Initiative 2028
Thunderstruck!

As the Initiative under President Valeria Richards moved to secure their control of the United States their attention turned to Asgard. The mythic home of the Asgardian Gods had been transported to the state of Oklahoma after the rebirth of the gods, and they had settled into a somewhat quirky relationship with the people there. Feeling there was too much risk in allowing the Asgardians their freedom, Initiative forces attacked the floating island.

They lost.

Thor, realizing that Valeria would not allow such a force resisting her to continue to exist, reluctantly moved Asgard away from the innocents to one of the most inaccessable places on earth, high in the Rocky Mountains. There, the Asgardians wait, but the legacies and artifacts of their people remain to touch on the mortal world.

Doctor Jane Foster frowned as she leaned on a battered wooden cane, meeting the soldier's eyes defiantly as the brown haired woman demanded, "How long are you going to keep me here?" Here, in this case, was a Initiative base in Washington state, not too far from the city of Seattle. The meeting room wasn't a cell but the lack of windows, a locked door and armed security guards kept them inside.

The young man dressed in Stane-tech riot gear kept his face forward, staring at the wall ahead as he said, "I'm sorry, ma'am, I haven't been told."

The riot gear he wore was a suit of light, powered armor modeled after the equipment worn by street hero Night Thrasher, providing a armored shell, some strength enhancement and onboard weapons. The fact that the outer layer of armor was painted black gave it a ominous air, one that even Jane noticed.

Nearby Samantha Parrington scowled, the young woman looking at the guards angrily. "If I could transform into Valkyrie," she said to them dangerously, "you'd regret this." Glowing mystical wristbands held the younger woman's powers restrained, her brown hair falling into furious looking eyes.

"Not while Krystoff's bonds hold you," the chief scientist said with a bit of regret as he entered the room, lab coat fluttering around him. He looked young, but there was a ancient look in his eyes, like a man who had seen far too much. "I am captain Von Blitzschlag, at your service," he bowed slightly, his sandy hair falling into his eyes.

"Who?" Jane Foster asked, looking questioningly at Samantha.

The younger woman made a face, "I met his father in the Initiative. A former Nazi scientist in genetics who assisted in creating government superhumans."

"Don't be too harsh in judging your government," Von Blitzschlag noted mildly, "it was no different from when your NASA used Nazis to support your space race."

"So," Jane narrowed her eyes, "you're after Thor, I suppose?"

"Most astute, madam," the younger man agreed as he took a chair fro where they had been pushed against the walls and pulled it up to where they were waiting. "Would you care to sit, ladies?" he offered.

"No," Samantha growled but Jane agreed to sit, sighing tiredly.

"So," Jane looked at Blitzschlag calmly as he took a seat across from her, "when does the torture start?"

Von Blitzschlag looked at her, aghast. "It doesn't," he said firmly, "I'm not suicidal."

"Huh?" both Jane and Samantha looked at him in surprise.

Von Blitzschlag gave then both a slight smile, "Ladies, I am well aware of what Thor and his ilk are capable of. My own father, Baron Von Blitzschlag was killed by a Thor clone he helped create, after all. No, I have no intention of torturing you."

"So... what are we doing here?" Samantha had to ask.

"Ah," Von Blitzschlag actually looked a bit uncomfortable for a moment. "You are here as bait," he admitted, "we're hoping to draw Thor out of hiding."

"And you're telling us this because....?" Jane had to ask. She knew villains explained their plots in Bond movies, but this was the first time she had seen it in real life.

"Because when Thor arrives," Von Blitzschlag explained, "I'd really like someone to tell him that I did not lay a hand on you. I like my skin intact, you see."

Jane smiled as she shook her head, "Fair enough."

Getting up the younger man brushed off his clothes as he said briskly, "Now if you'll excuse me, I must get back to work." He gestured to the guards, "Come with me."

"But sir...?" the first guard looked confused.

Von Blitzschlag sighed, "Gentlemen, there is no reason to treat these ladies unpleasantly. Besides, with the Valkyrie bound there is little they can do." His voice went firm, "You'd be better placed guarding the perimeter."

Watching the men leave Samantha took a seat, moving the chair over beside Jane's. "So what do you think?" she asked quietly.

"He remind me of some of the med-students I deal with," Jane shook her head wryly. "Of course, it could be an act," she added.

"True," Samantha sighed, looking around the empty conference room. "Damn it, if I could only get these bonds off!"

"May I?" Jane asked and Samantha held out her arms to her.

"If you think you can do anything...," Samantha said a bit dubiously.

Jane looked amused as she took her glasses from her pocket and put them on. "These appear to be just regular manacles, locks and all," she murmured, taking a pin and carefully slipping it into the lock.

Samantha nodded, "I suppose the enchantments might have interfered with high tech equipment."

"Or they want you to escape," Jane noted as a soft click was heard and the one manacle popped open.

"A doctor who can pick locks?" Samantha blinked as Jane went to work on the other one.

Jane intently worked on the next lock as she noted absently, "I hung out with Thor and his various identities for more than a decade, you pick stuff up."

"Yes!" Samantha grinned as the lock popped open. Taking a half step away from Jane she concentrated and in a flare of energy transformed. In her place stood a tall blonde haired woman dressed in norse style armor, a leather skirt and breast-plate with a sword at her side. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into twin braids and her blue eyes glowed with passion.

"Energy spike!" a guard yelped as he raced inside, "What's going.... on?!"

"Mortal," Valkyrie drew her sword, "stand aside."

"Oh hell," the young man pressed a alarm switch even as he bolted back out of the room.

"We'd better go," Jane leaved herself up, leaning on her cane. "Or actually, you'd better go."

"What?" Valkyrie looked at Jane in shock, "I can't...."

Jane shook her head firmly, "I'd only slow you down."

Before Jane could say anything else Valkyrie bodily picked her up and slung her over her shoulder as she hurried out of the room. "No, you won't," Valkyrie said cheerfully as she trotted down the corridor.

"Eeep!' Jane yelped as she bounced against the woman's shoulder as they ran along. "Any idea where we're going?" she asked.

"Other than away from there, no," Valkyrie admitted as she banged open a set of doors to reveal several very startled guards. With almost inhuman speed she struck, hammering the men with powerful blows that sent them flying even in their armor.

Jane made a odd gasp as she was thrown around on her shoulder but still managed to say, "Don't kill anyone."

"You're more generous than I am," Valkyrie said as they rushed along.

Meanwhile, sitting in his office Von Blitzschlag smiled to himself as he used the radio to contact security. "Clear the way on the west side," he ordered, "just set up a token resistance on the gate at that side."

"But sir," the head of security looked at her boss in disbelief, "they'll escape."

Von Blitzschlag looked at the redhead as he said, "Mary, it's really quite simple."

Typhoid Mary, former supervillain and occasional hero, frowned as she met his eyes and asked, "Yes?"

"We want them to escape," Von Blitzschlag shrugged, "it's all part of Miss Richard's plans, you see." He looked quite cheerful as he explained, "As you know, we took Samantha captive some weeks ago."

"I read the report," Mary nodded, her red hair falling around her face.

"While she was sedated we planted a device under the skin of her arm, it's nearly undetectable," Von Blitzschlag smiled. "With it we'll be able to monitor her, even pick up nearby audio, and use that data to track the Asgardians," he said.

A rumble shook the building and Mary grimaced, "There they go in one of the combat shuttles. You'd better know what you're doing."

"Of course I do," Von Blitzschlag said confidently.

There was a pause then the radio crackled to life. "This is security from the hanger deck," the voice noted, "we've found traces of blood on the floor, and what looks like a mechanival implant of some sort."

Von Blitzschlag eyes widened, "What?!"

Mary felt herself smiling reluctantly, "Jane Foster, I suppose. She really is a very good doctor, it seems."

"Indeed," Von Blitzschlag had to concede. They watched the monitors a moment, switching views to the image of the combat shuttle taking off. "You've won this round, ladies," he murmured, "but I am sure there will be others."

To be continued....

Notes: I rather liked Baron Von Blitzschlagin the Initiative comics, and thought it might be interesting to give him a heir. Of course, the young man may be a son, a clone or who knows what? *lol*