Tension Builds

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"The gamma readings are definitely consistent with Selvig's reports of the Tesseract." Bruce said as he moved a device over Loki's sceptre as it laid on a table in the lab. "But it's going to take weeks to process."

"We don't have weeks. Bypass their mainframe, if we do that we should have the Cube's location by tomorrow," Rocket said.

"He's right. Reroute it to the Homer cluster and we can have this done in 600 teraflops." Tony added pressing a few buttons on a screen.

"All I packed was a toothbrush." Bruce said making Tony chuckle as he walked over.

"You know you should come by Stark Tower some time. The top ten floors, all R&D. You'd love it. It's Candy Land." He told Bruce who slightly smiled.

"Thanks, but the last time I was in New York, I kind of broke Harlem." He replied focusing on his work.

"Sheesh, what ticked you off?" Rocket asked with a smirk as he continued working as well.

"Let's just say someone who I didn't see eye to eye with." Bruce answered.

"Well, I promise a stress-free environment. No tension, no surprises." Tony said before he jabbed Bruce with a small tool that zapped him.

"Ow!" he yelped as Tony leaned in hoping to see Bruce's eyes change.

"Nothing, really?" he asked the scientist.

"Hey! Are you nuts?" Steve asked as he walked into the lab just in time to see Tony try to aggravate Bruce and force a transformation.

"Jury's out. You've really got a lid on it, haven't you? What's your secret? Mellow jazz, bongo drums, a huge bag of weed?" Tony asked Bruce.

"Wouldn't drugs only weaken his control and allow the Hulk to come out easier?" Rocket asked and Bruce shrugged.

"Only one way to find out," Tony answered.

"Is everything a joke to you?" Steve asked him.

"Funny things are." Tony answered.

"Threatening the safety of everyone on this ship isn't funny." Steve told him. "No offence." He added looking at Bruce who nodded.

"It's fine. I wouldn't have come aboard if I could handle pointy things." He said.

"You're tiptoeing Doc, you need to strut." Tony said with a grin which only further annoyed Steve.

"And you need to concentrate on what you're doing Mr Stark." He said.

"You think we're not. Why are you so serious Captain?" Rocket asked the super soldier. "We're tracking the Cube, we can't do much else then let the tracking algorithm run its course, so we're allowed to ask questions and get to know each other better." He said jumping onto a table where he began working on the Hadron Enforcer again. "Man, that battle with Ronan really tore this thing up." He grumbled.

"See, the furry little guy has the right idea. Why did Fury call us in, why now and not earlier? I can't do the math unless I have all the variables." Tony told Steve.

"You think Fury's hiding something from us?"

"He's a spy. Captain, he's 'the' spy. His secrets have secrets. It's bugging him, too. Isn't it?" Tony asked and both looked at Bruce who chuckled nervously not liking being brought into the conversation.

"I just want to finish my work here, and…"

"Doctor?" Steve asked and Bruce sighed removing his glasses.

"A warm light for all mankind. Loki's jab at Fury about the Cube." He said.

"I heard it," Steve replied.

"Well I think that was meant for you." Bruce told Tony who handed him a bag of blueberries and Bruce took some. "Even if Barton didn't tell Loki about the tower, it was still all over the news."

"The Stark Tower? That big, ugly…" Steve began before Tony glared at him offended at the coming insult. "Building in New York."

"It's powered by an arc reactor, a self-sustaining energy source. That building will run itself for, what, a year?" Bruce asked Tony who nodded.

"It's just the prototype. I'm kind of the only name in clean energy right now. That's what he's getting at."

"So why didn't SHIELD bring him in on the Tesseract project? What're they doing in the energy business in the first place?" Bruce asked.

"You know. They may not be in the energy business to create clean energy. But to create new weapons." Rocket spoke up making them look at him. "It's what I would do if I had something that had near limitless amounts of power if I knew how to control it. All I know is, SHIELD is probably preparing for a war, and I do not want to be you guys on this planet if they bring down the wrath of an alien race on your planet."

"We'll know in a few hours once my decryption program has finished breaking into all of SHIELD's secure files." Tony said.

"Wait, what did you say?" Steve asked with a frown.

"JARVIS has been running it since I hit the bridge, in a few hours I'll know every little dirty secret SHIELD is trying to hide." Tony answered.

"And yet you wonder why they didn't want you around." Steve said.

"Oh, spare me the goody two-shoes act. This isn't like it was during the war Captain, there are no clear cut good guys and bad guys. Everyone has their own agenda, so please stop being the perfect obedient little soldier before you get yourself killed." Tony told him and Steve frowned and left. "Hard to believe you're the guy my father wouldn't shut up about." He added causing Steve to stop just outside the lab before he walked off.

"Harsh." Rocket commented.

"No skin of my back. They should have kept him on ice." Tony replied. "And besides Loki's got nothing but an ACME dynamite kit, it's gonna blow up in his face."

"I hope you're right about that Stark. Asgardians are not to be underestimated, especially someone like Loki who is all about manipulating others to get what he wants." Rocket said.

"Well if shit hits the fan I hope you and the others will be suiting up with the rest of us." Tony said and the raccoon smirked.

"Oh yeah. I've got a few toys I've been dying to try out. What about you Banner?"

"I don't get a suit of armour, I'm exposed like a nerve. It's a nightmare." Bruce answered.

"I've got a cluster of shrapnel trying every second to crawl its way into my heart." Tony explained. "This stops it, this little circle of light, it's a part of me now, not just armour." he touched the glowing circle visible under his shirt. "It's a terrible privilege."

"But you can control it." Bruce said.

"Because I learned how."

"It's different." Bruce told him before Tony moved the screen he was working on away.

"I read all about your accident. That much gamma exposure should have killed you." He told him.

"So, you're saying the Hulk…the other guy saved my life?" Bruce asked. "That's nice, a nice sentiment. Saved it for what?"

"I guess we'll find out." Tony answered.

"You may not enjoy that." Bruce replied.

"But you just might." Rocket added. "Like what Daisuke said earlier, you've got to learn to control both sides of yourself, fighting to keep the Hulk locked away only makes it harder when he wants to come out."

"To be honest, it's safer for me to fight him. I don't want to regain control and find out I've killed dozens of people during a rampage." Bruce mumbled and with that the three went back to work.

Meanwhile, Daisuke, Sylar and Drax were exploring the Helicarrier, but also were walking towards a certain area. "Are you sure this is a good idea Star Princess?" Drax asked her.

"Yes. We need to confront Loki and figure out why he is acting like this, he was so soft spoken and gentle when we last met him. There is no way he could become evil or plan something like this without showing signs earlier." She answered.

"You heard what Thor said, he fell into the abyss from the Bifrost. Who knows where he could have ended up or who could have put thoughts into his head. But I have a feeling I know who it was." Sylar said with a frown and Daisuke and Drax nodded knowing he meant Thanos.

"Still, we need to talk to him. Maybe we can break through to him." Daisuke suggested.

"If you are certain, but if all three of us confront him he may use it to his advantage." Drax said. "I shall wait outside."

"Got it. Sylar do you want to come with me or stay?" Daisuke asked as they arrived at the room.

"I'm staying with you. I don't trust Loki at all." Sylar answered, Daisuke nodded and walked into the room with Sylar and they saw Loki alone and he smirked once he saw them.

"Well now, this is a surprise. I was wondering when you would come to see me Star Princess. How long has it been?" he asked.

"Since we got into that bar fight on Knowhere." Daisuke answered with a neutral expression. "What happened to you Loki? Why are you planning to destroy the Earth?"

"I don't intend to destroy this planet, but to rule it. Don't you see? Humanity needs order and a strong will to guide them. Otherwise the bicker and squabble and wage wars for no reason other than people having different views on certain topics." Loki answered.

"That still gives you no right to do that." Sylar told him.

"Perhaps, but at least I know what I want. Unlike you, you spent so long serving your father that now you are free you are conflicted on what to do now. Don't deny it," Loki said with a smirk and Sylar growled before Daisuke held his hand. "Ah. So, you still are together, I would have thought you'd have split up since you both are very different people." he taunted and Sylar snarled before Daisuke turned his face to look into her eyes.

"Look at me babe. He's just saying that to rile you up, I love you. Nothing will ever change that." She whispered and Sylar breathed in deeply and calmed down.

"Promise?" he asked and she nodded pressing her lips against his gently.

"Yes. How about you go wait with Drax, if he tries something you'll be just outside." She suggested and Sylar nodded and left the room while glaring at Loki who smirked.

"You care about him. Such a foolish thing to do, you know he was raised by Thanos. Why put so much trust in him?" he asked and Daisuke glared at the God.

"Simple. Because I know Sylar. He is nothing like Thanos, he regrets everything he ever had to do while working for him. He has proven himself, and more importantly I trust him with my life. So, don't try to drive a wedge between us. It will not work." She said walking off.

"Oh really?" she turned around to see Loki had turned into Sylar using his illusions. "And what makes you so sure of that, for all you know he could be waiting for the right moment. And once your back is turned he'll kill you and the rest of your friends and he will do it all with a smile on his face." He said coldly before he turned back into his regular appearance. "Of course, I could always do it before him. Or better yet turn him to my side and have him kill you before releasing him and in his grief, he'll most likely end his life."

Daisuke turned away and struggled to contain her emotions and her desire to kill Loki then and there. "You monster. How could you be so cold and cruel?" she whispered glaring at Loki.

"No. The monster is not in here, he was brought on here by you." He said making Daisuke's eyes widen in shock.

"The Hulk…you plan to force him out and bring down this ship." She said and Loki chuckled holding his hands up.

"You caught me."

"Bruce is stronger than you think Loki. Sit tight, I'll prove it." Daisuke said leaving the room.

"What happened?" Drax asked as she walked past them heading to the lab and Drax and Sylar followed her.

"Loki plans to bring out the Hulk so he can escape, we need to tell the others so we can stop that from happening." She answered before they saw Baby Groot running towards them and he jumped onto Daisuke's shoulder.

"I am Groot. I am Groot." He said quickly.

"What did he say?" Sylar asked.

"He said Steve broke into a locked room and found advanced weapons and is taking one back to the lab. Crap, I think Loki planned on everyone arguing and while it's happening something is going to happen."

"You think he'll escape?" Sylar asked reaching for his sword.

"Not on his own, remember he took control of several SHIELD agents. He could have them commence an attack as a distraction." Daisuke answered.

"Only a coward has others fight his battles for him." Drax said as they ran to the lab.

"I just hope we can stop whatever Loki's planning." Daisuke said.

The end of the chapter

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