"So is this going to be a one way portal?" Natasha asked, her hand lightly stroking Ironpig's head.

"What do you mean?" Strange asked, looking up from where he was studying the area, debating exactly how much space he wanted around the terminus of the portal when it was opened.

"We can activate it from here," Natasha clarified. "Could Thor activate it on Asgard?"

"Yes."

"We want people to be able to bolt for the safety of Asgard," Wong said. "But we need to be able to let them come home, as well, when all is said and done and the way is safe."

"Is that entirely wise?"

"The terminus is going to only be Asgard," Stephan assured her. "The only person there who might pose a problem is Loki, really, and if he steps through the portal he'll turn inside out - and he knows it."

"Not to mention, we're going on the assumption that he won't ever want to see a portal again," Wong added. "Much less go through one."

"And we don't have to worry about someone using it against us?" Romanoff clarified – always cautious when it came to the security of those around her. "Someone opening it on a different planet and linking it here and bringing an army right into the center of the room – and the compound?"

"No. We've already considered that. Strictly between here and Asgard – and, if it'll make you more comfortable – we'll set a protocol of our own that will only allow activation by an Asgardian or by someone here."

"I'd feel better," she admitted.

"Done."

He looked over at Wong, who nodded. Both men flicked their fingers in a gesture that Natasha had seen them make several times – although usually it was one or the other, rarely both. A moment later there was a bit of a flare in the air around that area of the gym, and then it was gone. Natasha frowned, still holding the piglet – who was wearing a green sweater.

"Well?"

"It's set," Wong told her, looking smug. "Give it a try."

"How?"

Stephen pointed to a small mark on the wall close by. It was a replica of the symbol that was on the window at the sanctum.

"Touch it in a circular motion – give me the pig."

She handed Ironpig over to the sorcerer supreme and touched the wall as she'd been told. A moment later a portal appeared, forming against the wall itself. Through it they could see the brightly lit world of Asgard.

"The portal opens to the field," Wong said. "It was that or the great hall – and that would have been a disaster, of course."

Romanoff had been there when the magicians were discussing the options with Thor.

"The field is a much better choice."

If they needed to escape in a group, there would be more room for them to assemble on the other side of the portal – and it was far enough from the populace that no one would be injured when it opened.

Strange gave her the pig back.

"I'd like to talk to Tony, unless you need me for anything else?"

"Is it impolite to ask what about?"

"It might be, but I think the rules change for people who are seeing each other," Stephen told her as she put Ironpig into his pen, checking – like everyone did when they stopped to see the piglet – that he had food and fresh water. "Wanda looked upset when she and Vision arrived at the briefing – or maybe I actually felt her emotions. If I understand the look that Mantis gave her, I'd say she's upset about something. I need to make sure it isn't anything that we can help with."

"Let's go find out."

Wong followed them; well aware that Stark wouldn't mind his presence and deciding that it would be better to have first hand knowledge if there was something that he needed to know about.

OOOOO

She was well and truly lost and she knew it. She also knew, now, that that had been the whole idea in the first place. The little shuttle had landed, and the world it had landed on was bleak and scary. Darkness was almost perpetual, no matter which part of the planet she was on – presuming that she was reading the display properly.

So scary, though, that she didn't get out of the shuttle, except for when she absolutely had to in order to take care of her basic needs. She hurried right back in, though, and shivered, despite the artificial warmth of the shuttle being turned on enough that she should have been perfectly fine. A glance out the view screen showed a mountain in front of her, and the place made her shiver, again, as she thought about what kind of terrible creatures or people might be at the top – or in the shadows of the thing.

She held the small orb in her hand, and reached for a blanket, huddling under it in fear, and wishing that her master had given the task she was undertaking to someone else. Someone braver than she was.

OOOOOOO

"So what do you think?" Rocket asked, standing on a chair at the bar, holding a drink, but not drinking it just yet. He was looking at Gamora, just then, but Quill was right beside her – as was Drax and Mantis. Groot had gone to one of the sofas and was playing one of the video games the lounge offered, watching a display on the wall as he manipulated the controls and tried to save a made-up world that only existed in the minds of its creators. The other guardians had a much more real world on their minds, just then. "Will the shield do any good?"

They'd all understood what the little girl was telling them – and Rocket had been impressed. Both by the shield technology and by the kid, herself. She was genius level, and held her head up and hadn't been afraid to look any of them in the eye as she explained what they had learned from their tests.

Even when the much older military men had begun questioning her, she'd simply given them their answers – and her own opinions.

"It might hold back some of the army that Thanos commands," Gamora said. "But it will not hold for more than a moment against the stone."

"It's pretty impressive," Quill disagreed. "It looks more powerful than what the Nova Corps had."

"Which doesn't mean anything," she reminded him. "They lost."

"I want to kill Thanos," Drax said, leaning against the bar. "If they put the shield up around this place, I will make sure to be on the other side."

"Unless Thanos is inside the shield by the time they get it up?" Rocket asked, pointedly.

"I will be on whatever side Thanos is on," he amended. "For what he did to Xander, he deserves it."

They were all in agreement with that, of course.

"The mind stone is very powerful," Mantis said, suddenly, shivering. "I did not like being near it."

"Because of the creepy guy that has it stuck in his head?" Rocket asked.

"He is creepy-looking, isn't he?" Quill agreed.

"He is not flesh and blood," Mantis reminded them. She, of course, would know better than any of them. "He is a construct."

"A good one," Gamora said, shaking her head. "He has to be, in order to be able to handle the power of the mind stone, directly, like that. Thanos would love to take it from him. We'll have to make sure someone warns him to keep clear when Thanos comes."

"Maybe he can portal out."

"He will not leave," Mantis said, firmly.

Quill frowned.

"How do you know?" he asked. "I thought you couldn't read him."

"I can't. I can't really read his friend, much, either – she is very powerful and tainted with the same power. But he will not leave."

She didn't know how she knew that, but she did.

OOOOOOO

They found Tony and Pepper in the workroom. Not hard to locate, since all Natasha had to do was ask Friday. And then call Tony to see if they were busy. When they were given the go-ahead, all three went to the workroom, knocking politely, first, but then letting themselves in.

Pepper was standing beside a manufacturing pod, watching the activity inside. Tony was standing at a display. Both looked concerned, but stopped what they were doing when the three closed the door behind them.

"Everything alright?" Tony asked. "Do we have an escape portal?"

"In the gym," Stephen confirmed. "Natasha tried it, and it worked as intended."

"Thank you."

He'd activate the stupid thing and throw Peter through it, if he had to, but it was a relief to know there was a way to get the boy to safety, now, if things went seriously wrong. Which he anticipated.

"You're welcome."

Romanoff looked at the suit that was taking place behind the clear shielding of the pod, before turning to Tony and Pepper. She was never one to beat around the bush, really, and now was no exception.

"Anything we need to know about?" she asked.

The billionaire nodded, looking at Pepper, who came over to stand beside him.

"Yeah. You need to know what Wanda and Vision are planning."

Stephen frowned at the serious expression on his friend's face – scared, maybe?

"Tell me it doesn't have anything to do with the Mind stone…"

Tony shrugged. He wasn't surprised; Stephen was a genius, after all.

"Not just the mind stone," he told them. "You definitely need to hear tis."