darcy whimpered, still typing furiously. "He is activating it now," she said. "He must have something on him. There's no way he would not have them under his control. A handheld device, or something. Can you see anything?"
"He keeps going for something in his pocket," Loki said, concentrating on his true body's line of sight."
"If you can keep him away from it, it may buy me some time to override it."
Loki shared one last look with her, unspoken words passing between them as he teleported back, all of his attention returning to Shaw, save for his double that watched the area and distracted a few mutants into accidentally killing each other as they tried to attack his illusion. He noticed Shaw was beginning to understand that engaging with him was fruitless. They were both evasive, merely dancing around each other while their battle raged on. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the boy, Rogers, struggling with a particularly rough mutant that seemed made of rock. He projected a double in front of the mutant quickly, distracting the creature long enough for Rogers to get the upper hand.
"Quite clever," Shaw said, finally returning to his human form, though Loki remained acutely alert, his full armor and helmet cutting a terrifying figure. "Saving the former allies I left to die to learn my little secrets. And here I thought killing your pesky Frost Giant of a brother would be the one thing you'd thank me for. You seem to have trouble with the fraternal bond, don't you? Either you are trying to kill one or the other is trying to kill you. It was his idea, after all, to go after the girl. Darcy, was it?"
"I'm not sure. I have trouble remembering it myself sometimes," Loki replied cooly, giving his scepter a slight twirl as he switched hands. Shaw smiled.
"If I did not know better, I would almost believe you. I will admit, your title of God of Lies was not poorly earned." Loki gave a slight bow. His eyes tossed to the left as several pods from one of the pillars began to open, new mutants, unstable though they were, joining the fight. The uneasiness did not show on his face.
"Ah, my children," Victor said. "Not that I am not enjoying this little exchange, but family first you see. I'm sure you understand." Victor once again separated into a cloud of diamond shards, zooming past Loki. The Asgardian growled as his body doubles watched Shaw head straight for the room Darcy was in. He was about to teleport away when a giant metal fist came ramming into his face. He blinked back the stars a bit to see a man composed of what looked to be entirely metal, a distraction he most certainly did not need.
Darcy's fingers flew over the keyboard, hoping the rest of her team could buy her just a few more minutes. She could hear the first phase of mutants being released. That was that many less people she wouldn't be able to save if she didn't stop Victor's program soon. She looked out to see the Hulk tearing the observatory apart, although he was able to avoid the pods of the army. It still didn't stop him from taking on the new mutants that had arisen from their stasis, smashing most of them into the ground. Thor, Tony, Mammoth, and the Asgardians were engaged with their own mutants, and Darcy couldn't even keep up with the strange assortment of powers she was seeing. She saw many of the new mutants crawling up the walls, moving very quickly, jumping incredibly high, and virtually flying. She became horrified when she thought she saw Thor fighting Loki, only to realize it was Thor fighting a shapeshifter, as the real Loki she could sense was fighting a giant man that looked like the T1000 Terminator. The familiar sound of JARVIS' voice when he was downloaded onto the system was like music to her ears.
"Madam, I'm afraid I do not recognize this device. What is it that you need?"
"Find out whatever program is opening these pods for me, JARVIS," she said. "It's hidden somewhere."
"Right away madam," he said as Darcy felt two rough hands violently grab her hair.
"JARVIS, lock it down!" she shouted as she felt her body being thrown into a set of monitors across the room. She landed with a painful crash to the floor and looked up to see Shaw glaring down at her, leaning over the computer, trying to stop JARVIS from running. At her command, JARVIS had gone into safe mode where nothing could stop his running program, only to be disabled by her, Stark, or Banner. After a few moments of frustration he turned his eyes back to her.
"You just couldn't leave well enough alone, could you?" he said, stalking towards her as she tried to raise herself up, surprisingly unhurt. She did not miss the surprise that appeared in his eyes when he realized she was not incapacitated. "I guess you didn't completely get rid of what I gave you after all," he snarled, picking her back up. She had not realized how strong he was as he seized her, tossing her up into the ceiling before slamming her back down onto the ground. That hurt a little more, she conceded, as she still refused to hit him, knowing it would only come back to her. "They know they shouldn't hit me, but your friends aren't known for their mild temperaments. How long do you think they will last when they see me break you? Wouldn't want the big green monster to see me, now would we?" he said, picking her up and throwing her into the closest wall. She breathed heavily as she hit the ground, trying to still the pain in her body and ignore blood dripping from her mouth.
"He's not a monster," she said lowly, rising to her feet and tilting her head. "And I could do this all day." He was avoiding damage to the master computer, she realized as he came over to grab her by the back of her hair and armor again. He didn't want it destroyed. He smirked at her and she braced herself as she soon found herself flying through the plate glass back into the observatory. Her body crumpled over the opening of the window, and she was grateful for her armor, otherwise her stomach would have been cut on the shards still left in place by the window. Once again he grabbed her, standing her upright.
"After everything that's been done to you, you still can't fight back. Haven't you had enough of playing heroes?"
"If I wanted a kiss, I would have called your mother," she said weakly, struggling to stand on her own. Victor growled again, throwing her this time into the wall clear across the room. After her body landed on the ground with a disconcerting crack, Darcy rolled over onto her back, her entire body screaming in pain, knowing she had broken bones in more than a few places despite her stronger form. She could feel her entire body fading away as she heard the second phase of new mutants being released from their pods. They were getting overwhelmed out there. She looked up to see Shaw pull out a handkerchief, wiping off his hands before tossing it to the ground. Asshole.
"Your lover wanted to rule you humans, you see," he said, returning to the computer to stop JARVIS now that she was incapacitated. "What was it he called humans? Ants? I believe that was what Fury told the Council in his briefing. A fitting analogy, I will give him that. But ants are a nuisance. And in great colonies can be a plague. You should have been eradicated long ago. You are the last remnants of a species too outdated to continue to be allowed to live. Even you could not settle for being one. I gave you the chance of a lifetime to become more than you are, to break free from your species. Why do you continue to fight your own extinction, Ms. Lewis? It is inevitable." In the back of her mind, as she slowly began to slip away, she noted the tailor cut of the back of Victor's suit as he calmly began typing away at the computer, trying to undo what she had done. Even though JARVIS was running and possibly finding the program, it wouldn't stop automatically and she needed to be there. Everything in her body seemed to be shutting down, and she could feel herself losing consciousness fast.
It was a familiar voice calling to her that kept her from slipping away.
The mind is where your strength lies, Darcy. He can't sense me, because you have him distracted. Draw his attention away from me, and I will kill him. Darcy's eyes slowly opened again, her torn ligaments and broken bones screaming in protest as she struggled to stand up again. Victor turned to her once again, rolling his eyes.
"You know, I was maybe wrong in trying to have you killed," he said, slowly approaching her. "Back when you were just a useless little nuisance possibly interfering with my plans. Here you are, still a useless little nuisance, but you have some staying power. I like that about you. Beating you to death has been so much more satisfying."
"Glad I could help," she said weakly. He bent over to pick her, fire like she had never seen in his eyes. She suddenly saw Loki appear behind him, and used what small strength she had left to give one last effort to slow time down around her. Her eyes connected with Loki's, and she knew what he needed, feeling his thoughts entering her mind. She watched as Victor slowly descended upon her and Loki bent low, sliding the scepter over to her, everything happening in slow motion for her. She grabbed it, holding the tip of the scepter to Victor's chest as he, still trapped in slow motion, came to a halt, but not fast enough to avoid Loki's mind control spell that channeled through her. Her body went cold as she watched Victor's eyes glaze over black, and then shift to an ethereal blue. Darcy gasped as she finally lost control of time, feeling as if her body was being ripped apart while she heard the third phase of mutants opened outside in the observatory. She slumped over from her half crouched position as Victor absently stood.
"Darcy!" Loki called, coming to her side. He sounded far away to her. Loki plucked the scepter from her hand, coming to stand in front of Victor. The Asgardian's face went cold, the concern for Darcy fading momentarily as he faced the mutant.
"I am going to run this scepter through your heart," he said after several moments of silence, his voice even. Victor stared blankly. "You will not shift into diamond form, you will not heal your wound. You will allow yourself to bleed until your heart stops, and you die. Do you understand?"
"I believe we have an understanding," Shaw said, his typically calm voice sounding like static noise to Darcy. She drew in a deep breath as Loki raised his scepter and made good on his word, plunging the terrifying, glowing spear into Victor's chest. Darcy began trembling as she watched blood oozed into his white shirt before Loki withdrew the spear, and Shaw lifelessly fell to the ground. She gasping, suddenly realizing she had not been breathing.
"We do not have time to bask in triumph," Loki said firmly, bending to lift her up. "Rogers is down. You have work to do." Darcy grunted in pain as Loki lifted her back to the computer where JARVIS had finished running, sitting her down on the stool. She had to grip the desk to keep from falling.
"JARVIS, bring up the program," she bit out as Loki stood at the doorway, shooting beams of energy from his scepter into the fight.
"At once, madam. Do you require medical attention? You do not seem yourself."
"Soon," she whispered, her bleeding fingers staining the keyboard. She saw the program come up. It was terrifying. There were forty phases of mutants to be released, two thousand mutants in all. The pillars in the observatory were just the beginning. She saw the program he had designed with all of their chips integrated. He had trained networks of spies, soldiers, assassins, and all sorts of mutants to obey him without question. It was quite easy to find the phases of mutants that had been awakened, already with orders to kill. In the strangest computer game she had ever imagined, she pressed the command for armistice, and watched the mutants in the observatory come to a halt. Over and over she repeated the process, shutting down all three group that had been released, as well as the group called "Alpha," which she assumed was the first group that had been there, from whom Victor had gotten his original genes.
She saw why Victor hadn't been willing to destroy the computer. The system he had designed was the only thing keeping them in control. Without it, they would all be like she had been: uncontrolled agents of destruction, all with supernatural power. She looked up as Iron Man and Thor looked around confused, unsure what to do with the enemies no longer attacking them. As soon as the activation program was stopped, Darcy buckled and collapsed to the ground, only barely missing the floor as Loki grabbed her lifeless form.