Chapter Forty-Six - Double Gets His Due

In the workshop, the techs and Jane were scrambling to salvage and stabilize the systems. Loki was grateful they had requested Cami to help so she wouldn't mope and hover.

"The sensors have gone haywire," Fitz reported. "We've got to re-calibrate them."

Loki returned to the command center. Clint, Natasha and several guards had cleared some of the bodies and were on alert at the portal. Through the swirling gateway they saw a mind blowing spectrum of clashing creatures, demons, elementals and other beings spread across a wasteland of uneven rock and ice. S.H.I.E.L.D. assault vehicles, Dwarven-forged siege tanks, Frost Giant footmen and mounted Elven and Asgardian soldiers were scattered throughout the skirmishes while sizable boulders and chunks of ice rained down from catapults positioned on the cliffs surrounding the city.

Natasha scanned the chaos, a cold breeze rustling her hair. She pointed into the distance, asking with emphatic wonder, "Was that a unicorn?"

"Didn't see it," Clint quipped. "I was watching that huge yeti-thing try to hug Hulk."

"I don't think that was a hug," she replied with a chuckle, "and it doesn't look like Bruce thought so either."

"God damn, this is intense," Clint said as Loki reached his side.

"Any sign of the double?"

"No." Clint's brow furrowed. "You still agree with this plan?"

"I believe it is our best option." There wasn't much choice. If they pursued Bad Loki in the Jotunheim, he would be unhindered and fully supported by his army. They had to try luring him in.

"If the security system doesn't work the way we want, this could be a massacre."

Loki gave a slow, mindful nod then turned to address Jorn and Jahla. "Let us begin."

Jahla studied Loki as he approached, her features tightening with resolve and what might have been a hint of menace. "I know what to do to get his attention," she said, mainly speaking to Jorn who shared tidbits of advice in broken Common.

Loki felt unnerved by the collective stares and Jahla's stalk as she circled. The Half-Giantess clutched him from behind, resting her sizable hands upon his upper chest. The chill cut through the layers of clothing, making him shudder. Her magic filtered into his core, curling around his internal organs. The sensation crept into his mind, binding his thoughts in a terrible, frigid cold that reminded him of the cruel indifference of Niflheim.

"Brace yourself," Jahla warned.

There was no build up. The pain was immediate and vicious, biting into the raw of his essence and searing every nerve and synapse. Loki thrashed in agony, but couldn't break Jahla's stronger grip on him. The pain went on for a short eternity before Jahla withdrew her magic and released her hold.

Loki fell to his knees, trembling and gasping as he clutched his chest. His stomach churned; and he nearly vomited, swallowing down the sickening flow that burned at his mouth and throat. His eyes and nostrils were wet. He wiped his face with his sleeve, revealing that blood trickled out of his nose.

He had failed to remember that Jahla drugged him during her rituals in the past, which helped to mask most of the pain. "Did you enjoy that?" he shot bitterly over his shoulder.

"No," was Jahla's low, slighted reply.

Frigga appeared in the doorway, asking with alarm, "Are you alright, dear?"

Shaken and embarrassed, Loki climbed to his feet. He answered his mother with an honest, "No. I'm a bit of a mess."

Clint gave him a quick look over. "Hopefully, we won't have to do that a second time."

"Ummm—guys?!" Natasha called out, staggering back with panicked eyes. She drew her Glock 26s, firing off rapid shots toward a group of horsemen charging through the fray toward the portal's opening.

Clint called through the comm, "Fitz, you promised me a force field for this portal!"

The Scotsman replied, "We're working as fast as we can."

In a series of smooth, well-practiced motions, Clint readied his bow and loosed an explosive arrow that struck a rider near the center of the bunch and blasted them all from their mounts. This revealed a new threat. A demonesque rhinoceros with two heads and a spiked hide rampaged along their same path, trampling the men and horses beneath its armored bulk as it closed in on the Mischief Makers.

"Take cover!" Clint yelled.

Natasha issued her own order. "Get to the cars!"

Everyone scattered. Loki pulled Jahla toward an STAV; and they jumped in. Then he slammed the cockpit cover shut, switched the car back to manual and activated the targeting computer.

Behind him, Jahla began a hurried incantation.

"Precise shots," Clint warned. "We have friends on that battlefield."

Even met head on by a dense barrage of deep impacting rounds, the massive animal breached the portal and collided with Natasha's STAV, nearly flipping the heavy machine as it was carried backwards and slammed into the wall. The beast turned, one of its heads hanging limp at the neck. It let out a hard chuff and a mangled roar then collapsed in a lifeless heap when Jahla spat out the last of her spell.

There was a low hum from the security systems as Loki scrambled out of the car. The generators activated and a glimmering force field appeared, blocking off the portal.

Clint beat Loki to the damaged STAV. He yanked at the handle for the override release, cursing and begging with it to let him in.

Loki climbed up the compacted metal onto the hood to look through the cracked, tempered glass. Natasha lay askew and unconscious in the seat. Blood ran down her face from a bad gash in her forehead and a possible broken nose.

The latch finally gave, but it took both Clint and Loki to force the cover open.

"Wait. Don't move her," Jorn warned. "Let us."

With a show of reluctance, Clint stepped back so the Elves could examine and attempt to treat Natasha.

Those few moments were all the reprieve they got for another portal opened beside the exit to the gardens and a handful of warriors rushed out. The guards struck down these foes in time for three additional portals to appear and also spew forth attackers in the scarce moments it took for the generators to activate fields.

The onslaught continued, systematically swallowing up the room's available space with portals that energized and chilled the air around the team while downed foes piled up at their feet.

"He's trying to overwhelm the security system," Loki decided.

"That's funny," Clint said with a scowl, "cause I figured he was trying to overwhelm us." He activated his communicator between shots. "Fitz, how long will the system last if Bad Loki keeps opening more portals?"

"I don't know, Sir. Cami had to tap in to get us stable. She's running everything. So, the real question is—how long can she hold out?"

"Any sign of Bad Loki so far?"

A strained wince accompanied Cami's report. "The sensors aren't detecting him anywhere in the castle."

Clint threw Loki an urgent, questioning gaze, though he continued to accurately fire upon emerging combatants.

Loki insisted, "I don't think he can be summoning these portals so accurately from the Jotunheim."

Clint turned to scan the room, startling as he announced, "He's outside."

Loki glimpsed the lone figure standing at the edge of the gardens.

With a condescending smirk, Bad Loki sauntered closer, stopping at the foot of the stairs into the command center when Clint strode forward with his bow ready.

"That is him, not an illusion," Clint confirmed.

Bad Loki looked past Clint to Loki. "Surrender yourself, Jahla and Cami and I'll leave the rest alive."

Loki moved to stand at Clint's side. He was careful not to cross the boundary of the field generators. "No," he answered. "You have forgotten who the master is here."

The confidence wavered on the double's pale features before hardening with renewed determination. He threw up his hands, calling out ancient, powerful words. A responding surge of dark energy enclosed him in writhing shadows.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Bad Loki said, lifting his arms and making a slow turn. The shield clung to him like a second skin, allowing for freedom of movement. "A rather advanced bit of sorcery," he continued to brag. "The barrier is impenetrable by force and magic alike."

Loki knew this spell, but baffled that the double would consider using it. The spell would protect him from their force fields, weapons and magic, but also severely impeded his offensive abilities as his own magic couldn't breach the barrier either. "The Cloak of Shadows, I never quite figured that one out."

"Well—so much more can be accomplished with a clearer head. Before, I was so bogged down, caring too much about what others thought, but once I got rid of you..." He purposely left the insight unfinished.

Jahla inched up behind Loki, whispering in a confused tone, "My magic cannot sense him now."

Cami said over the comm line, "I accessed the computer files scanned from your grimoire. According to the mage who wrote the book, this spell is mega powerful. He has literally encased himself in pure shadow energy."

"How do we get through the shield?" Clint asked.

Loki assured the group, "The magic will weaken if we do enough damage to it."

Bad Loki pulled a dagger from his belt, pointing it at them as he taunted, "Someone better call in the real heroes then," and charged up the stairs.

Clint fired off an arrow, which ricocheted off the barrier, before Jahla dragged him and Loki back. "Stay away from him!" Jahla ordered, leveling Clint with a stern glare. "He will kill you if he can."

The double engaged the closest guard, knocking away his sword and thrusting the dagger into his throat. He then pushed aside the fatally wounded man and crossed into the room. Force fields quickly formed around him. He inspected the walls of energy for a moment before stepping through, smugly taunting Odin's soldiers to come at him with a beckoning hand gesture.

Once again, Cami's voice filled the comm. "I'm working on something," she said. "Keep him distracted."

With speed and skill, Bad Loki tore through the dozen, finely-trained warriors that couldn't hurt him at all. He fought with confidence and malice, convinced of his superiority, but that wasn't all Loki noted of the brazen assault. There were tells, subtle actions that betrayed the double's planned movements. Thanks to Natasha's insights and instruction, Loki could see them now too.

"He's mine," Loki declared, putting out a hand to hold off Jorn and Mahlora who had left Natasha's side to stand with Jahla.

"Lok—?" Clint began, but quieted with one hard look from Loki.

Bad Loki stepped through yet another set of force fields, acting offended by the challenge. "You plan to fight me with only a human's capabilities and wearing that?" He pointed his dagger at Loki's tactical vest.

"You'll have to beat me unconscious before I'll let you hurt anyone else."

"I won't just beat you, fool. I'm going to cripple you." Bad Loki called over his shoulder in the direction of the garden exit, "Come to me."

A black figure appeared from concealment, stepping through the doorway to stand over the fallen guards. It was a shadow fiend with the vividly contoured and sensuous form of an athletic, voluptuous and obviously nude female of about five and a half feet in stature. Its features were more slack and generic, but the perception of shorter hair styled into curls proved disturbing. In fact, Loki realized that the figure could just as likely be an imitation of Natasha as it could Cami.

Clint set and aimed his bow at the fiend. "Now I'm really pissed."

"That's the reaction I was hoping for." Bad Loki ordered his creation, "Kill them."

The fiend's tar-like composition seemed to bubble and, with a violent shake, the form promptly split into two fiends of exact appearance.

"Oh no," Clint uttered as both creatures hissed and leaped for him.

Loki could offer no assistance as Bad Loki chose that moment to come at him with the dagger. Spinning away, he managed to avoid the blade. A steady stream of Natasha's training advice filtered through Loki's mind. He could remember every word and since he was channeling her wisdom and conviction, it felt right to use one of her own phrases. "I'm going to kick your ass."

Bad Loki gave a skeptical laugh then sent Loki flying with a powerful backhand strike that felt like he'd been hit with a rock slab. Dazed and tasting his own blood in his mouth, Loki pushed to his feet to find Natasha's STAV at his back, the rhino's massive corpse blocked any movement he could make to the left and the double hurried to close him in.

Use the environment, Loki thought. What would Natasha do?

The floor was covered with blood splatter and various pieces of debris, but nothing that could possibly penetrate the shield. Trying to look around, keep his feet moving and yet watch the double, Loki stumbled, falling against the vehicle and slicing his arm on a sharp piece of metal. He let out the muffled, Midgarian curse, "Fuck."

It was then, as he was clutching the bloodied arm to his front, that he spied the STAV's designation number. He winced and made a clumsy turn, which concealed the motion of activating his communicator. "Sierra Tango Alpha Victor One," he whispered and heard a responding blip from the general location of the cockpit. "Prep the foam."

Bad Loki inched forward as Loki turned back to face him. "You make this too easy."

Loki moved deeper into the limiting space, drawing the double in.

Bad Loki lunged, but there was no movement in his right shoulder, so Loki knew it was a feint. He held his ground as the double backed off again and chided, "Oh come on. At least try."

The STAV made a grinding noise as the right side panels opened to reveal the jets. Bad Loki looked that way and Loki ducked around him, screaming the order, "Full spray—fire!"

Loki heard the jets release and Bad Loki's angered roar, but kept moving. He darted amid the destruction and around the portals as the double pursued. Though he was obviously determined to catch and punish Loki, the humiliating dousing of his shadow barrier in sticky fire retardant had reduced the double to a growling savage, prone to kicking and throwing things. Loki dodged the best he could, trying to keep tabs on his companions.

In a room full of bleeding bodies, Jahla and Mahlora were the perfect allies. Loki realized that Clint had put himself in the position of being the distraction, dodging attacks and luring the twin fiends around in circles while pools of blood writhed up to grab at them, sometimes yanking them off balance, flinging them away or exploding and causing them considerable pain.

Jorn couldn't use his spirit magic against the soulless fiends. He wielded Mahlora's blood blade, slicing and stabbing at them whenever they dared come near him.

Bad Loki hefted and threw a workstation, which struck Loki in the back and sent him sprawling over a body pile. Battered, bleeding and growing more afraid, Loki called for assistance. "Cami, I need you!" he screamed into the comm as the double neared with a wide, anticipatory smile.

"Yes, call for her." He flipped Loki over, grabbed his throat and started choking him. "Save me the trouble of hunting her down."

"I'm right here," Cami announced, appearing out of thin air beside them. "I'll take that," she said, touching the shadowy barrier. Her body shook and went rigid. Then, all at once, the shield dissolved, the hum of the security system waned to silence, the force fields fizzled out and Cami crumpled to the floor.

It took a second for Loki to register the situation. The cloak of shadows was gone and now was his best chance to finish this. He shifted into Jotun form, relying on the extra strength and stamina, and knocked Bad Loki back with a forceful punch to the face.

"No!" Bad Loki screamed, rolling away. "I will kill you all."

Loki knew he had to keep the double confused so he couldn't focus and control his magic. He found his footing and pursued, snatching the reeling, stumbling form off the floor and hurling him as hard as possible against the side of an STAV. Then he took Bad Loki by the throat, lifting him high then slammed him down on the hood of the car. "I—am—your—master," he emphasized each word, leaning close. "I take back your power."

Jahla rushed forward from the opposite side of the car, grabbing and pinning Bad Loki's hands as he attempted to cast a spell. She also bent forward, her red eyes eager and triumphant. "Release your power," she demanded, spitting out the words. "It will serve you no longer."

Like a shot of adrenaline, the magic flowed in, surging through Loki's system faster than it could be carried by the frantic beating of his heart. He gasped, almost euphoric as he looked down on the weary and dejected features of the double. How easily Loki could hurt him now, inflict physical pain and mock his efforts.

I'm not that person anymore, he reminded himself, pushing those thoughts away with surprising effort.

With a simple wave of his hand, Loki dissolved the fiends captured in the blood. One by one, he closed the portals, sadly realizing that he might never master any of these tricks himself. When he turned, he noticed the group that had filtered in from the corridor. Fitz, Simmons, Skye, Jane and Pepper stared openly at him, taking in his Jotun appearance with curiosity and obvious uncertainty.

Clint came forward to help put Bad Loki in restraints. He offered the apprehensive Loki a small, understanding smile and praised in a whisper, "You did good, my friend."