Before you get started reading.
Author's note: What you need to know for this fic, is that Loki is dead. Thor has just returned from his funeral in Asgard. It has been three days since Loki's attack and it is in MidOctober about a week from Halloween.
Disclaimers: I do not own any of Marvel's characters. I do own my Loki, a few others, the plot and the some of the backstory. Including my Loki's past.
Well enjoy.
Chapter 3 Is This Normal Earthling Behavior?
Nick Fury was not happy with the person sitting on the chair across the table of him. Loki was being difficult which was not a surprise but he truly seemed oblivious to what he had done three days ago. This whole ruse was even starting to make him believe that they had the wrong person. For a ruse it was a good one.
When they had been introduced to each other Loki had been very nice and had held out a hand to shake. When Fury had ignored the hand he had confusedly lowered it. He was holding a russet colored cat and a long black coat with lots of pockets.
"Sit," Fury ordered and Loki sat at the offered chair and put the cat on the ground. Then put both hands on the table and looked around the room. The room had been a meeting room before Fury had commandeered it so there was a wall sized glass window showing the destruction that was just starting to be cleared up. It was surprising that the Stark Tower had been cleaned up this fast but Fury supposed when you had enough money anything was possible.
"How come you are still alive," Fury asked. "I was under the impression your brother Thor had taken your body home to be buried."
"I don't have a brother," Loki sighed. "I believe you have also mistaken me for someone else. The people who took me here said you were in charge of this planet's protection Mr. Fury. Is this information correct?"
"Yes," Fury said slowly. "I am."
"Then these are my papers. They allow me short term access to your planet." Loki reached into his front pocket and pulled out a thin something and handed it to Fury. "I assume you picked up my signal asking for permission to land?"
"No, we picked up a signal but it was static, there weren't words."
"Then how do you know my name," Loki asked still holding out the device. Fury took the thing and studied it closely. The something seemed to be a clear lightweight glass rectangle about the size of a palm. At Fury's touch the screen lit up and weird writing covered the surface. It looked like official paperwork from the header to the official seal at the bottom of the page, when Fury scrolled.
"Do you expect me to be able to read this?"
"Sorry sir, F.A.D.E. please run the translator for Mr. Fury."
The words blinked out and were replaced with first Spanish, and then French finally the words flickered to English and stayed there. "Thank you," Fury said automatically then looked up, "Who's Fade?"
*8*8*8*
Loki held out his left wrist to show a computer about the size of a thin Blackberry attached to the glove he wore. "F.A.D.E. is my computer. I do not believe you have the technology yet but it is basically adjusted to my voice patterns so I do not have to type out all my instructions for my ship. It saves a lot of time."
"Fade?" Fury was studying Loki with an odd intensity that made him nervous.
"No F.A.D.E. otherwise known as a Fully Animated Device Emitter," Loki corrected and only just stopped himself from getting in to the technical details.
Fury just nodded and returned his scrutiny to the 'paper' work he had been given. "Your ship was damaged and that is why you were given permission to land?"
"Yes sir, my ship is badly damaged and it needs fixing urgently. Due to the location of the attack your planet was the only one with enough technology within range for me to gain the parts to fix my ship."
"Well good luck with that," Fury said now studying the device carefully. Almost reluctantly he handed the device back to Loki. "What do you need," he asked deciding to play along.
"Well first of all my fuel line has several leaks, my engine needs three new parts, the heat shield has been damaged and I'll probably have to replace my radio unless I can buy a new transmitter." He shrugged then continued, "And I'll also need some more fuel and some sort of energy source to recharge my batteries."
"You really planed this all out didn't you Loki," Fury said in amazement. "But how do you except to find someone who can put together a spaceship."
"I just need the parts," Loki said, "I am a mechanic." He watched in bewilderment as Fury swayed a bit, his eye rolled back and he collapsed on the floor tipping his chair over.
"Sir, are you alright?" Mr. Fury did not answer and Loki looked around for some help before getting out of his seat and kneeling down by the body. "Mr. Fury are you alright." He reached out as if to shake him then jerked his hand back as if he was afraid of getting bitten or hurting the man.
"F.A.D.E. is this normal Earthling behavior?"
"According to what I have seen fainting is a common thing in females of this species. Males usually only do this when mortally wounded, but I am reading no injuries on him. Though I am not updated with all the knowledge of this planet yet, so it is possible that this person is sick with something I am currently not aware exists. The wireless connection on this planet is really slow Master Loki," F.A.D.E. replied a few seconds later. "I am doing my best."
"I am aware of that F.A.D.E. thank you for your help."
The women, who had called herself The Black Widow, from earlier came running in, "What happened to Director Fury?"
"We were talking and suddenly he fell out of his chair."
"What did you say to him," she asked feeling for a pulse.
"I just told him I was a mechanic." He watched as she turned to him in disbelief.
"Did you just say you were a mechanic?"
"I am speaking the correct language am I not," Loki asked going back to sit in his chair. "Is Mr. Fury alright? I could not discern the cause of his distress."
Fury sat up at that a moment later and looked Loki over. He gestured to the female to leave the room. He followed her and Loki watched through the glass doors as they preceded to discuses something with much arm flailing.
"Master Loki I have gained access to this place's information systems. The weirdly dressed people are what Earthlings call superheroes. This group is known as The Avengers and they have recently repelled a Chitauri attack."
"Wait the Chitauri are here!" He kept his voice low but stood up and went to the window to study the area.
"Correction Master Loki they were here. Apparently someone who bares your name opened a portal which was later destroyed by the people at the park."
"They won a fight against the Chitauri," Loki asked in disbelief. At least he now knew why the damage was there and why they had taken the helicopter. Most of the streets were still impassable.
"Yes they did Master Loki. They also killed the person who opened the portal. They must believe you are this person. They have pictures of this person and there is a striking resemblance between the two of you."
"Is there an escape route currently available F.A.D.E. if I need one?"
"Yes we are about twenty floors up I would suggest cutting a hole with one of your lasers through the glass and jumping out of the building. This species can not fly without aid and they do not possess antigravity belts at this facility. You will have exactly ten minuets to access your own belt before hitting the ground. Your belt should have enough power to get you safely to the ground before failing."
"Thank you F.A.D.E. that's reassuring, can you also find out what they are saying in the hallway?" He cast a quick glance over his shoulder and went to sit back at the table. While he waited he scooped up Sasha and scratched her ears softly. She started to purr.
"I will see what I can do Master Loki." It took a few minutes before F.A.D.E. came back online. "I am playing the audio from a nearby surveillance camera."
"We can't trust him," The Black Widow was saying.
"I'm starting to believe him," Fury responded. "Have you noticed the difference?"
"He could have dyed his hair."
"Do you really believe Loki dyed his hair," Fury asked. "Or got a cat? Tell me honestly, do you think this is actually Loki."
The Black Widow finally replied after a few minutes of silence, "No I don't but I can't believe what he says either. Loki is…was the god of lies, even if this person is who he says he is how can we know if it is the truth? I just find it way too convenient that aliens just turn up a few days after a major invasion attempt."
Fury sighed and shot a look back at Loki who met his gaze and continued to pet Sasha. "I guess our only move will be to trust him. We can have him fix his ship here on base and if this is Loki and he tries to take over the world again…well we'll just have to detain him. I want the team to watch him. Every minute every hour he is in this tower. He's being very through with his story and either that means he's telling a well rehearsed lie or he's telling the truth."
"I'll tell Tony he has a new house guest. He won't be happy but now Thor might stop having nightmares."
"Thor's been having nightmares," Fury asked.
"Yes," Natasha replied, "He keeps dreaming he killed his brother. He wakes everyone up at night and keeps breaking the beds Tony has to keep buying for him to sleep in. It might help having Loki or his twin in there nearby."
"I'll get him to move his ship over to the tower. He can use one of the helicopter hangers to work in." Fury tuned and came back in to the room. F.A.D.E. terminated the connection to the camera and powered down to save energy.
"Loki just how big is your ship," Fury asked as he came in and sat down after he straightened the chair.
Loki pursed his lips as he thought about how to answer the question. "It's about the size of one of your helicopters," he finally replied. "Not really the same dimensions but close enough to that size."
"Can you bring it here to this tower?"
"Yes, I believe so." Loki paused and checked his computer screen. He breathed a sigh of relief. "I have enough fuel for my ship to make the journey." He typed out a few commands on the keyboard. "It shall arrive here in three minutes if there are no complications. Where shall I have it land?" He asked the question as if he had not overheard the conversation outside the doorway. The less they knew of him and his abilities the better it would be for him.
"It can land on the helicopter pad on the roof. We currently have an empty hanger you can work in. We'll supply any parts you need, a place to sleep and food."
"I can sleep in my ship," Loki said. He was also sure his food synthesizers were working properly but was not certain.
"We insist on you having a proper bed," Fury replied.
"Well if you insist," Loki said getting up and scooping Sasha onto his shoulder. "But Sasha can stay with me right?"
"Sure your cat can stay."
"Good she hates being alone for too long and when she gets mad or scared she has the unfortunate tendency to burst into flames. I'd hate to accidentally burn the building down."
"Yes, we wouldn't want that to happen." Fury said in a tone of voice that said he didn't believe his words. "So what parts do you need?"
"I'm not sure yet. I had to land immediately and have not yet had a chance to make a full diagnosis of my ship beyond what I have already listed. Also I don't expect this planet to have all the parts I need. I will most likely have to find a similar part and modify it to serve my needs till I can get an actual replacement part. Once I have done a thorough search of my ship I will let you know what I may need," Loki finished.
"Very well, I'll take you to upstairs to your ship," Fury said.
"Thank you for your hospitality," Loki said. "I really appreciate it."