Zoë Aetós: Starting & Ending Action

Chapter Three


A slivery-blue dress hung tightly around Zoë' frame, hair curled and braided in a glamourous updo. She strolled around the Stuttgart Museum, heels clicking against the marble floor. Steve hadn't wanted to send her in but had agreed with Fury that it was a good idea. She was tasked with making sure Loki didn't harm a civilian and to keep an eye out for Barton. That last part was merely her own private mission. One that would be completely disregarded if anything happened, but it didn't hurt to hope.

She paused beside a well-dressed couple, watching as a man with long greased back hair entered the room. He had his eyes fixed on the main speaker. Zoë stared after him, moving around couples and dancers.

The man, who Zoë assumed was Loki, clubbed a guard over the head with his staff. He grabbed the man speaker, plunging a strange device into the man's eye as Zoë was pushed out of the room by a flood of crazed partygoers.
"Do not engage, Zoë," Natasha's voice buzzed through Zoë' ear. "I repeat, do not engage." Despite her better judgement, Zoë did as she was ordered, rushing out like a scared woman.

She was stopped when a blue flash came from Loki's staff, blasting cars around. "Kneel before me!" he called out to the crowd. No one responded and Sara almost gasped when three other Loki's appeared around them.
"I said KNEEL!"

The crowd began to kneel, and he stretched out his arms with a wide smile.
"Is not this simpler? Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity, that you crave subjection. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power, for identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel."

From beside Zoë, an elderly man stood up, shaking his head. "Not to men like you," he told Loki.
"There are no men like me," Loki scoffed.
"There are always men like you," Zoë said, standing, lightly holding onto the elderly man's arm to stabilize him.
"Look to these two, people," Loki said. "Let them be an example…"

As Loki was about to blast Zoë and the elderly man with his glowing blue staff, they were suddenly blocked by a shield which send the blast back to Loki. Steve straightened as Zoë started ushering the elderly man away.
"You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing about everybody else, we ended up disagreeing."

Standing up, Loki smirked at Steve.
"The solider. A man out of time." He paused when a jet appeared in front of him, its guns trained on her.
"Loki, drop the weapon and stand down," Natasha said.

As quick as lightning, Loki sent a blast of blue at the Quinjet, Natasha maneuvered it just in time, giving Steve the time to throw his shield at Loki. He was knocked down as Zoë pulled out her gun, firing several shots, which missed, but caused enough of a distraction for Steve to launch himself back at Loki.

Suddenly, Zoë heard the unmistakable sound of AC/DC's music blasting through her comms.
"Agent Romanoff, Agent Aetos, did you miss me?" She looked up at the sky, along with Steve and Loki.

Tony Stark, dressed in his Iron Man suit, was above them and he sent a blast at Loki, knocking the black-haired god to the ground. He dropped down to the ground; his suit armed with every weapon imaginable.
"Make your move, Reindeer Games."

Loki's armor materialized away as he put his hand up in surrender.
"Good move," Tony said.
"Mr. Stark," Steve greeted.
"Captain." He glanced over at Zoë, the blue eyes of his suit glowing. "Charlie says hi." Zoë just nodded; gun still aimed at the god on the ground.

Natasha lowered the Quinjet, allowing them to all load up. Steve cuffed Loki to a seat as Zoë climbed into the cockpit with Natasha. She pulled out a thermos, full of lukewarm coffee, taking a quick swig.
"Thought these things were supposed to keep liquid warm," she complained.
"Be thankful," Natasha scolded with a smile.
"Yes mom."

As the Quinjet cruised in the sky towards where the Helicarrier was stationed, Zoë moved back into the cabin, tossing a pack of snacks at Tony. He grinned at her, opening the fruit gummies.

She watched Loki, who was not meeting her eyes as he stared at Steve and Tony.
"I don't like it," Steve said, breaking the silence.
"What?" Tony questioned. "Rock of Ages giving up so easily?"
"I don't remember it being that easy," Steve remarked. "This guy packs a wallop."
"Still, you're spry for an older fellow. What's your thing? Pilates?"
"Tony," Zoë warned.
"What?" Steve asked, frowning at Tony.
"It's like calisthenics. You might have missed a couple things, you know, during your time as a Capsicle."

Standing, Steve crossed his arms.
"Fury didn't tell me he was calling you in."
"Yeah, there's a lot of things Fury doesn't tell you."

Thunder sounds and Zoë startled at the bright flash of lightning right outside the jet.
"What's the matter?" Steve asked her as Tony glanced at Loki.
"Scared of a little lightning?" Tony snarkily asked the god.
"I'm not overly found of what follows," Loki answered.

Even though Zoë spent four years of her life undergoing intense torture through S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, even she was not ready for the blinding light that hit the jet. She let out a scared yelp when the ramp was opened. A blond man in armor and a red cape grabbed Loki by the throat, flying him back out of the jet. "Now there's that guy," Tony mumbled, putting on his helmet.
"Another Asgardian?" Zoë asked.
"Think the guy's a friendly?" Steve asked.
"Doesn't matter," Tony snapped. "If he frees Loki or kills him, the Tesseract's lost."

Tony headed for the ramp and got ready to jump.
"Stark, we need a plan of attack!" Steve shouted at him.
"I have a plan. Attack."

Without another word, Tony jumped and chased after the new guy. Steve grabbed a parachute to follow.
"I'd sit this one out, Cap," Natasha said through the speakers.
"I don't see how I can."
"These guys come from legends, they're basically gods," Natasha told him.
"There's only one God, Tasha," Zoë muttered. Steve nodded at her.
"And I'm pretty sure he doesn't dress like that, ma'am."

After Steve jumped from the Quinjet, Zoë raised the ramp and made her way back into the cockpit.
"That was Thor," Natasha told her. "Kinda handsome, eh?" Zoë rolled her eyes.
"Sure, if you're into the surfer vibes." Natasha laughed, turning the ship around to chase after the others.


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