The Greenhouse...Interrogation room
"Would her 'bad day' have anything to do with the 'package' you mentioned?" Loki demanded.
"News travels fast," Coulson said wryly, "like you, apparently."
"Primitive communications are easily tracked," Loki glared down at Coulson. "That was bloody stupid."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. and Stark networks are secure..." Coulson protested.
"Stark hacked into S.H.I.E.L.D. two years ago. S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives hacked into JARVIS the year prior. You are not as safe as you assume, Son of Coul, especially when surrounded by friends."
Coulson felt like he was in 'Security 101'. "I'll keep that in mind."
Loki nodded. "Now, where is this 'package'?"
"Inside Miss Sauer," Coulson said resignedly. "She left with two agents after this fiasco." He waved a hand at Skye and Ward.
"Go on, Phil," Garrett said tersely. "I'll take care of Agent Ornament," he added, with a glare at Ward.
"Thanks, John."
"Garrett?"
"Go with Phil, Tripp," he ordered.
Garrett waited until the room emptied before turning to Ward.
"Boy, quit fighting this. Loki is older than you and more devious. Relax," the old man commanded.
"But Loki..."Ward's protest was cut off by Garrett's fist in his gut, and he fell to the floor gasping. "You son-of-a..."
"Why are you free, boy?" Garrett cracked his knuckles. "Think."
Ward gasped for a minute, his ears tingling. "The trap...it was in my head...because all I could think of was stopping Loki from hurting Skye..."
"And what do you want to do now?"
Ward grinned without humor. "Punch you in the jaw."
"Give it your best shot, boy, but remember: you have a job to do." Ward tensed, but relaxed a minute later. "That's better. You ready for breakfast?" Ward nodded. "Good."
The old man opened the door and Ward stepped through it. They walked to the cafeteria, where they found a supply of fresh coffee and hot food. When his mouth was full Garrett spoke again.
"Cameras in here?"
"Dishabled," was Ward's mushy reply. "Too mush humidity fom cooking."
"Good. How much of your head did that thing see?" Garrett's gaze was direct.
"Enough. All of it." Ward seemed to choke, and Garrett bent over his old student to slap him on the back.
"Cross her off, boy, and go dark again," he murmured. Ward looked up at him in surprise. "Problem?"
"No, sir."
"Good."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Elsewhere in the Greenhouse...
Fitz and Koenig did not tend Sauer in the medical bay. Coulson and Loki had identical scowls by the time they reached the cafeteria, but Agent Koenig emerged with a quick debriefing. As Koenig left, Ward wiped his face and jumped up to follow him.
"You may need help with..." he started, but halted with Loki's hand in his chest.
"Sit," he ordered. "Stay."
Ward glanced over at Coulson, who nodded to a chair.
"Debrief on your Touch with Eldest," Coulson said sternly.
Ward's eyes widened for a moment. "There's nothing to tell. It was an electric shock-like sticking my finger in a socket-but to my head and not my finger," he hedged.
Loki gave Ward a creepy smile. "Care to try again?"
"What? I didn't..." Ward protested, until he saw the look on Coulson's face.
Coulson jerked his head at Loki. "God of Lies and Mischief."
Ward glanced around at the company, alarmed, and was the only one to notice John Garrett's nod. Suddenly he slumped in his chair, seemingly defeated.
"I didn't see anything from the alien," he protested.
"Quite true," Loki nodded to Coulson.
"Did Eldest see something in you?" Coulson pressed.
Ward looked at the floor and muttered something.
"What was that, boy?" Loki demanded. "Speak up so the rest can hear you."
"It saw everything," Ward snarled. Simmons and Skye twitched.
"The Berserker Staff?" Coulson pressed.
Ward nodded.
"Lorelei?" Simmons inquired.
Ward winced.
"What did Lorelei do?" Loki demanded.
"Ward," said Coulson, Simmons, and Skye, jerking their heads at the cringing Specialist.
Loki grimaced and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Spineless, weak, and tasteless. Anything else?"
Ward shuffled his feet and looked away.
"The Well?" Sky asked softly.
Ward bit his lip and exhaled harshly. "Yeah."
Loki snorted in disgust. "Little boy, your shock was that of a withered, fat old man naked in front of a glass, nothing more," he said harshly. "If what you saw displeased you so: change it. Do not blame the glass." Loki turned to Coulson. "Your boy soldier needs mental health services."
"Agreed," Coulson nodded.
Ward snorted and glared up at Loki. "That's rich coming from you, you..."
"Blue-skinned, homicidal, megalomaniac, sorcerous, planet-invading, alien freak?" Loki snarled and leaned into Ward's face. "Don't forget immortal, shape-shifting, monster-siring patricide with delusions of god-hood. I know exactly what I am, boy, and on whose side I fight! Can you say the same?" Loki glared down at Ward until the Specialist squirmed.
"What about sly, silver-tongued, lecherous super-genius?" quipped Skye.
Loki gave her a wink and a wicked grin. "Dear one, those are my good points."
"Damn," muttered Tripp.
"I've said it before: I like how she thinks!" Garrett nodded shrewdly.
"Speaking of her," Loki turned his attention to Skye, who backed away in alarm as the blue giant approached.
"AC?" she squeaked, her eyes growing wider.
"Prince Loki..."Coulson began, but Loki stopped him with a raised finger.
"Interesting," he said, gazing pointedly into Skye's face. She stared back, transfixed, like a bird staring into a snake's eyes. "Fascinating, really. Does your family know what you do for a living?"
"They're dead," she whispered.
"Are you certain?" His eyes narrowed.
"I'm not certain of anything," she admitted, her brown eyes growing even wider.
He frowned thoughtfully at the small blue-green stone hanging from her necklace. She flinched as he reached for it, and his lips thinned a little.
"I will not say: 'do not fear me'," he said with a tense smile. "But you have less to fear than that boy, if he acts on his stupid 'manly' impulses." Loki glared quickly over his shoulder at Ward, who relaxed back into his chair. He turned back to Skye. "How long have you had this?"
She blinked. "Forever. Since I was a baby. This is all I have from my parents. I wear it for luck."
Loki muttered something even Skye couldn't hear and passed his thumb across the stone pendant.
"What?"
"It matters not," he said finally. He peered at her again. "I think you will find your family, perhaps in a place you do not expect. Try to keep an open mind." He cocked his head and looked even deeper into her eyes. "This memory pains you," he finally said. "Do you wish to keep it?"
She looked up into glowing green-and-red eyes. "Yes," she said, unflinching. "I want to go there...take them away...
"You have a good heart, Agent Skye." Loki nodded in approval and released the pendant. "May your efforts match your heart's fire."
"Prince Loki..." she began, and stopped.
"Ask, young lady. Do not hesitate," he insisted.
"Are they real? Giants and elves and dwarves and..." Skye stopped when Loki held up a hand and smiled patiently.
"Yes to all. I am a Frost Giant, though small for my species. There are many kinds of giants: frost, ice, rime, stone, water, and fire. There are two types of elves, and several different families of dwarves. The universe is a large place," he stepped forward and looked down into her eyes again. "Not all of its denizens are friendly. Be careful."
Skye nodded silently.
Loki finally turned back to Coulson, only to scowl in frustration. "Where has your Ward gone?" he demanded.
The chair was empty.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Ward staggered to his room, relieved himself, and washed up. He felt naked, vulnerable: emotionally gutted.
He had read Agent Barton's report. Mind-raped and controlled by Loki, the assassin reported feeling 'unmade'. The Berserker Staff had done something similar, opening wounds thought long closed. He felt like a walking mausoleum, packed with ghouls that would never...really...leave, until the day came when they pulled him inside for good, eating him along with the rest...
John had saved him from that: taken him from the madness and given him a new perspective on life, free from everything, and out of his parents' and brother's control...
"You wish," Chris snarled. "You're pathetic, Grant: completely worthless. You always have been, and you always will be."
Grant Ward twitched and wiped his face with a towel. Chris was staring at him from out of the mirror: standing right behind him...
"Shut up, Congressional ape," he growled. "Shouldn't you be cheating on your wife and ignoring your kids? I have a real job, asshole. Leave me alone."
Chris sniffed. "Oh, right: S.H.I.E.L.D. Your precious little security organization. Give it a rest, Grant. We both know who you really work for, and what you do." The damn man smirked. "Where do you think your paycheck comes from, soldier boy? Who took care of you when you were little? Pathetic little runt. Barely worth the cost of your breakfast cereal. At least Tommy learned his lessons. Oh, but what happened to him? And whose fault was it?"
"Yours," Grant Ward grated. He glared at his older brother in the mirror. "You know what you did. You know what you made me do!"
"I gave you a chance at a decent education and a good financial start in life. The way I see it, Grant, you still owe me. But run along, stupid; go play soldier boy for Garrett and fuck your pretty little girlfriend. Make her scream. I'll be listening. You know how I love to hear them scream..."
"Shut up," Grant snarled.
"Oh, I will, for now. But you know I'm listening. I'm here for you, brother dear. I'm always going to take care of my little soldier boy. You're so cute in your righteous little outfit!"
"Shut up," Grant growled, a little louder, and scowled deeply at Chris' face in the mirror.
"Of course, that little hacker slut deserves a better man than you, you weak-minded alien-bitch fucking...
"SHUT UP!" Grant finally roared, slamming his hands down on the sink. His toothbrush flipped up and soared over his head.
Tripp caught it.
"Ward, man. What's going on?"
Grant Ward checked his reflection and then looked around him. Christopher Ward was gone.
"Not really, Grant. But go ahead and tell your boyfriend that we've been having one of our little talks...see what kind of playmates you end up with..."
"Ward?"
Grant blinked. "Sorry, Tripp. I just...I had to get some air, you know? Too much alien crap running around in my head. Again."
Triplett gave him a look. "I thought you said you didn't see anything during that Vulcan mind-meld thingy," he said cautiously.
Ward shook his head. "It isn't just that; it's Loki. I feel like my head's been turned inside-out, you know?"
"Nope," Tripp shook his head. "I don't. Do you need the medical bay? Getting checked out by Simmons is almost worth an ass-whuppin'," he added knowingly.
"Ghaaa! No! She's like my sister!" Ward cringed.
"Well, your sister is smokin' hot," Tripp confessed. "You mind if I ask her out?"
"You have to put the AO-34 past Agents Coulson and Fitz, not me," Ward threw his hand towel at Tripp, who caught it deftly. "I'm pretty sure that Fitz will say 'no'."
"All's fair in love and war," Tripp said with a smile. It slipped off his face. "But seriously, Ward: what's goin' on with you? You need help?"
Ward paused, his back to the other specialist, and thought quickly. Smoothness, he told himself, let him think he sees you. He sighed.
"Tripp, did you read the report about the Asgardian Berserker Staff?" He turned back to face the other agent.
"Nope. We've been too busy," the specialist admitted.
Ward filled him in on the specifics, and Triplett whistled.
"Damn. Did that get shot off to the sun, too?"
"Nah. Fury sent it back to Thor. It's his, after all." He shrugged. "That stick, and now these aliens, they keep messing with my head. There's ugly stuff in my past that I would rather not have shoved in my face again and again. I have a job to do, you know? I can't do it if I'm strapped to a shrink's couch talking about my childhood," he complained.
"Dude, you need some R&R," Tripp acknowledged. "Why don't you ask for some time off? Go to Maui or visit your family or something." Ward winced at the word 'family', and Triplett saw it. "Oh, my bad. Skip the family reunion, then, and tell Coulson you and Skye need to spend some time on a beach doin' nothin'. Trauma requires recovery, man."
Ward smiled at that. "That's a good idea, Tripp." He frowned for a moment. "You think I should apologize to Sauer?"
Tripplet shook his head. "Not unless you can lie better than you did earlier. I think the aliens have bullshit detectors built in."
"Damn."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Agent Koenig lead Loki and Coulson to the orchard, where Sauer lay on the ground, her head in Fitz's lap. One hand slowly caressed Sauer's hair, while the other held a glowing, multi-colored orb that captivated Fitz's attention. He did not look up as they approached, but spoke quietly.
"She is resting, but not asleep," he reported softly. "I don't think the aliens know what sleep is, or if they do, they can't do it." His eyes never left the softly glowing bubble as he spoke.
Loki exchanged a look with Coulson, and then reached down to take the glowing orb from Fitz.
"Hey!" Fitz protested, and twitched guiltily when he saw Coulson above him.
"Magic-based brain puzzle," Loki explained. "Promotes nerve growth and function, but can be addicting. It should be used sparingly and under supervision," he cautioned. Loki turned to Fitz. "And where did you get this?"
"I...well...she..."Fitz stammered.
"Peace, Fitz-son. It is all right. The Dark Prince is expected," Sauer's body sat up unsteadily. Fitz helped her rest against the tree trunk. "Is there water?"
"Yes, here," Koenig bent down and helped her drink. The woman drained the glass three times before indicating she had enough.
"Thank you, Ad-om," she sighed and sat back. "The trees like you."
Loki turned to Coulson, who shrugged. "Apparently one of the spirits is a sentient tree," the agent explained.
"Ah. The Great-Roots, or 'Groots'," Loki nodded, and then grimaced. "Thanos harvested Planet X?"
Sauer nodded slowly. "He has," she whispered. She looked up at Coulson. "We would talk to Meri Sjó'-Skye. Is she well? Does she still have morning-without-dawn?"
"She is fine," Coulson said, nodding. "She was a little upset; nothing more. You did her no harm."
"We are...glad...I think is your word. She has a good heart." Sauer's eyes closed and her head sagged back.
"Did you make this for the boy?" Loki held up the glowing puzzle.
"Speaks-between-peoples made it, to teach the Fitz-son a little magic." Her brow knit as if puzzled. "It was harder than we thought it would be. There is...more damage now. The Hostess hurts." She looked up unsteadily at Loki. "We would like the Fitz-son to keep it. It will be good for him."
"Is Miss Sauer still within this body?" Loki demanded sharply. Her head started to sag forward, and a large blue hand caught her by the chin. He tilted her head back so he could see her eyes. "Miss Sauer, are you there?"
Brown eyes focused on red. "Sauer...yes, the Sauer-bearer is still within. Trapped. Cannot come up front..."
"If you let her sleep..." Coulson started, but a wobbly look from Sauer stopped him.
"Sleep-rest-hibernate-heal. We would if we could, Coul-son. That function is not open to us. We cannot access all parts of the Hostess' mind," the alien explained. "Eat, drink, talk, draw. A little magic. And we build-rebuild. But no sleep. Only the Hostess can sleep, and she is trapped, down deep."
"Sleep functions occupy multiple portions of the brain," Loki explained, "and with different energy levels. Apparently Miss Sauer's recent trauma with possession and re-possession has fractured some nerve connections."
"I thought you said she wasn't possessed," Coulson protested.
"She is not possessed by anything unclean, such as Thanos," Loki corrected. "I neither considered nor looked for clean spirits; such do not usually possess alternate hosts."
"We do not possess her now, Dark Prince," Eldest corrected him. "The Sauer-bearer possesses us. Thanos cannot consume us now-sacrifice or libation-and he is wroth. But the vessel is not meant for us, and is cracked, so we cannot stay long." Eldest sighed deeply. "Great Root, M'Gama, and Shoot have gone."
"Gone where?" Coulson demanded.
Sauer's head sagged sideways. "They have gone the Way of the Reis, Coul-son."
Coulson looked at Loki, confused, but he shrugged. "I never understood it either," Loki confessed.
Sauer's eyes closed. "Shattered Groots and hidden Reis. Start with M'Gama: then bring the trees," she chanted. "The World will spin again."
"Can you do anything for her?" Coulson fretted.
Loki nodded. "I am not Lady Eir, but I can succor her a little." He handed the glowing ball back to Fitz. "Store this in your forehead, lad, like so," he pantomimed face-slapping himself. "Think of looking at it, and do that in reverse, to retrieve it for more work."
"That won't hurt him?" Coulson pressed.
Loki shook his head. "Your lad is bright for his species, but crippled by his inability to appreciate magic. This will help: not harm." He frowned. "Why an open mind would be evil I shall never understand..."
Fitz made the brain puzzle disappear and fully woke. Seeing Loki bent over Sauer, he jumped and reached for his ICIR.
"WHOA!" he shouted.
Loki snatched the energy pistol out of the young scientist's hands.
"Boy," he chided, "you try my patience." He concentrated on the hand weapon for a moment, and it dissolved into a glowing silver-and-copper ball that danced with electricity. "Oh, did you want that back?" Loki asked Coulson in mock-seriousness.
"No thanks," Coulson replied dryly, "I have my own."
"Just as well," Loki said, and gulped the ball. "I need a little pick-me-up." He scowled and spat out a small black nugget. "What was that oily foulness?"
"Plastic," suggested a wide-eyed Fitz.
"Enough play," Loki said, as he pulled Sauer to her feet. "I must act. Your medical ward again, Agent Coulson." Sauer's head wobbled a bit. "Quickly."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Manhattan...a small apartment in Stark Tower
Harold 'Happy' Hogun bit his lower lip and stared at the computer screen. Mr. Stark had given him the day off, and suggested a number of fun sounding-if not completely legal-activities for the day. He fully intended to take care of part of that list, after Chef had finished stuffing him with as many varieties of bacon and fried potatoes he could conjure, but first...
He frowned. Typing had never been his 'thing'. He could borrow one of Tony's secretaries, but he wanted no-one in the gossip pool to know what he was making, and Sauer was gone. Poor kid.
His index fingers thumped the keyboard.
I, Harold 'Happy' Hogun, an adult residing at Stark Tower, Suite 33A, Manhattan, New York, being of sound mind, declare this to be my Last Will and Testament. I revoke all wills and codicils previously made by me.
ARTICLE I
I appoint Virginia 'Pepper' Potts as my Personal Representative to administer this Will, and ask that she be permitted to serve without Court supervision and without posting bond. If Virginia 'Pepper' Potts is unwilling or unable to serve, then I appoint Anthony Stark, Esq., to serve as my Personal Representative, and ask that he be permitted to serve without Court supervision and without posting bond...
Happy Hogun scowled and bit his lip some more, and sweat began to trickle down his brow, but he continued typing. He was a man, and a man had to do what a man had to do...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Thor's Apartment, Stark Tower...
Thor bolted upright even as Loki's apparition vanished, crossed the hallway that separated their apartments, and pounded on Loki's door. When there was no answer, he pulled back a massive fist to knock it down, but thought better of the action.
"JARVIS," he boomed.
"How can I be of assistance, Prince Thor?"
"Is my brother within his quarters?" Thor fought his rising anger. Destroying Tony Stark's property would solve nothing.
"Prince Loki is neither within his quarters nor in any part of Stark Tower, your majesty," was the even reply. "A scan of his quarters reveals a note on his desk, addressed to you," JARVIS added.
Before he could ask, JARVIS unlocked Loki's door with a click. Thor crossed to Loki's desk in four strides.
Thor,
Trust my rage. Trust also that there is more to me than rage. There always has been.
Loki
Thor crumpled the note and darted back into his quarters. He grabbed his silver wash basin, emptied it and filled it with pure water. Mjolnir flew to his hand; he pointed her at the water-filled bowl, closed his eyes, and concentrated. One spark vaporized the water, and he grabbed the cloud with his mind.
"Heimdallr," he called out, "can you see..."
"Yes, my prince," Heimdallr's golden eyes shown out of the mist, and the rest of his face materialized soon after. "Loki cannot hide from me, bound as he is. Worry not; he works no mischief."
"Should not his bindings prevent teleportation?" Thor was calmer, but still fretted. He did NOT like the idea of Loki loose without a chaperone.
"Loki's manacles prevent him from working evil, my prince. If his intent is not evil, the manacles prevent nothing," Heimdallr reminded him.
Thor nodded: a dark scowl on his face. Loki needed not his magic to wreak havoc, or even to kill...
"Neither do you, my prince," Heimdallr reminded him. Thor started; he had forgotten that Heimdallr could see the truth in one's thoughts as well as one's words. He looked back at the golden-eyed guardian, and the elder man nodded. "Loki was ever the more curious of you, remember that."
Thor nodded. "Thank you, Heimdallr," he answered, and with a wave of his hand dispersed the small cloud.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Elsewhere in Stark Tower...
"No rest for the wicked," Barton grunted, reaching for the rest of his gear.
"Or for the good guys, either," Rogers acknowledged, slipping into his jacket. "Did Hill say what she wanted?"
"Nope. She just said we needed to debrief at the Triskelion ASAP, and then I'm off to South Korea. Any word from Fury?" Barton paused to buckle his quiver into place.
"The Boss said he'll meet us there; he wants us to brief Pierce and the WSC in the conference room," Romonov said through the door. "You boys about ready? I've been dressed for an hour now. Stark's chef gave us coffee and breakfast for the trip."
"Thank God for that," Rogers nodded. "Any bacon?"
"Just Canadian, Cap, sorry," Tasha shook her head. "Now will you hurry up? I've already eaten, so I'm flying."
"God help us all," Barton said playfully.
Tasha smacked him.
Barton paused at the empty receptionist desk Sauer had occupied and frowned. "Maybe I should call her dad," he said thoughtfully.
Tasha shook her head. "She's with Coulson, Clint. She'll be fine. Somebody would have briefed you otherwise," she said casually. "It isn't like we work for the Politburo."
Clint sighed. "Sometimes I don't know, Tasha."
"Ah, buck up, Barton," Cap gave him a reassuring slap between the shoulder blades. "Fury wouldn't keep secrets like that from you, would he?"
TBC