Mischievous Mates
Recap: Last update we got to know Mara Leslie Chase-Coulson and her powers. As the chapter ended Fury assigned Mara a mission with Agent Barton. She has to go and test her powers on the cube at base P.E.G.A.S.U.S. We also met Mara's pet sugar glider named Puck as she packed for her mission. We also got to experience one of Mara's strange dreams as the chapter came to an end. Maybe her questions will be answered this chapter or maybe more questions will rise.
Chapter 2: Disorder
Mara's POV:
My heart raced as I shot up in bed. Thank goodness it was just a dream. I wiped the sweat from my brow then untangled the sheets from around my legs. I looked at the alarm clock to find that it is four a.m. I have several hours before I leave for my mission. Although I had a nightmare that is the longest I have slept in a while. I might as well go ahead and get ready for the day. I got up and made the messy bed before getting dressed.
I am not a typical agent I don't like wearing the leather cat suits when I am just walking around HQ. So like usual, I put on civilian clothes. A grey wool sweater dress, navy leggings grey combat boots, and simple jewelry are my outfit for the day. It is comfy and not as awkward as the squeaky leather outfits. I took care of my burns before French braiding my hair. Braids are the only style that helps me keep my hair out of my face. After that I took care of my other daily needs, i.e. medicine, brushing teeth, and applying deodorant.
I put Puck in his travel cage and made my way to dad's office. I walked down the deserted halls of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. It's unsettling how deserted it is at this time. I don't know why Fury has a skeleton crew running this big flying machine at this hour. It is the prime time for something to go completely wrong. There are numerous ways for somebody to tamper with the Helicarrier and cause a catastrophe.
This would be the only time I am thankful to be the only soul with powers on this ship right now. If any of the other agents could read minds, they would come to the conclusion that I am planning mutiny or something as equally nefarious. However, I am not. I swear on my grave. I am just an apt observer. It is a skill that is often overlooked by many and can be executed perfectly in time with a well-laid plan. I would like to think that, if I get to meet him, Captain America would agree with me on that point. That is if I could get him away from dad fan-boying all over him.
I was almost to dad's office when a cold hand grabbed my shoulder. I turned quickly around to see who I almost set on fire. I was greeted by a suit wearing, hair line receding, crinkly eyed, and a big smile.
"Dad, I told you not to do that. I could have burnt you." I said.
"But you didn't. Which means you missy owe me ten dollars." Dad said.
"What? Why would I owe you money?"
"You bet ten dollars yesterday that you don't have enough control to not hurt someone if they surprised you. I bet that you have mastered that control. So you owe me the money."
"I honestly forgot about that and I didn't think you would actually make me pay."
"You live and you learn. Now hand me the money." I dug into my wallet and pulled out a ten and handed it to dad.
"Fine, but what if I needed that money for the mission?"
"Fury will give you an unlimited credit card that you will use. And besides Mara, you are going to the P.E.G.A.U.S. base to test your powers. The only reason you would need money would be if you were to leave the base for lunch or something. It isn't a shopping spree. It is a serious mission."
"Then why am I going? I could potentially break the Tesseract or unleash something dangerous or blow up the entire base. I shouldn't be going." I said.
"Mara, take a deep breath." Dad said and I listened and took one deep breath in. "Now you listen here. You are a Coulson. We get our job done no matter what. You can do this. But only if you believe that you can do this. Don't worry about your powers. You have a great control over them. You have not mastered all that you can do with them."
"Exactly and that is what I am worried about. What if something happens and I need to use my powers in defense?"
"You won't need to. Fury has plenty of agents stationed at P.E.G.A.S.U.S. that they are fully equipped to handle anything. You are there to see if your powers can trigger the cube in any way. You could help us use that unlimited power for the greater good. We could help so many people Mara. Just think of all the good things you can do. Think of how strong you are inside. I believe in you. I mean you are my daughter after all. I have taught you how to be resourceful and brave. You be careful but confident. And if you do need to use your powers, then use them. Embrace who you are Mara."
"Alright dad. I will remember your advice. It does make me feel better about going on the mission though." I said and rushed to hug him as tightly as I could. He returned the hug with the same amount of force.
"Good, then I am doing my job." He said.
"Coulson, I hardly think you are doing your job. You should have already gone to NASA headquarters to push for Selvig to get the test phase ready to launch. Agent Chase, you should've been on the helicopter five minutes ago. I'm not here to babysit you people. Get to your stations." Director Fury said coming from around the corner.
"Yes sir," Dad and I said in unison. Then we both headed to the helicopter hangar. Dad got in the Airbus EC120 while I got in the Airbus EC135 with Agent Barton. I nodded to him as he took off. Agent Barton and I waited for the director and Agent Hill.
"Do you have the things you will need?" Clint asked.
"Of course. Dad said I over-prepared. But I believe it is better than being under-prepared."
"That is true." He said.
"Are we going straight to Base P.E.G.A.S.U.S.?" I asked.
"In a way, yes."
"What does that mean?"
"I will be dropped off at the base while you, the director, and Agent Hill go to another location."
"Why am I being sent to a different location? And why wasn't I told before now?"
"Because you didn't need to know Agent Chase." The director said as he climbed aboard with Agent Hill.
"Well, where am I being sent? And why?"
"You are going to go stay for a week at Base C.O.B.R.A." Agent Hill said.
"As for why, I think it is time to get some real training into you before we send you to P.E.G.A.S.U.S." The Director said.
"What the heck? I've been training rigorously for weeks! What makes you think that training at C.O.B.R.A. will help me improve?" I asked.
"We have a new instructor that I think will be able to help you with your gifts." He said.
"Oh, really? Like who? None of the regular soldiers you have are able to get the job done. I don't think this is going to help me at all, unless you have some kind of special super soldier." I said.
"You could say that." Fury said.
"Now what does that mean?" I asked.
"Enough with the questions Mara. Read over these files. We will be landing in approximately half an hour." Agent Hill said and handed me a tablet with important documents already pulled up and ready to read.
"Alright," I said and got to reading on the Avengers Initiative and the Tesseract Files. The Avengers Initiatives files were interesting. I didn't know that Captain America was still alive. I also didn't know that Tony Stark was rejected. That is hilarious. However, I found it odd that my files are included in the Avengers Initiative. I'm not a hero, I am a freak. Comparing myself to these people, I am just an ant to their massive elephant size. I haven't saved anyone or ended a war. Oh goodness. I hope that Fury isn't sending me to train with Stark. I shook off the skin crawling feeling that thought gave me and read an updated report on the Tesseract. It seems odd that it is giving off these readings for a supposedly dormant infinite power source.
"Agent Chase," Agent Hill said.
"Yes ma'am." I said and shut down the tablet.
"We have arrived. Let's move." She said and got out of the jet. I grabbed my bags and followed her into the warehouse. This is just a huge gym. There are locker rooms, a small overhead platform for people to watch, and plenty of workout equipment. In the center is a fighting ring like they use in the UFC. "Go ahead and put your things into the locker room. We won't be staying long." I just nodded and made my way across the gym floor. I went into the women's locker room. I put my stuff into a locker and changed into some workout clothes. I left the locker room and noticed that Agent Hill and Director Fury were already on the overhead platform just watching. Well, Fury is watching, Hill is on her phone talking to someone. I started stretching as I waited for whoever this special instructor is to show up.
"Is this your power? Boring people to death with your stretching?" Asked a voice directly behind me. I turned and saw a large muscled man standing there with his arms folded. He looked to be around forty with a shaved head and multiple tattoos on his arms, legs, and neck.
"Uh, no. And who are you?" I asked.
"Blade. You must be Chase. What are your powers?"
"Telekinesis, telepathy, and control over the elements." I said.
"Alright. We need to start right away if you are to go to the other base by nightfall. Try and knock me over. Use any power you deem necessary to assist you with this task." He said.
"I don't want to hurt you." I said.
"You won't." he said.
"You don't know that. You have no clue what I am capable of!" I said.
"Listen if you don't come after me, then I will come after you. And I will hurt you. You have three seconds." He said.
"You're bluffing." I said.
"I did warn you," Then he lunged after me. I screamed and threw up my hands. Immediately a wall of fire formed in front of me. "That's what I'm talking about." He said and the wall of fire dissipated.
"What?"
"We need to hone your powers in and make them available to you at all times. Not just during times of emotional stress." He said.
"But," I started to say.
"No, get in the ring. We have lots to do." He said. I don't think arguing will do me any good. So I followed Blade into the ring. Here we go.
It only took Blade three and a half hours to kill me. The man didn't let up at all during our endless practice. I'm finally getting a small break. Fury told me I could shower before we headed to Base P.E.G.A.S.U.S. So that is exactly what I'm doing. And it feels amazing to get all of the sweat and blood off of my body. Blade is a maniac. A genius in his teaching techniques. But still a maniac.
"Chase, Director Fury got a call from Selvig. Time to go." Hill called out. I stopped the water and stepped out. I dried off quickly and got into a different, and clean, uniform. I grabbed all of my things and left the locker room. Fury was handing Blade an envelope when I came out. It was probably a hefty sum for completing my training so quickly.
"Thank you Blade for helping me get these powers under control."
"Not a problem. Just don't doubt yourself kid. You have great powers and with Fury here to guide you, you'll do well."
"Sir, they've decided to evacuate." Hill said.
"Get us there now." Fury said and left the building. Hill followed suit.
"Bye," I said and followed my superiors out. We got back into our jet and headed for New Mexico. I looked at the GPS mounted on the wall and it said we are about 20 miles North of New Mexico. At the fast rate we are going it shouldn't take long to get there. I watched the clouds roll by as I played with a small portion of the elements in my hands. I rotated between fire, water, an air ball, and a rock. In record time, the base then came into view. As we lowered the jet I could see many soldiers running out of the building and jumping into Humvees. Our jet landed on the pad. The doors opened and there is an agent wearing sunglasses waiting on us. The agent takes his glasses off once we are all off of the jet. It's my dad. He wasn't supposed to be here yet. What has gone wrong? And what aren't they telling me?
"How bad is it" Director Fury asked.
"That's the problem, sir. We don't know." Dad said. Then everyone was silent as we went inside the base. We ended up in the radiation section of the facility. There are like hundreds of technician and other staff running around. They are grabbing files and gadgets and running out of the room. It like they can sense danger coming. I wonder if I am able to feel anything coming out of the tesseract. I closed my eyes and channeled the different powers within me. I opened them up to the power leaking from the basement of the facility.
"Whoa," I said to no one as I quickly felt and heard the angry energy coming from the power source. This is incredible considering that we are not even on the same level as the Tesseract. I turned my focus back on my dad and superiors who were continuing down the levels of the base to reach the Tesseract.
"Dr. Selvig read an energy surge from the Tesseract four hour ago." Dad said.
"NASA didn't authorize Selvig to test phase." Director Fury replied.
"He wasn't testing it; he wasn't even in the room. Spontaneous advancement." Dad informed.
"It just turned itself on?" Agent Hill asked.
"What are the energy levels now?" Director Fury asked.
"Climbing. When Selvig couldn't shut it down, we ordered the Evac." Dad said.
"How long to get everyone out?" Director Fury asked.
"Campus should be clear in the next half hour." Dad said.
"Do better" Director Fury ordered.
"Sir, evacuation may be futile." Agent Hill added.
"We should tell them to go back to sleep?" Director Fury quipped.
"If we can't control the Tesseract's energy, there may not be a minimum safe distance." Agent Hill said.
"I need you to make sure that PHASE 2 prototypes are shipped out." Director Fury ordered.
"Sir, is that really a priority right now?" Agent Hill questioned.
"Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on. Clear out the tech below. Every piece of PHASE 2 on a truck and gone." Director Fury said.
"Yes sir" Agent Hill said. Then she turned to two agents walking down the hall. "Agents, with me." Then they went around the corner to complete their orders. We head down one more flight of stair and we are now in the lab with the Tesseract. It is being held in the center of the room by a compact muon solenoid coil chamber. People were all around the room. I wonder where Barton is. He was supposed to be stationed here. Fury approached the CMS machine.
"Talk to me, doctor" the Director said. Selvig came out from behind the CMS machine obviously concerned. He has plenty of reason to be too. The Tesseract is glowing brighter and flare rings shoot out at random. I would be worried too, especially, if I was answering to Fury about this mess.
"Director" Selvig says.
"Is there anything we know for certain?" Director Fury asks.
"Tesseract is misbehaving." Selvig says. I had to muffle my laughter with a cough.
"Is that supposed to be funny?" Director Fury states. It was.
"No, it's not funny at all. The Tesseract is not only active, she's...misbehaving." Selvig explains.
"How soon until you pull the plug?" Director Fury asks.
"She's an energy source. If we turn off the power, she turns it back on. If she reaches peak level..." Selvig tries explaining. Dang. This isn't good now is it?
"We've prepared for this, doctor. Harnessing energy from pace." Director Fury says.
"We don't have the harness. Our calculations are far from complete. Now she's throwing off interference, radiation. Nothing harmful, low levels of gamma radiation." Selvig said.
"I can feel it Sir. From the moment we entered the facility. My powers are being pushed by this radiation coming out. It feels purposeful. Like it is actually alive Director." I added.
"That can be harmful. Where's Barton?" Director Fury asked. Finally, I have been wanting to know this as well.
"The Hawk? Up in his nest, as usual." Selvig said and pointed up to the railings. Barton has changed his outfit. He is now wearing black tactical gear as he observes the facility from above.
"Agent Barton, report." Director Fury orders through his ear piece. I watch Barton as he rappels down from the catwalk then walks over to us. I watch as they begin to walk around the facility. Fury motions for me to stay by Selvig. "Monitor the cube agent. See if you are able to push back the radiation." Fury tells me and walks off with Barton.
"Yes sir." I say. I will do as he asks, but I can't help myself. I use my telepathy to eavesdrop.
"I gave you this detail so you could keep a close eye on things," Fury states.
"Well, I see better from a distance," Barton quips.
"Are you seeing anything that might set this thing off?" Fury asks. I turn my focus my attention away from those two and back on the cube. I gather some elements around me and meld them together to try and push back. It seems to be working. I wonder if I can hear anything if I use my telepathy. I open that link and all I can hear is hate. The velvet, masculine voice is determined. His thoughts are fueled by his determination to destroy. Then I am pushed back by a wave of power. I am knocked to the ground as a scientist runs over to Selvig. The doctor who is too busy checking the screens to even notice me experimenting with the cube,
"Doctor, it's spiking again." The scientist says worriedly.
"No one's come or gone. Its oven is clean. No contacts, no I.M.'s. If there was any tampering, sir, it wasn't at this end." Agent Barton says as he and Fury make their way back over to where I am with Selvig. I stood up before Fury noticed. I don't want to be yelled at for sitting down on the job. That would be just my luck. And it wasn't even my fault.
"At this end?" Fury asks.
"Yeah, the cube is a doorway to the other end of space, right? The doors open from both sides." Barton explains. And he is so not wrong.
"I discovered the same thing sir. I worked to push the energy back but the person on the opposite side is a lot stronger than I am." I informed. Fury nodded. Dr. Selvig clacks away at the keyboard and sees something on the monitors that completely frightens him. His wave of fear rushes over me.
Suddenly the Tesseract thunders and shakes the entire facility. Agent Hill and dad can probably feel it even though they're at different ends of the facility. The flaring rings and glow of the cube spout out brighter and louder, like a boiling pot of water. The Tesseract's energy builds up into a beam much like the Bifrost Bridge, which hits at the end of a platform that is wired to the CMS device. I almost fall over from the energy pushing against the room. Barton reaches out and steadies me. He continues to help me stand as the Tesseract continues, to use Selvig's term, misbehaves. The great maelstrom beam fires the tesseract energy. The beam then forms a vortex, which then opens up a portal. A black hole is created. From the portal, the blackness of space, beautiful and mysterious, strewn with a billion stars appears and a gust of blue energy clouds fill the room, blinding everyone. The Tesseract's energy forms into a cloud that reaches to the top the facility's vacuum chamber ceiling.
Then as quick as it began it stopped. Now it is abnormally quiet. I am still shielding my eyes from the light show the cube performed. I put down my hand as I heard heavy breathing coming from the platform. SHIELD guards begin to slowly approach the figure with weapons ready to fire. The figure is kneeling on the platform as smoke swirls around it. The figure lifts his head and I cannot contain my gasp. It's Loki. The man from my dreams. He's real?! He smiles as the heavy breathing begins to die down. Loki looks at the guards and drops his mischievous smile. He looks over at Fury, Barton, Selvig, and I in the eyes. So much hate. Then he stands up while keeping a firm grip upon his scepter.
"Sir, please put down the spear!" Director Fury orders. Not a good idea Director. He is already so volatile. Loki in turn looks down at his spear. Then he suddenly points it at us and shoots out a blue exploding light toward us. Barton pushes me out of the way and tackles Fury. I grab Selvig on my way down so that he isn't hit. I notice that the beam came close to hitting Barton and Fury. Then all heck breaks loose. Machine gun fire is shot at Loki. But the bullets bounce off him. Loki jumps high from the platform and attacks all who fired a shot. In the blink of an eye he takes down several guards with his knives and energy blasts from his scepter. Loki stops and waits to see who will attack him next. I look around at the chaos now all around me. I look over at Barton who is trying to stand up. Loki quickly walks over to him. Barton raises his gun. But Loki grabs Barton's hand.
"You have heart." Loki says and points the tip of his spear at Barton's head. I scream out thinking that he is going to shoot another blast. But all that happens is Barton's eyes glow black and he puts away his weapon. I quickly read his mind and can tell that the real Barton is trapped while this shell is left to do Loki's bidding. I watch Fury pack up the Tesseract while Loki is busy enslaving other agents. I help Fury quickly pack up. The machine fits into two suitcases. One is the cube and the other are the files on the cube. We are almost to the lab's exit when the devil speaks up.
"Get this out of here Agent." Fury says and hands it to me. I nod and take the case.
"Please don't. I still need that." Loki says and begins to walk around to the platform next to the monitors.
"This doesn't have to get any messier." Director Fury states.
"Of course it does. I've come too far for anything else. I am Loki of Asgard, and I am burdened with glorious purpose." Loki adds.
"Loki? Brother of Thor?" Selvig questions.
"We have now quarrel with your people." Director Fury says.
"An ant has no quarrel with a boot." Loki says.
"You planning to step on us?" Fury asks.
"I come with glad tidings, of a world made free." Loki exclaims.
"Free from what?" Fury asks. I am almost out of the door when two agents block me. SO I suppose I am staying to hear the evil villain's rant and master plan.
"Freedom. Freedom is life's great lie. Once you accept that, in your heart..." Loki begins then quickly turns on Selvig who is directly behind him and places his spear to Selvig's chest. The scientist's eyes glow black like the other hostages in the room. "You will know peace," he finished.
"Yeah, you say peace, I kind of think you mean the other thing." Fury adds. Then I look up. So this is why Fury engaged Loki in conversation. From the vacuum chamber ceiling, Tesseract's energy cloud rapidly builds into what may be an implosion. This is his back-up plan in case he couldn't get the cube out of here.
"Sir, Director Fury is stalling. This place is about to blow. Drop a hundred feet of rock on us. He means to bury us." Barton informs Loki.
"Like the Pharaohs of Odin." Fury states.
"He's right. The portal is collapsing in on itself. You got maybe two minutes before this goes critical." Selvig adds.
"Well then…" Loki trails off looking at Barton. Barton nods and shoots Fury who falls to the ground. Barton grabs the case containing the cube and leaves the lab with Loki, Selvig and the other SHIELD personnel Loki is controlling. As they pass me, Loki stops to look into my eyes. "I have missed you, but perhaps you are not quite ready my dear." He caressed my cheek then continued walking. One of the personnel rips the case of information from my hand and throws me toward Fury. Why am I so useless? I could have done something to have prevented this.
"Chase, get over here." Fury orders with difficulty. Thank goodness. Fury is still alive. I pick myself off the ground and race toward the director. I help him sit up and pull the bullet out of his vest. "Get communications with Agent Hill open now." I nod and proceed to follow his orders. I just hope we are not too late.
(AN: Hello! How is everybody? Sorry that I haven't updated since May 2014. It has been a crazy summer working full time. Some days I don't even get time to breathe! I hope you understand. But I am still writing in my journal every day, I just don't always have time to get on my laptop and type it up. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope to have another one to you A.S.A.P. I do not own the Avengers, just this plot and my characters Blade, Mara, and of course Puck the sugar glider. Have a fantastic day remarkable readers. I hope to see nice reviews soon. Oh and I hope you all have a very blessed and Merry Christmas. TTFN!)
○Forever and For Always, ○
~LHNT~
A.K.A.
*Heather* :D