S H I E L D Agent Rhapsodos: Taking the Backseat

by Wayang.Silver

It was supposed to be his reward from the Goddess after his service as a WEAPON to the Planet. Except, his life now consists of being a SOLDIER, Turk, Superhero Sitter, & this time as the unwilling hero in one. With so many heroes around, Genesis decides to take the backseat. At least Coulson concurs that the backstage crew can make differences; Fury doesn't seem to agree.

11. Showdown of Mages, Shattered Initiative

S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Rhapsodos: Taking the Backseat

Beta read by: Dragonmage54, CommentatorinthePeanutGallery and Sypherianlp. (March 8th, 2015) [Last Edit January 1st, 2016]

Disclaimer: Refer to the Prologue Chapter. I do not own any movie dialogue in this chapter. The title of the fic has been updated for better wording.

AU Notes: Yes, I've been missing for too long & I don't really have any excuses that real life took a great chunk away from trying to get this story done. Please also note that I had to go over this chapter through 3 beta readers due to it's sheer length. It hasn't been easy to find beta readers who would willingly go through it, and I'm really thankful I've had all the help I could get. On another note, all thanks to those who have reviewed will be moved to my profile page. Alerts and favorites I intend to put in the epilogue of this fic.

All in all, thank you to everyone who has read this fic, reviewed each chapter, encouraged me through PMs, favorite/alert/author favorite/author alert, and have done so many other great things! Your support is immeasurable and has kept me going despite there was a really bad moment all I wanted to do was give up. I intend to finish this fic through. And… get to write its sequel with Avengers: Age of Ultron coming up soon.

About this chapter: I'm dedicating this chapter to Dragonmage54 and Dark Hikari Twilight for suggesting a few things for the inevitable mage fight; and especially to a friend of mine Martino, for pointing me to some awesome stories (like Eiji Yoshikawa's Musashi) that have great fighting scenes!

Yes, this chapter has about 27,000 words for my over a year long absence. Please read it at a time when you're really free. Warnings are in my previous long chapters. ;)

Enjoy!

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~ Chapter 10: Showdown of Mages, Shattered Initiative ~

"Worry does not mean fear, but readiness for the confrontation." ~ Bashir al-Assad

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Genesis' Private Office, SHIELD Headquarters…

"You think you can complete that in time?" he spoke over the line.

"It's going to take a lot of persuasion, Genesis. I don't doubt that what you're saying is the truth. It's just…I've never known you to be quite this nervous before."

The agent's eyes scanned the opened windows on his desktop monitor, many of them detailing policies, procedures, and information on important high-profile supervisors.

He sighed, "I have a right to. The Director's handling something that has a greater risk potential than anything we've ever faced, and I'm wary that things may turn out for the worse."

There was a silence, but the person on the other side of the line caved. "Alright. I'm willing to work with you. The last time you warned me and I didn't listen it turned out you were right. I'll get the guys on standby in case anything comes up."

Genesis breathed out in relief. "Thank you. It's all I ask. I'm more worried about civilian casualties if our current problem turns into a mess."

"That's something I don't want to happen either. But are you sure about this? You're going to be breaking a lot of rules and protocols, and the probation period might hit your career hard," the other asked with concern. "That's not even counting the trouble you're going to get your ass into with Fury and Hill."

He snorted. This wasn't the first time he staked his career on something. "I'll worry about that later. Just make sure your team is on alert. Make sure other sub-divisions are notified, too. There's a reason why there are plans made for high-risk national security threats," Genesis replied, to persuade the other man.

"Yeah, but those plans aren't exactly practical." A beat. The voice then gasped, "Don't tell me you haven't told Agent Coulson about this?!"

"He has informed me that extra precautions are necessary, but he's in a tighter spot to obey orders than I am, Communications Deputy Director Dylans," Genesis answered. He purposely neglected to mention whether his mentor agreed with him for taking direct action. "Excluding him, Agent Hill isn't one to go around breaking procedures. As for the plans, I've figured out a few ways to get around a couple of them to make it work—if worse comes to worse."

Agent Dylans grunted, unimpressed, and deadpanned, "So you're asking me to get into trouble with you."

"Exactly."

"That's not going to work—"

"It will work," Genesis stressed, "because either way I will pull rank over you if I have to. Besides, your boss is on deck."

"Rhapsodos, my clearance is level seven, same as yours."(1)

"Actually, I'm level eight now, thanks to the Avengers Initiative." Genesis pressed. As the line on the other side went still, the former First Class elaborated, "If I pull rank, most of the blame will fall on me. You can still be pardoned. Look, I don't have a lot of time, but you're the only other commander around I know that has the authority and rank to pull off the highest emergency plan if the Helicarrier is compromised. You also have the right connections to our Emergency Response Center and you're on the mainland."

Genesis didn't mention the part he was easier to negotiate with than Maria Hill. He was at present in need of someone that was willing to break a lot of regulations– which meant Agent Hill was on his black list.

"Is the situation so bad it's like what we faced last year with the Stark Expo, New Mexico, and Culver University happening at the same time in a single week?"(2)

Genesis frowned. "It'll make what happened to the PEGASUS facility look like a walk in the park."

"…"

"But I'm not going to let that be. So are you in or are you out?" the younger agent asked seriously in a hurried tone.

Dylans gulped. "Fine. I'm in. I just hope you know what you're doing."

"Working on it," Genesis said, not elaborating any further. "Whatever happens, be prepared, and mark my word."

"Alright. I trust you."

"Thank you for your support. Agent Rhapsodos out."

The redheaded agent switched off the private link he had on the computer and went back to what he was working on: contingency plans. This was because, in an hour or two, Natasha was going to interrogate Loki.

During the little free time he had, Genesis decided to prepare for the worst. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't be going to such great lengths as he was now. But all that had changed when the Lifestream hissed within him, warning him against visiting the lab as if something bad was slowly rearing its head. As much as he wanted to warn Bruce and Tony, Genesis wasn't going to risk it. There had to be a very serious reason if the Lifestream kept on giving him warning signals like the world was going to end. It was the reason why he was holed up in his private office.

He could have also been the obedient agent, went back to Phil and Thor, and joined his superiors on the bridge. In the end, he decided against it. With the God of Thunder on the bridge, there was the chance of Thor picking up on the Lifestream, and the last thing he needed was someone going poking around and start asking questions in front of so many other people.

There was also another option: joining Natasha in Loki's interrogation. Yet, that idea was just as bad. The questioning was on live feed throughout the carrier. If he stuck around, there was no knowing what Loki would spill from his mouth. With Clint compromised from the time of the PEGASUS facility fallout, Loki would probably have pried a lot of the information on the archer's private life (which may include some of Genesis' personal secrets too). On the other hand, he already gave his trust to the Black Widow that she could do the job. No sense in getting the seductress to render him unconscious—or worse—for saying she wasn't capable of taking care of herself.

As for Steve, the super soldier was missing from view, but his life force was still detected by the Lifestream (an indication he was alive) and that was all that mattered.

Looking at the numerous windows of data, he closed off some of them as an indication that he had made the right calls. There were a dozen more calls he needed to make and without the supervision or knowledge of his direct superiors. If he did it right, Genesis was quite sure Stark's hacking activity was a lot more visible than his Synaptic Net Dive. With his SND, he'd make communication calls and get all the data he needed to finish formulating a contingency plan being none the wiser to the occupants of the Helicarrier.

Genesis had to admit with so many intelligence agencies, the army, and even civilian mitigation forces it was a nightmare to organize through the chain of command. But with Loki looking absolutely smug of himself while he was jailed in SHIELD Headquarters, it was clear an invasion was about to occur– whether they wanted it or not – so the plan had to work.

An hour later, after more numerous calls and completing more than halfway through the intricate contingency plan, his screen beeped in warning that someone was requesting for access to his office. Genesis raised a surprised brow as Tony Stark made an appearance in front of his office door through his personal security feed. Intrigued by the man's sudden presence, the former SOLDIER switched the electric door open from his computer and let him in.

Tony walked into the room with his usual dramatic persona and looked around as he quietly closed the door behind him. He was rather unnerved and appalled when he saw the stacks of tablets on Genesis' desk.

"I thought I told you that the Director shouldn't be a slave driver," Stark commented as he pointed out the horrendous amount of paperwork he thought could have been in the tablets.

"They're not related to official paperwork I'm doing for the Director, if that's what you're referring to." the young agent said back promptly. Diverting the Stark's attention away from what he was working on, he asked, "Although, if I may ask, what are you doing in here, Tony?"

The inventor shrugged, as he looked around. "What? I can't check in with my other consultant-in-crime?" he replied melodramatically.

Ever since Stark heard a couple of agents saying the young agent had a private office, he was curious too. Tony noted the lack of decorations and personal objects, concluding that the room was only used when the kid was on the Helicarrier. As Bruce pointed out in one of their conversations, the young spy seemed to dislike staying on the massive flying fortress, avoiding it unless his presence was mandated. Tony himself hated being stuck in the Helicarrier and would no doubt do the same if he were in the agent's place.

Genesis sighed and shifted in his seat, but quickly put his feelings of defeat aside and spoke again, "Have a seat. What can I help you with, then? I thought you said you'd be fine with Bruce." When it came to the billionaire, he always reminded himself to be wary of what Tony was up to. He wasn't called the Da Vinci of his time for nothing.

Stark shook his head. "No, no. He's fine in the lab for the time being. I just want to ask about something else. It's about the Captain."

"Oh?"

"Since this room's safe from unfriendly ears," the industrialist gestured around, "I was wondering how you got acquainted with him."

Genesis blinked. He couldn't think of a reason for why Tony Stark was suddenly interested in Steve Rogers, aside from the fact that his father and the super soldier were friends during World War II. From what he knew from his first encounter with the man, Tony seemed to despise the war hero veteran for some reason. He answered Tony anyway, "I was assigned to watch over him when both the Director and Agent Coulson couldn't. I had just been made a consultant for the Avenger's Initiative at the time."

Tony nodded, casually sitting down in the empty seat at the desk and asked, "And how did that go?"

"Alright, I suppose; but I wish I could have done better," Genesis said thoughtfully, "Unlike my mentor, I'm by no means a handler. On the other hand, I'm rather the more cynical person if the Director really believes that the Captain can convert me so easily to his beliefs."

Tony easily deciphered that by "beliefs", Genesis meant the Avengers Initiative. "You don't believe in heroes?" he asked, looking genuinely surprised.

The industrialist had seen some people nominated by the World Security Council to be a part of the Initiative that didn't even deserve first consideration. Blonsky, for instance, was chosen because he was believed to be a war hero. But that didn't excuse him from the destruction he caused in Harlem. Tony mentally labeled the Council as morons due to their inability to see that Blonsky was better off in the asylum and had blamed his mess on Bruce.

Genesis didn't make eye contact as he replied, "Maybe in the past I did, but even heroes cast shadows." Quickly, he changed his tone. "However, Phil seems to believe there's a bit of hope somewhere for heroes."

"About that," Tony piped up, "I heard a few agents around saying that your mentor is a closet geek for our dear Captain?"

The redhead nodded with a sigh, "You have absolutely no idea." That caused the billionaire to chuckle. Now with the right bait, Genesis further directed the genius off topic. "But other than the Captain, he believes in you."

Stark looked like Thor's lightning struck him. "The Agent believes in me?"

"Phil has his reasons, which, unfortunately, I'm not in any liberty to say. Oh, and you never heard it from me," said Genesis with a sly smile, beating the genius before he asked for explanations.

Tony had to force himself to not gape openly. He was so sure that the guy hated him or loathed him in some way. The first time Coulson tried to help him cover up 'Iron Man', Tony called the plan quits and publicly announced he is Iron Man. Second time around, Tony's suicidal episode had led the agent to threaten to taze the billionaire and watched Super Nanny while he was at it. Third–or numerous times after that–there were times when Tony had to admit inwardly during SHIELD consultations he had deliberately made it difficult for Genesis' mentor. In conclusion, Phil was more like an annoyance to him in the past. Yet, all the same, there were at times when Stark was thankful the agent was around; like the time he helped Pepper get out of harm's way while he fought Obadiah Stane.

Curious somewhat of the younger agent's attitude why he was sharing such information, Tony questioned, "Do you believe in me?" A nod was the spy's reply. "Even after SHIELD made a profile of me?"

"Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, and Iron Man," the young agent listed off with his fingers and paused. Genesis then and there paused momentarily before asking carefully, "How many masks do you wear for the public Tony?"

He shrugged. "You tell me." Out of all these years, Stark couldn't believe the kid to have seen through him very quickly. It took Rhodey and even Pepper some time before they figured out who Tony Stark really was.

"Well—You're going to have to forgive Steve for his comment on your tower; he was born in a time where propaganda was working at its finest," Rhapsodos pointed out nonchalantly, "and Natasha's only seen you as what you act for others. We all wear masks. Life creates them and forces us to find the one that fits."

"So how does a kid like you figure it out?" Stark inquired again.

"I had my share of being an ass to people Tony," Genesis spoke calmly ignoring the 'kid' nickname as more windows blurred opening and closing as he typed. "It's a reputation you keep with pride and that becomes a part of you, but it's just a tiny part you use as a mask to make people think it's all you. Unfortunately, people then believe it is you… to the point they think it's not possible for you to change."

"Once an asshole, always an asshole." Tony nodded at what usually other people concluded. The genius now inwardly was starting to like the young agent more; Genesis and he actually had a lot of things in common. He motioned, "So you have the 'don't judge a book by its cover' thing going on?"

"Artists use lies to tell the truth while politicians use them to cover the truth up," the agent said, quoted from a certain fictional character. "You're not an artist, but one can say an industrialist with hands of a mechanic can make masks. You haven't lied completely to us of who you are, but there's always something behind all of those masks."

When the redhead had explained that to him, Stark was starting to get a real glimpse what his co-consultant was really like. There were times Genesis' intellect surprised Tony, but his maturity was remarkable. At Genesis' age, most of his peers would probably be at University or perhaps an intern at some workforce still green, at times naive, and perhaps full with energy. Here, Genesis was level-headed and already ahead in the game as if he were a veteran. Even after Tony read the young agent's profile, the kid was still so mysterious; like a certain fictional Guy Fawkes masked vigilante.

"Looks like I didn't give you a wrong nickname. Eh, V?" Tony grinned. Since the kid was already quoting off the vigilante, he might as well stick to it.

Genesis gave him an equal tolerant and flippant smile. "Quite."

"That's reassuring." The genius said as he stood up from his seat this time around, he didn't move from where he stood and observed what Genesis was working on. "Those are a lot of emergency protocols you have there. It's really impressive you're able to make a sneakier decryption program behind mine."

That statement led the younger agent in front of the industrialist to pause for a moment from doing his work, and sigh, "Of course you would have detected it. It's why you're really here." The conversation about the Captain was a small ruse after all.

Tony in contrast, blinked in confusion, wondering why the kid didn't look like a deer caught in the headlights.

"You're Tony Stark." said Genesis waving it off dismissively, as if the answer clarified everything. He was only so glad the genius didn't have plans to over-analyze it; there was his SND ability he didn't want to explain about.

Still standing at his spot, Tony grinned and was amused. 'So Coulson's protégé isn't afraid to break the rules or take the back door to get something done', the genius thought. Genesis was also getting more points in Tony's book by wanting to admit it without an implication of shame. "Is there a probability that I'm going to get a reason why you're decrypting secure files behind my own decrypting work?" he asked.

Tony's sharp look at Genesis was enough to say he was being serious.

"It's because of Loki," Genesis huffed, taking the hint, and decided that lying to the billionaire won't work. "It's clear; he's here to start an invasion. The problem is we're stuck on finding the location of the cube. That doesn't help the fact that I have no official authority to devise a way of deployment if shit hits the fan. It might be too late when the worst happens– red tape and all."

Genesis' confession caused Stark to ask in confusion, "What happened to your mentor, Hill, and Fury?"

"Phil's agreed to it, but he's not in a real position to protest directly against the director. Furthermore, with the 'Council' being uptight with the situation, Hill, and the director aren't taking any of the warnings I've told them to act upon. They're too focused on Loki." He combed his hair back irritably. "And let's not forget, what the Director does that's big scale needs the approval of the WSC members, so we have our hands tied," said the young agent who slumped into his seat.

For someone with so much potential, Genesis seemed to have the nastiest luck in Tony's eyes. If he could help it, the genius didn't want to add more to the young spy's frustration than needed. The last person he wanted to be was another Nick Fury or worse, the board ass members.

Tony paused at first but came to a decision. "I won't tell."

This time around, it was the red-haired agent's turn to stare in shock at his sudden pronouncement. "Why?"

"Because you didn't report back to Fury on what I was doing," the billionaire shrugged. He took out his STARK Phone and confirmed to the spy how his decryption work was loading. "You had a good two hours or so to make a report, but according to JARVIS, there hasn't been any interference or any signs of one coming. And I know by looking at what you're doing; I don't think you have the time or are in the right mind to tell Fury what I'm doing behind his back."

Being in the spy business for a couple of years now, and after working at a corrupt place such as ShinRa for nearly a decade, Genesis knew that the genius was bluffing— partially. At that point, there was an odd sensation as the Lifestream told Genesis that Tony was only telling him half the truth. But the ex-SOLDIER couldn't help but feel flabbergasted as his inner power voiced at him teasingly that Stark was doing it for a good cause—for him. Stark was helping Genesis in his 'own' way—indirectly and surprisingly subtle for someone who likes dramatics—so the redhead or any other person wouldn't have noticed it. The guy who most of the mass media dubbed as didn't have a heart, with the arc reactor in his chest, actually cared for a young nobody spy like him.

At first, that didn't make any sense. But thinking it over again, the auburn haired spy saw a lot of his past self in Tony; the aloof and cocky guy that most people wouldn't dare to approach because of his striking personality, and the reputation he maintained for the public (with the exception of rabid fans). If that type of person started to sincerely care, it was no doubt that the industrialist was claiming Genesis to be part of his inner circle. As much as Genesis' manipulative side was content with that, his own conscience was finding the change a little too fast. He understood Steve Rogers was willing to give that sort of trust to him because that was the kind of man he is; but Tony Stark? He was someone who kept Genesis on his toes and wasn't afraid to ruffle the former SOLDIER's feathers–even annoy him to infuriation at times–if he felt like it. Having Stark's understanding was a little too good to be true.

Getting back to reality and away from his own thoughts, Genesis observed that the genius billionaire was still muttering away non-stop about his reasons of why he wasn't going to tattle to Fury. He now remembered what Pepper Potts had said to him in a brief teleconference meeting just earlier that morning. At the end of their meeting, the current CEO of Stark Industries had said that Tony had taken an interest in him. And even if Genesis didn't entirely believe her, she still persisted that he should try to be Tony's friend.

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Earlier that Morning…

"He likes you. He's not really good at getting along with others, but I think that's because subtlety to him and to us is different in his dictionary. Tony's a good man– even if he takes things to gravity defying levels." Pepper advised Genesis. She then shook her head, looking embarrassed. "Sorry for rambling off like that."

"You don't have to apologize, Miss Potts." Genesis reassured her with a smile, "I'm thankful for the forewarning."

"You'll need it. That I can promise," said Pepper confident of her warning, because she handled Tony on a daily basis. "The first time I warned Phil about Tony, he didn't take it as seriously I thought he would. He's still very helpful, but as you can see Tony pushed Phil's patience limit. I'm hoping you can steel your patience when you handle him."

That led to the young agent to nervously tug his tie. "I'm hardly the one to play the patience game, and I'm more reactive and truthful of my feelings than Agent Romanoff if you ask me. However, I will try to humor him, Miss Potts."

"Good," the CEO beamed at him back. "I think that is what he needs right now, a person who stops lying to him; and he does appreciate good humor."

When Pepper said the word 'lying', the agent was aware that there was a significant regretful tone. Maybe Stane's betrayal against Stark had left a far deeper scar than he heard in Phil's past reports on the billionaire. However, most people who handled paperwork on a daily basis knew what reports were: just reports, and not always necessarily the truth.

Genesis subsequently realized that it was Fury's mistake in sending Natasha undercover because she was the master of deceit. No thanks to the events that happened during the STARK Expo which showed how SHIELD dealt with things, Tony was steered into feeling he'd been lied to again. Bluntly put, Nick Fury had opened a healing wound with Sephiroth's Masamune. Genesis winced. It was no wonder that Tony was oversensitive and bitter in trusting SHIELD overall. That night at the Stark Tower the genius did mention he had serious trust issues; which meant Genesis got lucky that he was a fresh face, Tony approved of him since he avoided lying like a plague as well as not liking the WSC members, and understood the genius' 'technobable'.(3)

Back from the middle of his thoughts, he inclined in agreement, "I'll support him and make sure I can smooth things over with Director Fury if possible."

"Will that be all?"

"It's sufficient for now."

"Thank you, Genesis. Same time, next week?" Pepper thanked, and asked as their first newly arranged scheduled regular meetings came to an end. The former SOLDIER gave a respectful nod. "And— Oh— I'm not sure what you and Phil are involving Tony with right now, but, can you both keep an eye out on him for me?"

Genesis being the sucker he was to please women before he could stop himself immediately said, "Of course, Miss Potts."

If Phil was seeing this, he probably would laugh and tease him about how he just couldn't deny a sincere request from a woman—with the exception of Natasha when she was feeling sneaky. As for Clint, the archer would probably proclaim to anyone that Genesis was certain 'proof' that chivalry still existed. Never mind what Natasha would say; she would definitely classify it as new blackmail material. And after the teleconference was over, Genesis wondered if he was insane to agree and watch over someone that even his mentor struggled to take care of.

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The Present…

At the moment, Genesis felt that he didn't regret making the choice to watch over Tony. As much as Tony could deny all he liked of reasons he was taking no notice of Genesis' sneakier decryption work, it was obvious to the former commander that Stark wanted to look out for him. Stark just didn't want to ruin his reputation of being the jerk ass that everyone knew him as. Since Tony intended it that way, Genesis chose to respect the billionaire's decision.

"Thank you for your help Tony," said Genesis loudly enough to make the genius stop rambling, and gave an earnest nod of appreciation. "Whatever we talked here stays here."

Tony in turn huffed. "Who says I'm helping? I'm just…turning a blind eye," he insisted in bluffing his way out. He even tried to specify it, "Not noticing; ignoring; disregarding."

Stark doubtlessly was not convincing.

The young spy chuckled at his attempts. "Then thank you again for trusting me. I trust whatever you require to do, is something that is important to you." It was a subtle way of giving a clue to Tony that Genesis knew the genius billionaire was here for personal matters and not necessarily for SHIELD.

"Whatever." Even if Tony was saying it facing the other way, there was a thankful tone to it.

On a whim, the former SOLDIER decided to have a bit of fun. "Then will that be all, Mr. Stark?" Genesis impishly teased the older genius with a lopsided smirk.

At that familiar phrase, Stark's head whipped around so fast he thought his bones creaked. "That's–!" It was Pepper's signature line when he was dismissed by her. He felt like he'd been had. "Did Pepper drag you into doing those 'official' scheduled meetings?!" Stark said it so fast; the normal person wouldn't have caught what he said.

Fortunately, Genesis' enhanced hearing picked it up with no problem. The younger of the two wasn't troubled with the question and composedly answered, "That's part of protocol, since Phil was not able to at the time."

"Did she say anything about me?"

"She mentioned lots of things."

"Anything specific?"

"Perhaps too many specifics, if I recall."

Tony groaned at Genesis' playful tact and gave up in pursuing what deal his CEO girlfriend might have struck with redhead spy. Since the kid was a master tactical forecaster, he should have anticipated that Genesis was proficient in manipulating half-truths. Genesis' poker face was one indication that the self-proclaimed bona fide genius could go on a world tour wild goose chase, before he'd get any clues. It also doomed any chances whatsoever in finding out the truth from the kid if he didn't feel like sharing. He grunted, "You don't lie, V, but you sure make it one hell of a guessing game."

"Of course I do; Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess, Tony." the former SOLDIER smugly enlightened.

"Fine," Tony waved his hand, dismissing Genesis' habitual impromptu reciting. "Since it's Pepper, I think I'm better off not knowing." At least knowing that his girlfriend had a leash on SHIELD agents (Genesis and his mentor in this case) was comforting; Pepper was just awesome that way.

A nod. "I think Miss Potts would highly appreciate that."

Thinking he had been absent long enough to let Bruce worry, Tony made his leave. "I better get back to Bruce. So, I have no idea what you've been really doing since I talked to you in this room, V. Also you have no idea what I'm doing at all on the SHIELD servers. Just say we were talking over the global network for the spectrometer schematics—"

"And you came here for a brief consultation for the Avengers Initiative." Genesis finished off.

The industrialist couldn't help but smile at the young spy's quick thinking. "Have I mentioned before I could use a negotiator like you in my company?"

"Twice, if I'm counting correctly." was a shrug from the former commander. "But, I have no intention of joining Stark Industries."

Tony paused, and then asked with a grin, "I can't bribe you in some way?"

Genesis shook his head but smiled all the same. "Miss Potts won't appreciate it, and neither will I. Don't waste your life, Tony. I know I can count on you." He truly meant what he said, as he had a feeling that Tony could be trusted. When Tony went deathly silent, the auburn haired agent frowned with unease. "Tony?"

The billionaire snapped out of his blank state, "It's nothing." Tony this time turned around for real and gave a short wave behind him. "Glad to have your faith in me, V."

"You're welcome…"

With Genesis' sentence left hanging, Tony stopped at the door when he had his hand on the knob. "Is something wrong?"

The agent heaved a sigh. "Just…be careful around Loki's scepter. It's quite harmless as long as Loki doesn't touch or have contact with it – at least what I think it is for us… But I'm more worried about Bruce. When Loki passed by the lab earlier, I think the Other Guy was affected somehow by his presence. Even if Bruce only suffered a minor headache afterward, we still don't have any real idea on how Loki's scepter works."

"I'll keep an eye on Bruce and pass the message," the genius said and nodded, so he can put Genesis' heart at ease.

"Thanks."

"Later, kid."

"It's Genesis," the agent insisted. That caused Tony to smirk, and he exited the office.

Closing the door behind him and leaving Genesis to his plans, Tony Stark walked through the hallways of SHIELD Headquarters back to the lab with a memory haunting his mind. He wasn't sure how the young agent said the same words; however it was one particular memory that he would never forget and kept close. In the end of his imprisonment in the caves, all he could do was thank the man who helped save his life. Unfortunately the man didn't make it out and lost his chance of freedom forever. He never got to truly repay his debt to the man.

Yinsen breathed out his last breath as his eyes dimmed, "Don't waste it. Don't waste your life, Stark."

'I won't waste it', Tony thought as his mind shifted to the memories of people who he considered most important in his life. There was his love life Pepper, his old-time buddy Rhodes, his driver as well as bodyguard Happy, and even JARVIS. And somehow along with those faces now there was Doctor Bruce Banner; the shy brilliant scientist with anger management issues for his green alter ego. Then there also was the all-serious looking everyman Agent Phil Coulson, who is in fact a closet geek fan for Captain America, and to Pepper a close friend. Last but not least, Agent Genesis Rhapsodos; an eccentric literature enthusiast, who recited any poetry or prose or Shakespeare's works as a primary method of communication, but is a tactical forecaster prodigy in his own right.

Tony Stark would have to admit he liked having the oddest of people he counted as friends and family in his inner circle. But that was as long that he didn't publicly declare it in front of Nick Fury.

Besides, smart guys need to stick together, right? (4)

.

.

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Detention Section, SHIELD Headquarters…

Her movements were calculated, camouflaged and silent.

The Norse God would not notice her when she had come in like a ghost; thanks to the fact she used the air ventilation shafts as a way entering the chamber. It was Clint Barton's favorite way of traveling around the Hellicarrier; a painful reminder that someone who was her partner and family was controlled by Loki. While the mission on attaining intel on what Loki intended to do was the main priority, she wouldn't forget that Clint held the same importance to her as well.

Making no move yet, the Black Widow considered her options for the last time before she confronted the God. Normally she would be right in a middle of a one-sided interrogation right now with a normal human target. With Loki, she took an extra mile to make her sure her mission would not fail. She had a right to be cautious, especially when this 'person' made Fury and Coulson worried.

Aside from the wariness from her most trusted superiors, it was their youngest agent's reluctance to be directly involved with Loki that had her mind alarm on high alert. In her time working for SHIELD alongside Genesis, there was little that made him distressed in conducting a mission. Rhapsodos had a reputation being one of the most level-headed people in the organization in the worst and most dangerous operations, despite being the youngest. Being a tactical forecaster made sure of that. Now seeing that Loki had a way to make him jittery was a plain message Loki was not an opponent she would want to fight directly.

That's where she came in. She was here to make Loki talk, and she would make him sing like a bird in spring if she had to.

That aside, Natasha reminded herself that in this interrogation if Loki made her his target, she would take it and accept it. It was a secret promise she made to Coulson before she agreed to get involved with this questioning. There was nothing she could do for Clint because he was already compromised; but for Genesis, she was willing to be an easy target as long as Loki did not drag him into this. Like she owed a debt to Barton, she had her own debts she secretly kept to herself when it came to their youngest member of the family. Also, it was a silent agreement among her, Barton and Coulson that they all had a protective side for Genesis. Since the younger agent would stubbornly refuse any sort of open protectiveness if he knew, the three older agents settled it was best that he was left in the dark about it.

Natasha Romanoff observed Loki as he paced back and forth in the chamber. No doubt he was plotting something and waiting for things to happen. Steeling her resolve and putting up one of her masks she used for interrogation occasions, she made her way towards the Asgardian. Like the species of spider she was named after, Natasha made her way to her target without giving any indication she was there.

Loki's constant pacing for the last few minutes, though, abruptly stopped.

"There are not many people who can sneak up on me," he spoke up turning around to find someone was there. The god of mischief was astonished how a mere human had somewhat caught him off guard.

"But you figured I'd come." the Widow replied starting the questioning, crossing her arms. She took note Loki wasn't easily surprised by her sudden appearance. Did he have some form of sixth sense perhaps? The way he found her was a similar reaction Genesis did when the Widow made him a stalking target at times. It was even hard for her to surprise Genesis from behind unless he was unfocused.

Loki smirked and took up the challenge she was offering from her confident stance. He was not going to lose this game. Mind games were his specialty after all. "After whatever tortures Fury can concoct, you would appear as a friend, as a balm. And I would cooperate," he stated what probably SHIELD's plan was.

Loki knew what her first plan of the mind game was. 'So his reputation as the god of lies wasn't mistaken then', thought Natasha as she shifted quickly to one of the backup plans. A direct approach seemed to be the best option; she would take the risk. "I wanna know what you've done to Agent Barton."

"I'd say I've expanded his mind." The god said arrogantly. He made sure anything he said would bring the Widow pain.

With her unreadable mask up, Natasha kept questioning, "And once you've won. Once you're king of the mountain. What happens to his mind?" She knew Loki would take the bait and try to chip off anything that mattered to her personally. As long as his attention was on her and Barton, Coulson and Genesis would be out of Loki's concern.

Loki chortled with sarcasm. "Is this love, Agent Romanoff?" he sneered.

"Love is for children," the spy corrected. "I owe him a debt."

The god was very sure he was in for a story, stepping back to sit down on the chamber's padded bench. "Tell me."

She promptly pulled an available empty chair in the room and settled down in the seat in front of the Asgardian. He had already taken her bait, now she would reel him in slowly. "Before I worked for SHIELD, I uh…well, I made a name for myself. I have a very specific skill set. I didn't care who I used it for, or on. I got on SHIELD's radar in a bad way. Agent Barton was sent to kill me. He made a different call."

Already well aware of the Widow's past through Barton, Loki decided to play along. "And what will you do if I vow to spare him?"

"Not let you out," Natasha said logically.

He laughed at her. "Ah, no. But I like this," Loki mocked, "Your world in the balance and you bargain for one man?

She kept her confident act in place. The spy shrugged, "Regimes fall every day. I tend not to weep over that. I'm Russian. Or I was."

"What is it you want?" he asked her.

"It's really not that complicated." Natasha responded. "I've got red in my ledger. I'd like to wipe it out."

"Can you?" Loki conceitedly scorned. "Can you wipe out that much red? Drakov's daughter? São Paulo? The hospital fire? Barton told me everything. Your ledger is dripping, it's gushing red, and you think saving a man no more virtuous than yourself will change anything?" He stood menacingly, eyeing her like a predator would its prey. "This is the basest sentimentality. This is a child at prayer. Pathetic!"

Natasha searched for words to come back at the god, but strangely they were stuck in her throat. Genesis' predictions that Loki would get personal were unfolding right in front of her. However, Loki wasn't finished with her yet.

"You lie and kill in the service of liars and killers. You pretend to be separate, to have your own code, something that makes up for the horrors. But they are a part of you, and they will never go away!"

Slamming his cell right in front of her, Loki sneered as he saw the Widow flinch. "I won't touch Barton. Not until I make him kill you! Slowly; intimately; in every way he knows you fear! And when he'll wake just long enough to see his good work, and when he screams, I'll spilt his skull! This is my bargain, you mewling quim!"

Quickly turning around, Natasha took a few steps away from Loki. As much as she tried to convince herself Loki wasn't a threat to her, she couldn't help but feel distressed and affected from their confrontation. However, she was close in getting what answers she wanted. 'Keep on being the target', she reminded herself even as anxious feelings leaked through her body language.

Voicing her distraught she murmured in a quiet voice, "You're a monster."

Laughing at her plight, he leered. "No, you brought the monster."

Bingo.

Turning back to face the prisoner poised as she declared her accomplishment, "So, Banner. That's your play."

Loki's reaction was instantaneous. He staggered, "What?"

Speaking into her earpiece, Natasha reported, "Loki means to unleash the Hulk. Keep Banner in the lab. I'm on my way. Send Thor as well." She then turned back to the shocked Asgardian, "Thank you for your cooperation."

The Widow left the detention section quickly, leaving Loki by himself.

Glaring at the way she left, the God of Mischief's nerves was jangled at the turn of events. He wasn't supposed to let the spy know! Just as his anger would make itself known to the ever watchful eyes of the Helicarrier, he stopped as he felt something stirring in the air. Chaos. The scepter was activating.

All that happened in his current prison was all forgotten. His smug and conceited smirk was wider than ever. Loki's plans were finally going to bear fruit. All the pawns would come together in one place, his rescue team would be on its way, and the monster would do the rest. Even so, he was not content with his defeat in a mind game against Romanoff. Oh, no. He'd take revenge on her while he was here. Barton would handle and kill her, but if that failed, well, he'd already found an alternative target. A better one.

.

.

---

Genesis' Private Office, SHIELD Headquarters…

He wanted to throw up.

Genesis clamped his mouth shut and stubbornly refused to let any of his stomach contents spill out as cold sweat dribbled down his temples. Even if he did expect some magic residue the scepter would emit upon activation, Genesis didn't anticipate he'd be affected by an alignment. To him it felt like being cast with a level 3 Bio, only it didn't sap away his life force and gave him illness symptoms. What was worse, the magic residue was not what the Lifestream in him tolerated. He often was proud to have sharp senses when it came to sensing magic, but in this case, it only made matters difficult.

In an unfortunate moment, his computer beeped. A call; it turned out to be a private link from the bridge. Glancing at the ID number, it was Coulson. He immediately cast Resist (5) on himself before he flicked the connection on.

~( Genesis, are you there? )~

"Yes. I'm... right here," he answered, but failed to hide his nauseated voice. Resist was making it bearable to talk at least.

~( Something's happened to you. )~ Phil said in a direct manner, that Genesis could imagine the elder agent narrowed his eyes at him over the connection. It was also the tone his mentor used when the former SOLDIER got into trouble, and Phil wanted direct answers.

Genesis skipped his usual quoting, still recovering as his spell started to kick in. "The scepter's suddenly active. It's like when the Tesseract activated, but with much darker power."

There was an uncomfortable silence before he asked, ~( Darker than when Thor made his appearance like in the previous mission? )~

"Yes..." was a reluctant reply. The effects of the scepter now subsided, but he could still feel the area of effect it had on the Helicarrier.

~( Then you're better where you are. )~

Genesis frowned. Sensing something wrong, he asked, "What's the situation?"

~( Natasha's finished with interrogating Loki. He means to use the Hulk to destroy HQ. )~ Just as his student wanted to interrupt, Coulson told him, ~( There's no reason to get yourself directly involved. The director, Natasha, and Thor are on their way to the lab as we speak. )~

The younger agent didn't know what to really say. He was indecisive between his responsibility for the team, his nearly completed contingency plan, and his own safety if he got nearer to the scepter itself. It was as if fate was taunting him to choose: his friends, others, and or his own life.

His mentor broke the silence quickly, ~( You're making contingency plans, right? )~

Genesis sighed, "Am I that predictable?" He was glad Phil was there to break him out of his morbid thoughts at least.

~( Naturally? No, especially when you're in a mood to communicate with only poetry to confuse everyone. )~ Phil said lightly. His voice then turned serious, ~(But when you know we're in trouble that's always your first course of action.)~

"I am the second consultant to the Avengers Initiative. I'm supposed to be present." the younger agent made a feeble attempt to get involved.

~( And probably the logical part of your mind refuses to be anywhere near the scepter. )~ His mentor argued flatly.

Genesis had nothing to argue to that.

~( If this is about the director, I'll make it a direct order you're not allowed to go to the lab as of now.)~ he explained as he spoke again. ~( What's important now, is that we're on standby if the worst hits. There are enough people in the lab that things can go horribly wrong. If we're caught in the crossfire, there's even less we can do to help when things go south. )~

The former commander took comfort in his mentor's words. He could always rely on the elder agent to snap him out of situations he had a hard time with. "Thanks, Phil."

~( There's always a way, Genesis. Or maybe I haven't managed to drill that into your head enough? )~

This time, Genesis replied with a tired chuckle, "More than enough you could rival me quoting LOVELESS." Oh yes, just like Angeal, even his mentor had his sentiment moments in lecturing something he was intent on passing it on to his successor. But there was still a matter to attend to. "However, does this mean I'm not in trouble for making a plan behind the director's back?"

Phil seemed to shift over the line. ~( You will get an earful out of him later, but it's not that I don't approve you've got a backup plan when things can backfire at us. As a matter of fact, you've got my permission to continue what you're doing. )~

"You have no idea how much that means to me," the younger agent breathed out a breath he was holding. "I can't thank you enough."

~( If you feel that way, then I suggest you finish your plans while you're at it. At the same time, I'm giving you the clearance to see what's going on inside the lab and other live security feed around it. )~ he said as the screen changed, and prompted Genesis to accept the video live feed on his computer. Coulson then added, ~( I'm also sending Sitwell over to you to help you out. )~

"I will, and I could use the backup," Genesis answered.

While he didn't want Agent Sitwell to get involved, sometimes when it came to his mentor it was easier to let him have his way. Alternatively, Genesis wondered whether it was a good idea to actually watch what unfolded in the lab, but he tapped his screen and accepted Coulson's invitation anyway. Whatever the higher-ups had been planning, he wasn't sure Tony and even Bruce was going to be happy about it. He wasn't worried that Natasha and Fury got involved, but with Thor present just about anything could happen. There was also a possibility that Steve would enter the lab at the worse timing possible.

When both of the agents had the video feed on their screens, Phil was the first to ask, ~( Wasn't Stark working on the spectrometers? )~

"He must have found a way to root directly into the primary mainframe to speed things up. If not, he would have his attention on it." Genesis stated his observations and making sure his mentor wasn't aware he had a hand in Tony's interest in unveiling SHIELD's secrets.

~( Did you see him hacking into the database while you were there? )~

"No. He must have hacked into the servers while I wasn't watching him." Genesis said truthfully. On another note, JARVIS was the one doing the real behind-the-scenes hacking anyway. Also, the AI had been hacking SHIELD's servers before Genesis even entered the bridge for the meeting by Tony Stark's reckoning.

Coulson snorted at the billionaire but chose to ignore it for now. ~( We'll let the others handle with that. How are your plans moving along? )~

"I'm just about finished, but most of the permission joint operations protocols are taking time to get through," the auburn haired agent said tensely, looking at the screen awaiting positive responses.

~( Keep trying. If you're pulling a plan on what I think you are doing, you'll need as many approvals to make it legal. )~

That made Rhapsodos huff, "O ye of little faith." But his heart skipped a beat when the Captain was on his way toward the lab holding what was a prototype gun. "Phil – What's that gun Steve has? I've never seen that model before." The detail Steve looked angry was left unsaid.

Phil was quiet before he quickly replied, ~( That's classified. )~

"Was classified you mean," Genesis countered dryly. It was plainly apparent that the Captain had found out something the director was involved with; Phil was aware of the project too. "… Banner was right. We've brought a time bomb on board."

~( Genesis it's not–)~

"I don't care about Fury's secrets!" the younger agent snapped. "The fact we didn't monitor any potential cracks that could have chip away the team like this is unacceptable! Stark and Rogers' teamwork is as strained as it is! At this point, the team won't work out if– "

~( They don't have something or a similar reason to fight for. )~ Phil said finishing the sentence gravely. ~( I know, Genesis. I've always known. )~

"Then why was the Avengers Initiative brought back up when it was scrapped in the first place?!" Genesis asked demanding the truth. "Phil, what's really going on?"

Oh Goddess, this was eerily building up like the Nibelheim incident all over again.

His mentor sighed. But his voice started to sound strained, ~(Just – trust me on this one, okay? The real reason we revived it was because it was the better alternative than what the Council suggested. )~

"Anything they suggest is usually the worst anyone can come up with," Genesis muttered. The former SOLDIER wasn't going to let this go, not when his mentor insisted he was going through a plan that was already crumbling to pieces in front of their eyes. He asked the golden question, "Phil, what are you trying to prove?"

~( That we can believe in people. We can believe in heroes. )~

"Phil, this isn't time–"

~( No, listen to me–)~

"But–"

~( Genesis! )~ his mentor barked a harsh whisper.

Genesis abruptly closed his mouth shut, realizing that he pushed Coulson to snap at him. Genesis' mind was racing why he was getting angry more easily than usual. Was it because of the influence of Loki's scepter?

~( Listen. )~ Phil stressed. ~( With the world the way it is, there's only so many people who would trust the government; with our line of work perhaps even less. I admit; even the director and I know that there are some things we can't take care of. Until that time we are more capable, we need to have faith in the people who can handle it. )~

"The team; they're not going to work together at this rate."

Coulson agreed. ~( No, they won't. But give them time and the right guidance, it can work out. )~ He added, ~( I believe they all have what it takes to help us. I really do. )~

Genesis breathed out, "I wish I had your confidence on that."

~( You already have, Genesis. You wouldn't have helped all the members willingly some way or another if you didn't believe in them. What you don't believe in right now, is in yourself. )~

Phil's remark struck too true that the former SOLDIER couldn't say anything.

~( Look, I know you never told me the full story details of what happened in the past, but it was bad enough you're still questioning yourself. )~ Phil paused at first, but then and there he also said, ~( And I'm sorry to push you into joining in the Avengers Initiative in the first place. That was insensitive of me if that reminded you too much of your past. )~

"You don't need to apologize." his apprentice said. "You were under Fury's orders anyway."

Phil disagreed, ~( Not entirely. In fact, I thought it would do some good for you. But it seems like your position right now is the better option. )~

"Apology accepted," Genesis replied with a shrug. Inwardly he was glad to have the elder agent's understanding.

Phil made his point clear. ~( Thanks; but know that as long as you're in the position to do some good, for me it's more than enough. )~

"Even if the review board will be head on heels later to get me fired, knowing how many protocols I'm breaking soon?" was a skeptic question from the former SOLDIER.

~( If I remember clearly all those years ago, I was the one that ordered you to research and devise a contingency plan that took advantage of every single loophole that SHIELD has in its operations protocols if the unimaginable happened. )~ His mentor reminded Genesis as if he were waving his finger at his protégé over the line.

"I'm actually thankful you did, Phil. If not, I'd be fretting about how things might turn out than do something useful." Genesis commented.

~( Genesis? )~

The former commander tensed at his mentor's worried voice. "Yes, Phil?"

~( There's no denying things are going to get worse at this rate; however... )~ Phil breathed out, but spoke with conviction, ~( whatever happens, promise me you'll see your plan through the end if the circumstances come to it. The Avengers, they'll need any help they can get. )~

Genesis caught the hidden message behind Phil's words. His mentor was asking him to take care of the team. Phil would later be along with Fury and Hill taking the heat from the World Security Council to take responsibility in the aftermath. The team needed someone else to support them, someone, who isn't directly associated to the WSC.

'So that was the real plan that the Avengers Initiative was about.' Genesis thought as he figured out what Fury's real plan was. In the beginning, it was never for the benefit of SHIELD itself. Clearly, the WSC members won't be happy when they have no control over the team later.

Genesis didn't falter at the request; it was the least he could do. "You have my word, Phil." This time, his eyes went back to the monitor. "By the look of things, we won't have it easy."

.

.

---

The Wishbone Lab…

"My people want nothing but peace with your planet!" Thor defended.

"But you're not the only people out there are you?" Fury demanded. "And you're not the only threat. The world is filling up with people that can't be matched. That can't be controlled."

"Like how you control the cube?" Steve asked doubt in his tone.

"Your work with the Tesseract was what drew Loki to it, and his allies," Thor argued. "It is a signal to all the realms that the Earth is ready for a higher form of war."

"A higher form?" Steve echoed.

Fury was having none of that. "You forced our hand! We had to come up with some—"

"A nuclear deterrent," Stark muttered sarcastically, "because that always calms everything right down."

"Remind me again how you made your fortune Stark?" Fury snapped back.

"I'm sure if he still made weapons Stark would be neck deep—"

"Wait! Hold on, how is this now about me?!" Tony asked, eying at Steve.

"I'm sorry, isn't everything?" Steve asked in turn with a glare.

"I thought humans were more evolved than this," Thor said.

"Excuse me?! Did we come to your planet and blow stuff up?!" Fury demanded.

.

.

---

One of the Helicarrier Bridge Stations…

"Genesis? Are you seeing this?!" Phil exclaimed in a whisper, with his ear still over his communicator in disbelief. How did everyone get angry so fast? What caused them–

~(Phil, it's the scepter. )~ His apprentice pointed out, interrupting his panicked thoughts. ~( It's affecting everyone. He must have wanted the scepter and everyone in the same room. Loki wasn't just planning to unleash the Hulk, he wanted all of the Avengers to destroy each other. )~

"What does the scepter do?"

~( It's pushing everyone to get angry; it works as a negative emotion enhancement. )~ The younger agent explained quickly. ~( You and I were affected by it slightly just a few moments ago; fortunately with minimal effects. We're only slightly out of its area of effect. )~

"Then we stay away from it." Phil's mind went into overdrive, "Genesis, get your contingency plans to a mobile device; get out of your office, and your communication to go mobile. We're going to need it."

~( On it. )~ Genesis replied immediately. ~( I've switched communications to my earpiece. The data is loading as we speak. What are you going to– )~

Genesis' eyes widened. 'It can't be; I know that presence anywhere.'

Coulson frowned deeply at Genesis' sudden silence. "Genesis?! What's going on? Are you alright?"

~(It's Clint; he's here. )~ said Genesis grimly. ~(And he's not alone. )~

"How close?" Phil pressed.

~( He's airborne. )~

He scrambled quickly to get hold of the air tower communications. Phil only hoped he wasn't too late.

.

.

---

Outside the Helicarrier, two quintjets slowly hover over the near the flying fortress.

~( 661 Bravo and 641 Delta, please relay your passcode. What is your hull, over? )~ base comm. Technician asked. There was a beeping sound in the background of the line, but it was quickly silenced by the technician.

"This is 661. Arms and ammunition, over." Barton replied and let the other quintjet that joined them reply in the same kind. Receiving a positive reply they had access to the Helicarrier, the archer made his way inside.

Along with the crew he had, Clint calmly suited up and armed himself robotically. All that went through his mind was to get Loki out and take the hovering SHIELD base down. Even so, he slightly winced as a flicker of images went through his thoughts as they got nearer to the base.

"Clint, I don't care how bad your life was before, but you're a good person. No one can convince me otherwise." An image of an older agent with a formal suit he was familiar with; someone who was patient and wanted to give him guidance.

"The arrow has left the bow of the Goddess." Another image flickered, this time of much younger agent with red hair, but wore a similar suit like the elder. There was a mischievous air about him as if he was acting out being a younger sibling. "Clint, I know a person who's falling for another when I see one. Our handler could use a girlfriend. How about we team up for this occasion?"

The last image was a girl with equally red hair, only gazed him with a trust that she never had given anyone else excluding the last two people he just saw. To others, she was a feared assassin; but to him, the archer felt safe. She was dressed differently, preferring a jumpsuit instead. "I won't ever forget that time you gave your hand to help me instead of killing me. I owe you, Clint."

"Sir?"

Barton didn't abruptly move but faced the other calmly. "Yes?" He was slightly shocked when his hands were fiddling with an arrow that had a USB-like device. His hands had moved on their own, making a timer on it and he could clearly see the time was extending; the minutes were increasing.

"We're all ready to start the mission, Sir." the soldier reported.

On reflex, Hawkeye closed device to its arrow-head state and set it with his other arrows which he would bring along on the mission. On one thought, there was a part of his mind he was going to fail the mission leaving that trick arrow the way it was. His heart, on the other hand, seemed to be appeased by the action. He shook himself out of it. He didn't have enough time to make reverse changes and walked over to the opening ramp of the jet.

Efficiently, the archer pulled out a high-tech explosive arrow and took aim a hundred feet away from the engine. While to the normal person would think the aiming was off, Clint released the arrow without any doubt.

The arrow flew, sharply turning in the opposite direction milliseconds later, and true to its aim, punctured into the metal on the hovering engine. Sensing it hit a surface, the explosive arrow activated its remote switch program.

All Hawkeye had to do was press the button on his bow.

.

.

---

Wishbone Lab…

"You speak of control, yet you cause chaos," Thor mocked.

"It's his MO isn't it?" Bruce asked the others, referring to the Director. "I mean, what are we, a team? No, no, no; we're a chemical mixture that makes chaos. We're—we're a time bomb."

"You need to step away," Fury ordered Banner.

"Why shouldn't the guy let out a little steam?" Tony suggested as he laid a hand on Steve's shoulder.

Steve shoved it away and snapped, "You know damn well why! Back off!"

"Oh I'm starting to want you to make me," Tony replied making sure he was face-to-face with the Super Soldier.

"Yeah, big man in a suit of armor. Take that away and what are you?"

"Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist,"Tony confidently listed off. Mentally he'd rather take away the playboy out if Pepper was around.

"I know guys with none of that worth ten of you," Steve said not phased at all. "And I've seen the footage. The only thing you really fight for is yourself. You're not the guy to make the sacrifice play, to lay down on a wire and let the other guy crawl over you."

"I think I'd just cut the wire," Tony retorted.

Steve smirked and mocked back, "Always a way out. You know you may not be a threat but you better stop pretending to be a hero."

That did it. Tony wasn't going to stand down on this; he didn't even understand how his father even respected the guy. "A hero? Like you? You're a laboratory experiment Rogers. Everything special about you came out of a bottle."

"Put on the suit. Let's go a few rounds." Steve said darkly.

Thor laughed. "You people are so petty, and tiny."

"Yeah, this is a team," Bruce motioned to everyone sarcastically.

"Agent Romanoff, would you escort Dr. Banner back to his—"

"Where? You rented my room," Bruce reminded, sounding bitter at the Director of SHIELD.

"The cell was just in case—"

"In case you needed to kill me. But you can't, I know I've tried!" Bruce exclaimed which silenced the whole room. "I got low. I didn't see an end, so I put a bullet in my mouth and the Other Guy spit it out... So I moved on. I focused on helping other people. It was good. Until you dragged me back into this freak show, and put everyone here at risk."

You want to know my secret Agent Romanoff?" Bruce said as he approached the Black Widow. "Do you want to know how I stay calm?"

Everyone in the room tensed. Fury and Natasha's hands immediately went for their concealed weapons.

"Dr. Banner..." Steve said noticing something was heavily out of place. "Please put down the scepter."

Bruce blinked questionably at his hands. His eyes widened when Loki's scepter was in them. The doctor was trying to reason with himself how did they get into his hands when the monitor beeped.

"Got it," Tony announced to everyone, shaking himself out of the tense atmosphere. His mind was ringing with Genesis' previous warning how Bruce could be more affected by the scepter than the others. "Can you check Bruce?" the genius asked as if nothing were wrong in the first place. On the inside, he didn't want to have the Hulk with Loki's scepter, especially when jolly green was angry.

Bruce put down the scepter and walked over to the beeping screen. "Sorry kids, looks like you won't get to see my party trick after all."

"You've located the Tesseract?" Thor asked.

"I can get there faster," Tony volunteered to try to get everyone's attention off Bruce. The further away Bruce was away from the scepter, the better.

"The Tesseract belongs on Asgard. No human is a match for it," Thor cautioned them.

"You're not going alone," Steve stated making his point clear, grabbing Tony's arm.

At this, Tony snapped and his previous thoughts of Bruce disappeared. Tony slapped the hand away and asked back, "You gonna stop me?"

The super soldier didn't waver. "Put on the suit, and let's find out."

"I'm not afraid hitting an old man," Tony seethed.

"Put on the suit," Steve hissed.

On the other side of the room, slightly away from the confrontation of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, Bruce saw the results of where the Tesseract was located.

"Oh my god..." Bruce whispered as he felt cold. He needed to warn the others. All he registered next was blinding light.

An explosion erupted through the room sending all its occupants in different directions.

.

.

---

In his private office, Genesis groaned as he found himself on the floor, most of his office supplies scattered everywhere, and his office room was tilted to a slight angle.

He rubbed his temple with one hand in trying to soothe the headache with the Lifestream now on high alert. It informed him here were about thirteen new life forces that had arrived on the carrier, including Clint. Half of the imposters were on the top deck, the other half was heading towards the bottom. Was their landing in the inner hanger perhaps? The Lifestream also had warned him the Helicarrier was making its decent.

In his current situation, his office was too far away from the main bridge. He'd have to let the others handle it. The only way he could head over to help was head towards the lower deck, take out Loki's goons who were here to rescue their master and create havoc while they were at it.

Wasting no time, Genesis grabbed his firearms from his locker in the room and grabbed his small (but still working) note tablet. He stopped himself from opening the door when an idea came up. If Loki was doing what Genesis figured he was doing, most likely he'd get the Avengers separated in the fiasco. He'd expect Steve, Tony, Natasha and Thor to help each other to some degree. Bruce however, was the one in real trouble for now. Genesis realized he couldn't come into the Wishbone Lab without being affected by the scepter, but that didn't mean he couldn't send someone else.

He needed to send someone who could also emit the Lifestream like he did, to calm Bruce down.

Genesis made up his mind and with an outstretched hand called forth the symbols that quickly became circular glyphs. He poured in his magic reserves to make sure the being wouldn't dismiss itself in the event that the SOLDIER was unconscious or worse.

Green glyphs glowed into pure white and a small figure popped out with a chirp. Stretching its limbs and running in three circles very fast, the small figure then came to a halt facing its summoner. The small speedster jumped up and down and sharpened its thorns as it was excited for orders. Unlike the rest of the summons Genesis had, the little one was used the most frequently.

In a different lifetime, Genesis would have been revolted or even feel discriminated to have a Cactuar Summon. (6) However, since he joined SHIELD, the small cactus was a lot more useful and discreet compared to his other summons he had currently.

His Cactuar was his 1st tiered summon, so it was hardly strong in terms of magic or strength, but did its job of being the fastest, luckiest of his summons and was capable of camouflage. On the plus side, Genesis could keep it on the field far longer than the others without severely draining his magic reserves. The Goddess seemed to have limited him to only access to five summons in this life, but even his last three summons (tiered 3rd, 4th, and 5th respectfully) were overkill. He wouldn't call any of them unless it was utterly necessary. At least so far, no SHIELD mission had him forced to call any of them.

"We're going to be discreet for this mission," Genesis stated about what they were facing. "Camouflage up; but I want you to make yourself known to only Bruce, whether he's in human form or the Hulk, understood?"

The Cactuar twirled around gesturing it understood it's summoner with a nod.

"Good, and whatever happens, I want you to keep tabs on him; or be by his side. Try to calm down the Hulk if you can, or least let the Hulk know you're on his side."

At this, the small cactus leaned sideways as if questioning why.

The mage explained, "Out of the rest, Bruce would feel he's the outcast of the Avengers. He just needs to know that there are people who believe in him, such as Tony Stark." Genesis was sure the others would follow if the good Doctor had a stable control over the Hulk.

The moment he opens the door, the Cactuar disappears through the corridors. For now, Genesis needed to get an idea what was going on. It was pandemonium throughout the hallways. He switched his earpiece communicator behind his ear to the main emergency frequency.

~( Hill! )~ Fury was already on the line.

~( External Detonation. )~ Hill responded quickly. ~( Number Three Engine is down! We've been hit. Can they get it running?! Talk to me. )~

Genesis guessed she was talking to one of the bridge techs.

~( The turbine looks intact, but it's impossible to get out there and make repairs while we're in the air )~ the bridge tech stated their current situation.

~( If we lose one more engine, we won't be, )~ Agent Hill warned. ~( Somebody has to get outside and patch that engine! )~

~( Stark, you copy that? )~ the Director asked.

~( I'm on it )~ Tony replied, his voice in a hurry.

~( Coulson, make sure the detention cell is in lock down, and then get to the armory.)~

~( Copy that, Sir. I'm already on my way. )~ his mentor replied.

~( Rhapsodos? Where are you? )~ Fury called out.

Genesis slipped his small note tablet into his suit pocket and replied, "I'm heading to the landing hanger near Engine 4; we've detected some hostile forces landing there. They're probably Loki's men. There's also a reading there might be more from the upper deck."

~( Noted, Rhapsodos. Take the ones near you out; don't let them get near another Engine. I'm leaving that area to you. )~ the Director ordered.

"Copy that!" Genesis replied before he sprinted towards the sound of gunfire from a distance with his enhanced hearing.

~( Romanoff? )~ Fury this time called through the line.

.

.

---

Still stuck under some rubble the explosion had caused, Natasha pressed her earpiece and replied, "We're okay." She ignored the rest of Fury's orders to the others on the bridge to get a grip of herself.

She breathed in and out to calm herself, but she was very sure they weren't 'okay. She struggled to get her leg out, but it was just too heavy to move. She looked at Banner who wasn't doing too well and asked, "We're okay, right?"

There was a static call from a private line, she opened it quickly.

~( Natasha? )~ it was Genesis.

"Genesis? What is it?" the Black Widow asked. If Genesis was acting on orders but still contacted her, it had to be important.

~( Clint's here, on this ship. )~ Genesis warned her. ~( I don't know where exactly in all the chaos, but if you cross each other, my same advice to you when you accompanied the Captain.)~

"Whack him on the head, got it," She replied quickly. "You'll do the same?"

The reply was sure. ~( Of course, we'll get him back. How are you and the Doctor doing? )~

Natasha answered, "Good; for now. I'm not sure how angry he's going to be when he wakes up. I'm a little stuck, but I'll manage. Don't send anyone here." The last thing Bruce needed was more people to antagonize his other side.

There was a silence over the comm and then a sigh. Genesis was reluctant leaving her alone. ~( Very well, I'll put a warning to nearby mechanics to stay away from the area when I pass a terminal. Take care, Natasha. )~

The Black Widow regretted dismissing the younger agent at that point when she heard Bruce starting to regain his senses.

"Doctor?" Natasha questioned as she tried to dislodge her leg. "Bruce, you have to fight it. This is just what Loki wants. We're going to be okay, listen to me."

"Are you hurt?" some worried agents came running towards them but Natasha waved them off frantically away.

"We're going to be okay. I swear on my life that I will get you out of this and you will walk away. And you'll never ever—"

"YOUR LIFE?" Bruce's voice boomed. It wasn't his human voice, but his alter ego.

Bruce was struggling and losing the battle for control. The Other Guy was just too furious to let him back the reins. He looked back at Natasha in apology and sorrow while he fought to keep in control.

"Bruce..." Natasha whispered learning and seeing for the first time how painful it was for the scientist. However, she had no time to give pity when the man morphed and bulked up into the green giant.

The Hulk gave a primal roar when it unleashed itself.

With adrenaline in her veins, Natasha barely managed to break free from being pinned by debris just in time and ran for it. The Hulk turned around, found her, and growled.

She didn't look back.

It took all of her years of training and other maneuver skill in order to evade and outran the Hulk. The Black Widow rolled under a turbine, crawled away through the maze of pipes, did everything she could so the monster that hunted her now would lose her.

.

.

---

Corridor leading to Engine 4…

~( V, do you copy? )~ Stark asked through the comm.

"I Copy," Genesis replied, but he had his back to the wall avoiding gunfire with two other agents supporting him. "A little busy here, Tony. Where are you?"

The billionaire replied, ~( In my suit, I'm heading to Engine 3. The Captain should be there soon. How busy are you? )~

"Loki sent some minions; I have eight on my back trying to make way to Engine 4," Genesis said, and fired trying to aim for non-vital human parts. "They're our own agents he brainwashed before Germany." So far he wasn't having any luck.

~( That sucks. )~ Tony muttered. After a beat, he asked, ~( Think you could multitask? )~

The former SOLDIER gave hand signals to the other two to give him fire cover, as he threw away his empty gun clip and reloaded his gun. "I suppose I can try. No promises."

As Steve Rogers joins the communication conversation, Genesis ran speeding and slid down to trip a brainwashed agent and punched his partner in the corridor, and dragged them into one of the rooms. Sounds of more gunfire echoed behind him, but he focused on taking his two targets down first. By slightly tweaking his enhanced strength, he knocked them out both easily by hitting goon #1 in the back of the head, and bashing goon #2's head to a wall.

~( I gotta get this superconducting cooling system back online before I can access the rotors and work on dislodging the debris. )~ Stark muttered over the comm.

Genesis frowned at the technical terms; he didn't have a problem understanding it, but the Captain?

To Steve, Genesis heard Stark ordered, ~( I need you to get to that engine control panel and tell me which relays are in overload. )~

~( Right. )~ Steve replied, unsure but still followed orders anyway. A woosh sound was heard, which probably suggested the Captain was making his way to the panel over broken railings.

Two more of Loki's puppets then made an appearance and, this time, Genesis managed to roll forward, get behind them and bash their heads together. Now there were 4 more to go; if he was counting correctly.

The former SOLDIER came to a realization. 'Tony's making me Steve's translator?' he thought with a grimace.

~( What's it look like in there?)~ Tony questioned.

Steve's sigh was heard over the line trying to figure out the panel. ~( It seems to work on some sort of electricity. )~

~( Well, you're not wrong. )~ the Iron Avenger replied dryly.

Genesis rolled his eyes as he decided to get on with Tony's request. "What he means, Captain," Genesis said making himself known, "is whether there are any damaged circuits in the control panels. Are there any burned or charred ones?"

~( Genesis? )~ Rogers asked with surprise. Yet he quickly got over it and answered, ~( Everything's intact. It's all good. )~ When more gunfire was heard from Genesis' side the Captain asked with concern, ~( Are you alright back there? )~

"I'm fine. As Tony suggested, I'm multitasking."

The corridor was noisy again as everyone had just reloaded their guns again. Loki's minions didn't make it easy for the other agents to shoot in places where it wasn't lethal apparently. Genesis chose to wait it out until his enemies approached his team who were blocking the way. He only hoped they weren't grenade happy men.

"I don't think I can join you right now, Loki's men are trying to get to Engine 4, the last place we want any of them," He answered Steve. Genesis then had his attention on Iron Man, "How are the rotors, Tony?"

There was a muffled blasting sound that the redhead deduced was the debris that was stuck in the rotors. ~( It's bad, but still fixable. )~

~( What's our next move? )~

Stark gave the solution to the Captain, ~( Even if I clear the rotors, this thing won't re-engage without a jump. I'm gonna have to get in there and push. )~

Steve didn't like the sound of that, especially when one considered the size of the rotors. ~( If that thing gets up to speed, you'll get shredded! )~

~( Then stay in the control unit and reverse polarity long enough to— )~

Just before Steve wanted to protest, and Stark continued blabbering Genesis cut in and translated, "It's a large red Lever near you, and it should slow down the rotors so Tony won't get shredded."

~( Thanks, Genesis. I was just going to say to Stark to speak English. )~ was a chuckle over the line.

Genesis grinned, "A pleasure, Captain. "

The genius retorted, a little offended, ~( I assure you, Captain, that explanation was 100% English. And V, you know that was authentic English and not Shakespearean. )~

"Then make it simple English, Tony." Genesis snorted. "I'm not going to keep being a 'technical' English translator for you when you're with the Captain."

~( We'll see. )~ the billionaire shrugged. ~( Now, I think I have a rotor to push. )~

Genesis eyed back to his current predicament when his team was out of ammo and the brainwashed agents crawled their way towards them. Before he disconnected to the two Avengers, he relayed them a warning. "Captain, I'm guessing that Loki won't let things go quietly; I'm sure there's going to be hostile forces heading towards you right now to keep Engine 3 from running. Keep an eye out for them."

~( Copy that. Thanks for the help, Genesis. Be careful. )~

"You too, Steve," Genesis said as he pressed the connection to a close.

He cursed when a grenade rolled near him.

.

.

---

Inner Hanger near Wishbone Lab…

Following the trail of destruction, the small cactus warily gazed at its surroundings in case of immediate danger.

The Cactuar summon was uncomfortable in leaving the lady with red hair behind, but it did not wish to disobey its summoner. She was obviously shaken after taking a slight hit from the green beast, but the Cactuar was certain she would survive. With its camouflage stealth, the green cactus avoided from getting into people's way or stomped on as he followed the Hulk's current battle with Thor. Being the smaller summon out of the rest of Genesis' summons, it was having second thoughts in confronting both the Hulk and Thor – Thor more so, because there weren't any specific orders concerning the God of Thunder.

When large containers of SHIELD storage boxes came tumbling down, no thanks to a certain flying hammer, the Cactuar squealed with an 'EEP!' and rolled away. Simultaneously, Thor delivered a mighty swing that struck the Hulk crashing into a fighter jet. It only made the Hulk angrier that in retaliation, the green monster ripped the jet fighter's wings and threw it back at Thor.

Luckily, Thor had seen the wing coming and ducked. Just as Thor wanted to throw his hammer, a trail of shiny thorns swished and embedded themselves in the metal floor in front of him. Even the Hulk stopped in its vengeful step upon the demigod to look at the one who stopped their fight.

In front of them was a small plant or a cactus. It was surely alive, as it was moving and waving its arms as if to separate the two.

Thor for one recognized it as a spirit creature from one of the stories his mother had told him as a child concerning magic. It was shocking to find one on Midgard unless there was a powerful sorcerer of sorts who called it forth. Gazing intently at the tiny green spirit, its magic signature was familiar to Thor. The very same magic he felt when he shook hands with Son of Coul's apprentice. As the Cactus stood in-between them, Thor hesitated on whose side it was on.

On the opposite side, the Hulk was going to get angrier when the green stick figure came along. However, that all stopped when that same wave of calmness showered the Hulk again. It was the same as the young redhead guy that Banner seemed to like. Hulk liked the young red guy; he wasn't a liar and also held the same dislike the Hulk had for General Ross. Even so, he didn't want the green stick figure in the way of fighting Thor despite it wanting to help.

In a very rare moment, the Hulk approached and nudged the Cactuar away from dividing the two from fighting. Thor, unfortunately, took this step as if the Hulk was going to hurt the small spirit and sent his hammer slamming into the green beast's face.

The Cactuar sweat dropped and shivered when the Hulk roared louder than before. So much for trying to stop them from fighting.

Still furious, the Hulk smashed down a fist at Thor who stopped it, and tried to push him back. He grunted, "We are not your enemies, Banner! Try to think!"

The Hulk instead lifted Thor up, who was holding on to The Hulk, and used his other free arm to send the Asgardian crashing into another stack of SHIELD supply crates and metal containers.

.

.

---

Genesis swore to the point that could have made Cid the pilot proud. His head pounded like no tomorrow after hitting his head on the wall. He stood up from his crouching position and looked around him only to find many agents sprawled around the floor.

'None dead but that shock-wave was bad enough for normal people to withstand,' he thought, as he assessed his surroundings with the help of the Lifestream.

It was thanks to Genesis' split tenth of a second decision to shield everyone with Wall spell that they survived. (7) Unfortunately, since everything was in close quarters, everyone was affected by the shockwave of the blast and ended up either flying into a wall or the floor. He wouldn't be surprised if everyone suffered a mild concussion. Genesis breathed out a sigh of relief he could endure the impact and still be conscious, yet now his own support team was down. On the positive side, so were all the brainwashed agents Loki had sent.

Touching a pulse of one of the knocked out brainwashed agents, Genesis was surprised to find the lack of active lingering spells, leaving residues, a clear sign of dispelled magic. It seemed like his guess was right when he analyzed the videos Fury had shown him. He quickly checked the remaining agents. One by one, he found out they were all free of Loki's manipulation spell. Good. That meant he had fewer people to worry about. With everyone's safety in mind, Genesis quickly sent a distress call from one of the remaining active terminals that miraculously survived the grenade blast (which were not in the immediate area of the blast radius).

For now, Engine 4 was safe.

The former commander forced himself to calm down and tried to figure out what he should do next. There was no sign of Clint, and the others were trying to make sure the Hellicarrier was still flying. Loki obviously had sent this team of goons as a distraction, and a fail-safe…

Genesis stopped in his trail of thought when he realized Fury had sent Coulson to close off the detention cell area.

His heart sped up with deep concern, and all thoughts for his own safety were thrown aside. Loki had been planning to escape from the start, so it was most plausible Barton had sent some of the Loki's lackeys there. Knowing how Phil wasn't going to go down without a fight when it came to getting the job done, Genesis made a mad dash as he sprinted down the halls. He trusted Phil could stand his ground against normal (brainwashed) people, but if Loki escaped his prison...

The former SOLDIER shook his head in believing the worst. Genesis swore to himself he'd get there in time.

.

.

---

In the Lower Levels of the Helicarrier…

The small Cactus was having second thoughts whether its master was right to trust him with the mission of keeping an eye on the Hulk. No matter how hard it tried to separate the two from fighting, one way or another something just happened to antagonize the Hulk's rage further. It was starting to wonder if it was the luckiest of Genesis' summons, and why Ifrit (8) wasn't called out instead. The fire summon was physically as large as the Hulk and would have been more suited to do the job. However, it then remembered that anything that looked dangerous would have made the Hulk feel more threatened. The Hulk seemed like a gentle giant; at least, when the Cactuar remembered the Hulk was nudging it away from the fight; for now, not so much.

Trying to shower the Hulk now in its angry state with the Lifestream wasn't working anymore. For being so small, the Cactuar could only use its thorns to limit the amount of fighting area the two could fight in. Thanks to its intervention, the Cactuar was positive that the damage in the Helicarrier wasn't as widespread as it could have been. The only flaw to the plan: vertical space was fair game. It felt guilty that both the demigod and Hulk had gone through blasting a couple of levels of the Hellicarrier, and had sent many people running off in all directions.

In the meantime, Thor had wrapped his arms around the Hulk's neck while using Mjolnir as a chokehold and attempting to subdue the green beast with no avail. The Hulk ran into another wall, and literally plowed through it, going further down another level. The Cactuar chased behind them in dread.

.

.

---

The Helicarrier Bridge…

"We got perimeter breach! Hostiles are in SHIELD gear! Call-outs at every junction!" one of the security personnel shouted.

Nick Fury took cover as a shoot-out commenced on the bridge. He gave a small nod of thanks to Hill for taking out an assailant that was about to take his life. So far the people on the bridge weren't doing too great as most of those on the stations were technicians. There were a few agents that supported him and Hill from a distance away. Even if they excelled in numbers, their enemies were tactical soldiers. It didn't make handling things any easier.

The same security personnel then reported worriedly, "Sir, the Hulk, and Thor are in Research Level 4. Level 2 and 3 are dark!"

The Director of SHIELD winced at the damage his Helicarrier was receiving.

"Sir, at this rate the Hulk will tear this place apart!" Hill warned.

As much as he didn't like the idea of killing Banner (after the man had willingly wanted to help them find the cube), he needed to remove the Hulk from the Helicarrier. There were many lives were at stake. From Fury's experience with all the years of keeping an eye on Banner, the Hulk had survived from an impact of tank missiles (no thanks to General Ross). Hopefully, the green monster was stubborn enough to not die, especially when it hit the water or land from free-falling thousands of feet to the ground this time around.

Fury turned to his Deputy Director with an order, "Get his attention."

With a nod, Hill retreated and another agent took her place in the fray.

"Escort 606, proceed to 270 Main Shuttle and engage hostile," Hill ordered through her earpiece. "Don't get too close."

.

.

---

With a ferocious punch from the Hulk, Thor flew through a couple levels down and slammed on the Wishbone Lab's floor. He grunted nursing his pained back as the small spirit creature was in an instant by his side.

"I'm fine, little one," Thor replied to the Cactuar's questioning panicked look if he was alright. Thanks to his AllSpeak, he somewhat understood what the spirit creature was saying. (9)

Thor had learned quickly enough that the small creature was trying to help them when it was maneuvering their fight away from the Midgardians on the flying fortress. Despite for being such a tiny spirit in Thor's eyes, it was fast, highly intelligent and persistent in facing the Hulk. All efforts of Thor persuading it to leave the battlefield were replied with stubborn chirps of refusal. When asked why, it only said it was loyal to its master, and the master meant well for Doctor Banner.

Just as Thor was going to shift his thoughts on Genesis, the Hulk appeared. However, he wasn't the only one who made an appearance. Outside, a SHIELD jet plane hovered into view.

~( Target acquired. Target engaged. )~ the pilot reported through his communicator.

Noticing the activated weapons on the flying contraption, Thor shouted to the small spirit, "Find cover!"

A shower of bullets sprayed all over the Hulk, Thor dove for cover, and the Cactuar decided to quickly hold on one the side of Hulk's pants in order to not get separated from the Hulk.

As the jet plane currently took the Hulk's attention away from the Thor, the demigod stiffened. Loki's scepter was missing from the room. The lack of magical signature of the weapon was hard to miss. He was torn to leave Banner and the spirit creature behind, but if his brother escaped, the situation could get far worse. Reluctantly, he made way towards his brother's cell.

Furious at the sudden pain of multiple metal bullets hitting his skin, the Hulk turned his sights on the cause: the jet plane. Letting out a primal roar, he jumped out crashing through the windows and landed on the jet's nose.

~( Target angry! Target angry! )~ the pilot panicked, trying to get the Hulk off his plane, but it was too late. With little effort for a raging Hulk, he ripped the plane to pieces with his bare hands, to the point that he even caught the ejecting pilot's seat and threw it away.

Without a pilot and in pieces, the plane spiraled out of control and exploded. The Hulk was thrown into the air thanks to the blast in the opposite direction of the exploding jet plane; along with him, a Cactuar screeching and holding on for its dear life.

.

.

---

While the worst of the gunfight was over, Fury kept his handgun up on guard. He was confused why they kept coming, something was wrong.

"They are not getting through here, so what the hell—"

An arrow whistled above him.

In an instant, it connects to a part of the upper stations and explodes, sending technicians falling and running for cover. The Director ducked and kept his eyes out for his missing agent. Another arrow whistles through and a different part of the bridge explodes. Just as Nick Fury spotted a brainwashed Barton, the archer released a multi-tipped arrow. As the arrow hits the command desk, it inserts small prongs directly feeding itself into a terminal, hacking every single monitor and frame. He tried to fire a shot to where his missing agent was there moments ago, only to have Hawkeye disappear from sight.

Fury hissed in worry as on a monitoring screen showed Engine 1's rotor slowed down and doesn't shut off. Even so, at its current speed was nowhere enough to keep the Helicarrier to remain aloft in the air for long. The bridge slowly tilted towards a hazardous angle.

The technician's report was desperate. "We're in uncontrolled descent! Sir, Engine 1 isn't functioning up to speed! All surveillance cameras of the detention area and lower levels are offline!"

Nick Fury made a desperate call to his communicator to see if any of his agents out there could respond. "It's Barton. He took our systems. He's headed for the detention level. Does anybody copy?!"

.

.

---

In the lower levels, Natasha curled herself up and was rocking herself back and forth. She shuddered as she tried to get a grip on herself after an encounter with an angry Hulk. She hated the fact that her body was still shaking while Phil and Genesis were probably still out there fighting with the others. In the face of the worst of humanity had to offer she could deal with, but against something such as an instinctual rage beast like the Hulk she was out of her league. She was trying to focus on committing to do something, when she heard the Director of SHIELD pointing out where Clint was headed.

Clint.

She needed to get her partner back.

Summoning back all her coolness, she touched her earpiece and replied, "This is Agent Romanoff. I copy."

With the energy and purpose she didn't have before, she sprung up from her hiding place and ran after Barton.

.

.

---

After dislodging the worst of debris that blocked the rotors from functioning, Iron Man jumped in-between them and started to push. He grunted as the rotors were a lot heavier than he expected.

~( Stark, we're losing altitude)~ , Fury's voice reminded him through his HUD.

"Yeah, I noticed," Tony replied as JARVIS' indicators showed the altitude numbers ticking down. While he pushed, in the back of his mind, he hoped that the Captain was ready near the lever.

Steve at the current moment, though, wasn't as near to the lever as he liked. One rogue brainwashed agent was still shooting at him. He wasn't sure that the person was really a SHIELD agent, but he wasn't given the luxury to get close and personal to knock the person out like he did with the others. Genesis' warning about them coming was a good heads up, but this last one wasn't making it easier on him. He didn't want to kill this one on accident if he had to. He nearly threw a man out into the air but thankfully remembered that all these soldiers could have been unlucky to have their minds controlled by Loki.

On another thought, Steve wasn't adapting to shooting the gun accurately as he would have liked. His experiences with guns were mostly outdated, and the only thing had learned in his time with Genesis was to handle guns that most civilians were allowed to carry with a proper license.

As his thoughts were elsewhere, Steve had missed the fact he was moving back in trying to avoid getting shot. His mind raced as small chunks of debris caused his footing to slip, sending out him into the air.

Panicking, he grabbed the nearest thing he could on the side of the opening and dangled on what was a large cut wire.

.

.

---

In the Detention area…

Phil Coulson slumped down against the wall as the scepter was taken out from the back of his chest, and heard Thor shouting powerlessly in Hulk's supposed to be cell. He hissed and wheezed a labored breath as his chest burned in searing pain to the point that his limbs were useless in a state of shock. It was stupid of him going after the Asgardian that was known for his trickery. Loki, the very person that could go against the Black Widow in a mind game, and made his youngest protégé cautious of a confrontation even if he was knowledgeable in magic. Was he foolish for trying, though? No, he did what the oath he swore on his SHIELD badge: To serve when everything else had failed, to be humanity's last defense, to be the shield.

The elder agent watched as Loki opened the hatch, without any remorse for Thor at all. Giving his brother one last look, he hit the button and let Thor in the cage drop out of the ship. While it seemed impossible to escape for a human, Phil had faith Thor would make it out somehow.

"You're going to lose." Phil spoke, even though he was sure his life was fading before his eyes.

Loki turned around with the scoff, "Am I?"

"It's in your nature." He trusted that the Avengers would take over in taking care of the wayward Asgardian; Genesis would be right behind them and support them. He was sure of that.

Loki chuckled with a sneer, "Your heroes are scattered, your floating fortress falls from the sky; where is my disadvantage?"

Phil answered simply, "You lack conviction."

"I don't think I—"

Distraction was the oldest rule in any spy rule book, and Phil pulled the trigger of the Phase 2 Weapon Prototype in his hands. The shot blasted so hard it caused the Asgardian to be blown through the metal wall behind him.

"So, that's what it does," Phil said thoughtfully. His heart was at least appeased that he got a shot at Loki.

Time then seemed to slow down for the elder agent as he could hear things around him. He wasn't sure how much time passed but when a familiar red-haired agent came into view, he was surprised. He wasn't even aware Genesis had been there until the young agent was clicking his fingers near his ear.

"Phil! Phil!" Genesis was waving a hand in front of his mentor's face concern all over his face. "Snap out of it! Did you have to face Loki by yourself?"

Coulson smiled weakly, "Thor was in trouble… but it seemed my help didn't turn out well." He coughed as blood was rising into his throat.

"At ease," his protégé warned him, "this wound is horrible. I'm going to have to heal it."

Phil shook his head. "Don't; I think Loki hit my heart—"

However, Genesis was having none of it, and set on a risky spell. He cast Reraise first, and then Regen on his mentor. His breath hitched as a large portion of his magic reserves depleted so quickly. He still needed to cast a constant healing spell to make sure his mentor survived. He winced as his Regen spell wasn't functioning as he would have liked. He wondered if the scepter's magic had to do with that.

"You're going to wear yourself out."

"Then it's worth it," the younger agent insisted, this time, focusing on a Curaga spell. "You need to meet them. You know the ones I told you about, who are a part of my past."

Genesis would die trying if he had to. All those years of research without using SHIELD's database; it would have been easy to use a facial recognition program. He refused to find his friends in his past life when his movements were mostly under SHIELD surveillance. While he could cover his digital tracks with his SND, Genesis didn't want the risk of anybody finding out about his powers. Also, it wouldn't be fair on his friends if they got involved because he was careless—especially if they had no memory of their past lives.

"Tell me about them?"

Genesis nodded trying to keep calm as he worked his spell. He frowned as the Curaga was behaving more like a normal Cure spell. "Well, there's a young lady; and there's her mother who's a biophysicist."

"A girlfriend?"

Genesis softly laughed even when he was going against the odds in healing a wound that was hard to heal. "Not in the slightest. She's a sweet charming young lady with a passion for flowers; she's more like a younger sister. She's wise beyond her years."

"And her mother?" Phil asked trying to keep his consciousness.

"She's kind and a spitfire," Genesis kept talking to keep his mentor awake. "You'll like her. Even Steve Rogers doesn't stand against her if she asks you for something so sincere and nicely. She reminds me of Audrey."

That name changed Phil's composure. "Genesis, if anything happens to me, Audrey—" (10)

"Isn't going to your funeral," Genesis interrupted, still pouring his magic into the healing spell. "In fact, when this is all over, I'm going to ask Director Fury to hold a wedding for you and her. Her orchestra will be invited too and we'll get them to play wedding songs."

"Genesis!" the elder agent complained as he hissed in pain.

"Well it worked in keeping you awake, didn't it?" his apprentice asked lightly.

Phil breathed out a tired chuckle. "You're the best apprentice I could ever ask for."

"And I won't be your last." Genesis nodded still engrossed on his spell.

When Phil narrowed his eyes at Genesis, the former commander was too late to react and heard a click of a gun. The barrel was shoved behind his head.

"Hands up, Agent Rhapsodos. Now."

Being too absorbed with his healing spell and mentor, he had ignored any danger warning the Lifestream had given him. Genesis had to admit that the Lifestream wasn't all that faultless in giving warnings of direct danger, especially when all the chaos happened at once in an enclosed area. He did as he was told.

"Get up, turn around."

When he did, Genesis was shocked at the agents behind him. One who was aiming the gun at him he recognized as one of Fury's bridge surveillance agents, the one in the middle of the room also held a gun was part of the guard that escorted Loki to his cell and last… was Agent Jasper Sitwell. What made Genesis' blood chill: their eyes were in that eerily blue color that mirrored Hawkeye's on the surveillance recordings in the PEGASUS Facility.

This time, Sitwell spoke, "Loki wishes to meet you. Don't try anything, or I'll shoot Agent James here, and Agent James will do the same to the Agent who has a gun at you."

"Genesis, don't go with them," Phil warned him.

Agent James aimed his gun at Phil.

Genesis decided to step in before things got out of hand. "Alright! Stop! I'll go, leave Phil alone."

"Move." Agent Sitwell nodded gesturing towards the door. "If you stop us, there are still more agents downstairs that will be shot down in our stead."

Genesis was aware it was a trap, but this hostage situation wasn't giving him any chances. The Lifestream was even saying that Sitwell wasn't lying at all.

"Genesis…"

"I'll come back," he said to his mentor, before walking out of the detention area with three of Loki's puppets looming behind him. He had done all he could to heal Phil. Hopefully, someone would get to the detention area later as soon as possible. While he reported that Phil was down, there weren't any replies back.

In the meantime, he questioned himself why Loki had wanted to see him all of the people. During the whole fiasco, Genesis was certain he did all he could to keep his distance. If anything, Loki wasn't supposed to be aware of him. Unless… Loki had sensed the Lifestream like Thor did when he passed by the Wishbone Lab.

.

.

---

In the lower equipment room Barton walked robotically on a mission to kill anyone in his way. It was what Loki had sent him to do. Just as he was about to take another step, he sensed her. In a lightning fluid move, an arrow was nocked to his bow and he aimed at the Black Widow. While his body was moving on its own, Clint didn't understand why his heart felt like screaming in pain at him to not kill her. His memory was faulty there were so many things he didn't understand.

He knew her— Her name was— she was—

There wasn't time as a hand to hand fight ensued.

Natasha, on the other hand, gritted her teeth as she fought her missing friend that Loki had taken away from her small family of agents. Barton knew her moves inside out. Even under Loki's control, there wasn't an indication of hesitation from how Clint fought against her. It made her wonder whether the real Clint was still inside there. Clint may have been physically stronger than her, but she used her surroundings to her advantage. The railings were her playground; she'd use that so Barton wouldn't get a good aim on her. With all her might, she eventually got hold of this bow and pried it away from him.

At least, Hawkeye's main weapon was out of his hands. That doesn't stop a brainwashed Clint pull out his combat knife and attack her again.

.

.

---

The hanger area was relatively silent and empty, save for the fact a tactical team with all identical blue glowing eyes were guarding it. While Genesis was currently weaponless (his gun was taken away), he wasn't worried at all when it came to handling the brainwashed agents behind him. At the moment, Loki was the priority target Genesis had to deal with. The former SOLDIER was so glad when he chased after Coulson, he made a move to store his contingency plans away at the time he happened to pass by his locker. If the worst happened, at least, Loki or any enemy wouldn't get their hands on it.

As the hanger doors closed behind them in a tight lock, Genesis had recognized them as one of SHIELD's S.T.R.I.K.E. teams. Although, their numbers were far fewer than he knew according to SHIELD's database on them.

Loki was standing with staff in hand in the middle of the hanger. "So we finally meet."

Genesis' eyes were now on the Asgardian and said, "S.T.R.I.K.E. teams aren't supposed to be this small."

The Asgardian shrugged and raised a brow, "The rest you mean? They were taken care of, seeing as they fought hopelessly and didn't wish to be controlled."

There was a pause before Genesis asked the God of Lies, "So, may I inquire why you want to meet me in the first place? As it stands, the Avengers are on a higher threat level to your plans." He didn't mean to disrespect those who had died fighting, but there was now the priority to save the ones that were still alive.

Loki clucked his tongue and waved a finger. "I've taken care of them."

"Some of them you mean?" Genesis responded, but noted that Thor wasn't present on the Helicarrier anymore. A spike of worry appeared in Genesis' mind as both his Cactuar summon and the Hulk were missing as well. However, the Lifestream gave no warning or indication that they were dead.

"That's no concern of mine," Loki motioned but then smiled, "at least not for long. It's the next level of threat I should take care of. Usually, it's the planner, general, strategist–call it what you will–that people should target. They're hard people to come by, I might add. Only if one knows where to search, it's the best target to exploit."

"I take it Agent Barton told you," Genesis said calmly.

"Oh, and everything that you're good at Agent Rhapsodos," Loki smirked hinting at a certain subject. "Your special… 'skill sets' have made me curious what you're capable of."

The way Loki pressed about the issue was dangerous. While the agents and soldiers around him were under Loki's manipulation spell, on the inside there was a chance they could hear all of what was said clearly. Genesis didn't need witnesses about his powers if Loki wanted to spill his secrets.

Genesis waved his hand and casted with the effects of an All Materia, speed-casting DeSpell and in an instant followed by Sleep. His magic reserves depleted quickly to a remaining half left, but with positive results. As soon as the brainwashed victims' eyes were cleared of their blue color, they dropped to the ground in numerous thuds. The only ones not affected were in the quintjet which were out of reach Genesis' range to cast his magic. The red-haired agent predicted they were only pilots and the Lifestream hadn't given any warnings they were innocent SHIELD personnel.

"Clever," Loki complimented with a slight surprise in his tone, "Not only you dismissed the controlling spell, but by putting them in a state of sleep you've rendered any chances I can control them again."

Genesis held his poker face up and observed how the Asgardian wasn't disappointed with the loss of his human puppets. How odd. "It was a risked guess, but a good one nonetheless."

He didn't regret what he did. Sleep was a spell anyone could get out of without any chances of making people go insane or had the least harmful effects. He didn't take chances when it came to the other alignment spells such as berserk induced spells, or transforming ones such as Mini. The fact that Loki confirmed that he couldn't make them into his puppets for a second time was an advantage. As a plus, the problem of having witnesses to his magical powers was now out of the way.

As much as Loki was wary of what Rhapsodos was proficient of, his curiosity was much stronger. He was confident that he could take on the agent with no worry.

"There hasn't been a powerful sorcerer from Midgard in eons, at least, the ones that I'm aware of. Where and from whom did you learn your magic from?"

"That's simply none of your business," Genesis replied bluntly; he wasn't going to give any clues or answers about his connection to the Lifestream.

Loki wasn't giving up. "What's with the secrets, Rhapsodos? You know, you could have prevented 'dear' Clint from the worst of what mind manipulation could do to a person's mind; that's if you have casted a protection spell or even told him how to counter such a spell beforehand," he said casually. But then his tone turned somewhat biting and sinister. "Unfortunately, I think at this moment he's with the Black Widow trying to kill her; very slowly."

The former SOLDIER frowned and didn't reply. While Phil had told him numerous times Genesis had the right to keep his secrets for his own safety and others around him, Loki's comment was like a punch in the gut. He really cared for the archer like a brother. Clint didn't deserve to get mind raped the way he did, especially now that he was sent after to kill Natasha. Natasha was the very person Clint defended, had fought tooth and nail to make sure that she deserved a second chance. Genesis reminded himself he needed to believe Natasha would knock Clint out just like he suggested. Loki was trying to get under his skin.

"Why so silent?" the God of Lies spoke in a mocking manner.

Noting that Loki wasn't in a hurry to run away just yet, Genesis thought he could take his chances in getting information. "I'm merely figuring out what you are." He kept note of his gradual depleting magic reserves as he waited for the Asgardian's reaction.

"What do you think I am, Rhapsodos?" Loki said as he took the bait. "Didn't the Black Widow make it clear to this fortress what she thought of me?"

Genesis shrugged and challenged, "Do you believe you're a monster?"

"I'm a ruler that will take over your world!" Loki snapped back.

A smirk came to Genesis' face. "I was merely asking. I didn't expect positive results."

Loki was shocked how fast the young agent had switched the sides of the mind game. He seethed, "You don't answer a question with another."

"No, you don't," Genesis said as he gave Loki a thoughtful look. Oddly enough, despite being disrupted by Loki's scepter, the Lifestream was buzzing trying to tell him something. He didn't dare take his eyes off from Loki but channeled on a part of his magic trying to decipher what the Lifestream was saying. He needed to stall more time, but not too much.

From Genesis' odd response, Loki was somewhat appeased, and his curiosity was back. "Well? Out with it; inquiring minds would also like to know."

"It's just that," Genesis started and paused before he continued, "Correct me if I'm wrong, if Asgard still holds the beliefs of like we hear in the legends that Earth has in its 'myth' like stories… I'm guessing what they teach you there is that you're either the Hero or the Monster?"

"And what of it?" Loki asked in a dangerous tone.

Genesis at that point inwardly winced when the Lifestream's buzz had ceased, much like how a song was muted with a switch of a button. 'What was it trying to say?' he thought with frustration. The scepter's passive magic was far stronger that he expected, especially if the Lifestream was having problems in trying to tell him something important. For another time then, he still had the Lie-Smith to deal with.

"I'm curious as to why you haven't chosen another role yourself," the former commander stated. "You have magic, which is a power has to count for something. You could have chosen to be something else other than what I've mentioned, or created your own role."

The God shook his head slowly. "Some aren't given such choice, not when Asgard sees raw strength is more noteworthy than intelligence," was a bitter tone that Loki said in a soft voice.

Genesis was sure he wouldn't have heard it without his enhanced hearing.

The god paused, then faced Genesis again, "Although, I might as well ask the same question to you. You have power and magic I have not yet encountered, and yet you serve these humans. You even wish to save them."

Genesis only gave the god a clipped reply. "I have personal reasons."

Loki sneered. "Then, my, aren't they selfish reasons? Your mentor's on Death's door, and your assassin friends will probably follow soon after while you save these humans who have no direct ties to you."

Genesis wasn't in the mood for more mind games, now that Loki had no hostages under his control. His magic was draining on him, and if it got any lower, he wouldn't be able to defend himself from Loki. Also, he still needed to get back to his friends. "Why did you call me here? Other than making me a target, I thought your 'ruling the world' scheme was more important."

The god laughed, and pointed the scepter at Genesis in a threatening manner. "Change of plans. Your dear Widow was foolish if she thinks I'd let go with the fact she can outwit me and get away with it."

Slowly he took steps toward the agent.

"You have it all: magic, strategic wit, and perhaps fighting skill others might not know. You're too good to pass off for not being under my control, Rhapsodos. First under my control, you're going to get rid your mentor's body, along with your SHIELD friends. Then, let's see how the remaining Avengers will fare against y—"

'CLANG!'

Loki's eyes widened as his reflex was what saved him from an abrupt attack. He struggled and pushed back with his scepter against… a red sword?

The god didn't have another chance to wonder what going on, as another lightning blow from the same sword sent him reeling back. He gritted his teeth as the sound of metal against metal resonated and pierced through the hanger area. Loki was only lucky enough to use the momentum to flip and land on his feet while still skidding quite a distance. He hadn't expected the young agent to hit even harder than Captain America. He was supposed to be a human! If anything, that strength and physical power were similar to that of an Asgardian!

Blinking and standing steadily on his feet, Loki was now faced with Genesis holding a long red elegant double edged sword in a predatory stance, glaring at him with murderous intent.

Loki's mind was still trying to catch up on what had occurred. "Impossible… a Swordsmage?"

Such a thing was unheard of coming from Midgard. While in Asgard there were records of such individuals, they were a very rare breed of warriors who focused on the balance of both powers in magic and raw strength. Very few Asgardians pursued to be a swordsmage, as too few had the right amount of balance between magic and raw power that was required to be one.

On the opposite side, Genesis inwardly chided himself for getting riled like that, especially when he took the initiative to make the first attack. He blamed the scepter for making his Resist spell weaker by the second, and when his mentor's life was part of Loki's mocking, the ex-SOLDIER couldn't help but snap.

'Breathe slowly, and calm down,' he reminded himself. The last thing he needed was to go into a berserker rage, but having an emotional drive would let him release his limit breaks more quickly. He grunted in disappointment as he couldn't release Apocalypse on Loki (which would have been satisfying), fearing that he'd destroy more than a portion of the Hellicarrier if he did so. (11) At least, he could use his smaller ranged ones to good use.

Having also summoned his Rapier sword, he might as well use it. The former crimson commander didn't deny it felt good to have its familiar grip in his hand once more after some time it had not seen any action. He held Rapier up to the side and waved his left hand upon it, activating its magical runes. The sword shimmered angry bright red, mirroring the emotions of its owner.

"I'm not apologizing, Lie-Smith," Genesis said coldly. "Being a puppet? I'll kill you and revive you repeatedly before that ever transpires."

Despite being in a guarded stance no thanks to Genesis' weapon of choice, Loki raised a brow, "That's a tall promise, reviving someone you've already killed."

The agent only chuckled, but his killing intent doubled. "You'd be surprised what I'm truly capable of."

Loki was more than shocked when he detected no lie. "What—"

A red blur.

Another blinding blow struck him in a sudden guard, and this time, Loki actually had to retreat back. Loki cursed inwardly as he forced to move mechanically with the speed Genesis had chased him with, and avoid blows he'd rather not accept if his guard wasn't sturdy enough. Sword and scepter clashed with sparks and blows leaving the God of Lies gritting his teeth due to sheer force. If anything, Loki very sure the agent wasn't going to let him have any breathing space. He felt like an owl trying to fight off an attacking peregrine falcon diving at its prey with deadly precision.

Genesis pressed the god to his advantage by striking hard and fast in short-range combat. Being a mage himself, he knew all the weaknesses Loki could have. No time think systematically, meant the lesser chances of any strong or chanted spells. By using his strength at opportunistic intervals, he'd exploit his blows and shake Loki's focus off if the Asgardian ever wished to start a spell. On a side note, he wasn't foolish to not notice that the scepter wasn't Loki's real main weapon. While Loki gave an indication of being trained in fighting with a scepter, how he handled it wasn't a second nature to him.

The former SOLDIER's time was ticking. The blue orb that was the source of the scepter's power was still sucking out his magical reserves like a leech. As if there weren't any more disadvantages to deal with, Genesis could only use his physical strength on Loki alone and not his surroundings. Too much strength released around him and he'd make holes in the Helicarrier. Most 1st Class SOLDIERs were capable of easily slicing up thick metal such as the Sister Ray Canon in Junon if they put their mind to it. Genesis would rather not have the flying fortress plummet from thousands of feet to such a similar doom with additional damage no thanks to the Hulk's fight with Thor.

Just as he was going to land a blow on a defending Loki, Genesis' eyes widened as his sword shot through Loki and thin air, causing him to stumble.

He missed?!

The former SOLDIER got his answer as six copies of Loki surrounded him heaving, but laughing all the same. Genesis' eyes narrowed as he regained his footing immediately and kept a constant guard.

'A personal passive magical skill, perhaps?' he thought, noted it vigilantly, and he kept his sense based Materia open to get information on his enemy. (12) That could be the reason why Loki's scepter wasn't responsible for it, if not the stone would have shined.

"I didn't think you have in you to go against me," the Asgardian said taking a breath. "But what you will you do now?" At the same time, Loki was swiftly making adjustments to his mind on how to handle with Rhapsodos as his illusions bought him time to think.

Genesis was pleasantly surprised at the same time Loki asked, his limit break was ready. With also all Materia available in Gaia now in his repertoire, he grinned how Loki was clearly underestimating him. With a defensive stance, he charged up and released his limit break.

Loki did a double take as red Magical Swords appeared and sliced through the air destroying his illusions. (13) He snarled and swore as one nicked him on the left shoulder as he dodged another one just in time before it made for his chest. The fact that he bled had snapped the God of Lies to the reality it wasn't time to play around anymore. His enemy swung at him once more, with a speed he had barely caught with a strong guard.

As the two mages' weapons clashed again, Loki decided in a rather desperate attempt to know his opponent more, used his ice-based powers. Focusing on them, cold ice traveled through the scepter and onto Rhapsodos' sword, enough to make the agent pull back. Loki's mood lifted as this time, he formed ice rocks and sent them at the agent. To Loki's shock, Genesis waved his hand casually and completely evaporated the ice with fireballs of his own. The fact there wasn't a trace of water on the ground indicated that Genesis' control on the element of fire was faultless.

Loki who was out of breath only had managed to avoid getting hit by the agent yet again by making more illusions. This caused his enemy to temporarily retreat.

The red-haired agent opposing the god snorted that his limit break was wasted. As for the ice, the former commander wasn't too worried; fire based magic was his forte. However, the personal passive magic skill trait Loki used had given Genesis ideas. Genesis consciously activated a passive Materia magic ability, and then countered Loki by casting with Thunder to all the illusions around him.

Loki yelled loudly and winced as all his illusions were forcefully dispersed yet again. Recovering from the literal shock that Genesis caused, he assessed himself for injuries. While it didn't cause heavy damage to him, the lightning spell did hurt him. It was nothing compared to what torture Thanos' minion the Other could concoct, but it was a disdainful reminder of Thor and what his loathsome brother represented. Now furious, the Asgardian this time around used his trademark illusions to attack Genesis all at once.

Gasping in surprise at the sudden attack, Genesis brought up a maximum leveled Magic Barrier in panic as the Asgardian shot multiple blue energy blasts from his staff from all his illusions.

'CRACK!'

That sound was all the warning the former commander had gotten before his protective spell shattered to pieces. He dove and rolled away to safety, but hissed in pain as his sword arm took a hit.

Standing at a good distance, Genesis staggered and gritted his teeth as he cast a Cura spell on it while keeping an eye on Loki.

Thank the Goddess he didn't lose his grip on his sword, but that shot was too close.

He was inwardly horrified, though, to find when he took that hit, his natural magic resistance significantly dropped to a dangerous level. (14) The only reason why his magic resistance was still intact was thanks to the Resist spell Genesis had cast earlier in his office. He even tried to Despell the effects, only to find out it wasn't working.

A bead of sweat poured down on the side of his head. The scepter was far more dangerous than he credited it for. It was clear Steve and Tony were lucky enough Loki wasn't fighting seriously back in Germany. Getting hit again by anything that came out of that scepter wasn't an option.

Loki stood still as this time he dispersed his multiple illusions himself and tried to catch his breath again. It took a real effort to maintain more illusions at one time; there was a limited amount of time he could use them without severely draining his magic. It was why he preferred to use a single illusion as he did like when he confronted his fool of a brother.

Unfortunately, Rhapsodos was definitely high leveled sorcerer of sorts, and he gathered a single illusion wouldn't turn the tide of the fight at all. Not only was the agent a Swordsmage trained in effect spells, energy and elemental magic, but now healing magic too. The arm that took his one of his magic blasts was healed like nothing had happened. Loki fumed that this confrontation wasn't going in his favor as long as the young agent kept on healing himself. He was starting to doubt that trying to control Rhapsodos was a good idea.

Both mages were alerted that time was counting down for them as the area started to tilt at an angle. At a glance, the two stared at each other in silent agreement they were going to end this here and now. Genesis activated Rapier's runes, and Loki charged his scepter.

Loki, deducing that his illusions were successful in his previous attempt had used them again and attacked with his scepter. He frowned when his opponent grinned.

In retaliation, Genesis pulled out the very same spell with his Enemy Skill Materia back at the god, resulting multiple illusions of himself that either blocked the blasts with spells or dispersed as they got hit. The real Genesis had cast homing fire spells at all the illusions.

The Asgardian had no time to recover, he hissed as fire blasted sending him flying to a distance. His mind was filled with fear, shame, and anger that he was losing. He lost to someone that he didn't think would interfere with his plans! The fact that Rhapsodos COPIED his personal magic skill only added salt to the wound. He grunted in pain as his body crashed, tumbled onto the floor, but he rolled over to one knee. His eyes darted wildly in a chance to make anything towards his advantage, like a cornered animal.

There!

Genesis who was in the process of swiping his sword at the Asgardian stopped cold with his sword hovering dangerously at his enemy's neck.

"Not so fast, Rhapsodos." Loki leered with his scepter charged and just above a moaning soldier's head beside him.

The ex-SOLDIER growled. "Curse you."

Genesis was so focused on Loki that he had missed that lone soldier on the floor. He was so sure that all the brainwashed people was taken care with, that he had forgotten there was a chance they'd get in the way. Loki was the type of person who would fight dirty if it meant his own survival.

"Throw your weapon away. Or this one dies." The God warned as the glow of the scepter brightened with the soldier's tagged name as 'Walsh'. "And don't think about charging up magic."

There wasn't any promise Loki wouldn't kill the man if he did so. Genesis weighed his options quickly. He'd learned well enough to not fight with his weapon and with his fists on Earth. It would be disadvantageous against someone like Loki, but it wasn't worth a person's life. Reluctantly, he put down his sword and threw it away from them and where Loki could see it.

"Now that wasn't so hard, now was it?"

Genesis stood there still guarded and growled on what Loki had in mind next. He was starting to feel nauseous as his magic reserves were now at a quarter left… and still decreasing by the second. Damn that scepter.

This time, it was Loki who went on the offensive. Yet, the Asgardian made sure he was in reach of the soldier in case Genesis wanted to fight back. Genesis had to admit that fighting close quarter combat in a fist fight wasn't his real strength. He hadn't had a problem in fighting normal humans where his reflexes were always faster, but fighting someone like Loki was another level altogether. In a moment of recklessness to take a chance of hitting the Asgardian, when Genesis missed a punch, was then he noticed Loki's eyes up close.

They were blue, just like those brainwashed agents.

It can't be! Loki was a puppet too?!

However, this left his side unguarded.

The scepter's tip had reached and tapped above Genesis' heart.

The effects were immediate; he felt the manipulation spell spread like degrading roots curling around his soul and mind. His eyesight was turning blue.

'NO!'

While Loki was so attentive making Genesis be his puppet, Genesis in despair had grabbed the god's shirt. He pulled hard, resulting in slamming his own head against' Loki's, making the Asgardian dazed. The red-haired agent then rolled backward away from Loki, but he was probably in a worse state than before. The world was spinning in his eyes; his ears were ringing, and his magical core in a mess. His Resist spell was now non-existent.

The Asgardian recovered quickly and was certain that the human decoy was now of no use to him. From his scepter, Loki shot a blast at the human soldier that was trying to dazedly get onto his knees.

At the edge of Genesis' eye vision, though, a blue swirling blast of magic was heading their way fast. It was far too fast for a normal human to notice and avoid. However, to a former SOLDIER's eyes it was enough to warrant a reflex action; the only action he could do in his disoriented state.

He shoved Walsh away from the blast.

A split second; exploding pain struck him. An agonizing shout was ripped from his throat.

Another second later, his whole body reeled in pain and slammed onto the hard cold steel floor.

Genesis gritted his teeth with grunts and gasps as the spell that had rammed him down was poisoning and robbing him of his own magic reserves. He even felt his Rapier sword disperse to Lifestream particles across the room.

His logical mind that usually came up with plans was useless with his brain was giving into his primal instincts to survive. Breathe! Run! Pain! Live! It was like trying to frantically scrape and hang onto an already crumbling ledge of a cliff. He barely felt it—with the agonizing pain spreading out through his body—but his right side of his stomach had a hole. His blood heavily flowed out of the wound despite his hand trying to cover it in vain. More blood went up his throat as he coughed out.

"Saving that pathetic human? Pity really." Loki arrogantly said seeing his opponent struggling to breathe on the floor. He seethed that Rhapsodos was a hassle to deal with, but smiled in pleasure as his opponent was suffering greatly. "You could have been useful to me. But I think all bets are off when you're too dangerous to be left alive. It's surprising you didn't exactly die getting hit by that blast, but no matter."

The Asgardian's footsteps were suddenly loud to Genesis' ears even though his senses with the help of the Lifestream were muffled. Each step Loki took was a step that would silence his soul forever.

'Is this how am I going to die in my second life?' Genesis thought helplessly to himself.

After suffering through the degradation, the end of the world and war on Gaia, it seemed so trivial to die like this. Black spots flared his vision snapping back and forth, his magic reserves at near zero. A whimper escaped his lips, and he could even feel his body trembling, shuddering, and shutting down.

Flashbacks of memories blurred as his life in Gaia passed by, but the clearer ones stood out were the ones in his current life. There was Aerith with her now complete family (Ifalna, Gast and her twin sisters), the community of children and its caretakers that Genesis was acquainted with, the odd girl who taught him about finances as they cared for an old man at the hospice, and the Old Man who was the very first person who he considered as a grandfather. There were many faces that blurred by, but none was as clear as the ones that passed him right now.

Steve was confused why the children of the local community were excited to eat something he never heard of for lunch that afternoon. With a genuine curiosity, he asked embarrassedly in a low voice, "Genesis, what are chicken nuggets?"

The way Tony stared at him with his mouth hanging open didn't go along with the genius persona. He eventually straightened himself, coughed, and faced the young agent with a grin. "Remind me to send you a Guy Fawkes mask for your birthday."

Bruce rolled his eyes in amusement when Genesis was being secretive by quoting on a whim about whom the other consultant was. "You're insufferable when it comes to direct answers Genesis."

Agent Hill passed him a cup of coffee. "I think I realize why Phil wanted you to be his protégé. But please tell me you're not a Captain America fanboy; are you?"

"Rhapsodos, stop being so modest," Fury huffed and then chuckled sitting in his office chair. "You have yet to realize your true potential. Just remember, a man can accomplish anything when he realizes he's a part of something bigger. Your time will come."

Natasha and he were in disguise on a stealth mission in Russia. "You know, I like this disguise–we're siblings–we actually look the part, and it's nice… that in a way we're not entirely lying."

"You're a not a bad shot, but I'm guessing you can do better," Clint said observing the targets on the wall. He then waved in dismissal about the uneasiness on Genesis' face. "Don't worry; let's get a schedule we can work with, and I'll teach you ropes. If you're a genius like Phil said, you're probably way better than the fresh recruits I usually get. It'll be fun."

Phil was supportive with his decision. "Well, I'm not sure what you'll find without using SHIELD's database search, but you have my support in finding your friends from your previous life. If you need extra help, my doors are always opened to you."

.

.

For that moment in time, his vision cleared. Genesis stubbornly refused to die like this. There were people waiting for him to get back. There were his friends, old and new who needed his help, and in turn, he also wanted their presence in his new found life.

When Loki's feet were in his peripheral view on the cold tarmac the Asgardian taunted, "So what does the 'Ant' say to the 'Boot' in its last moments?"

Genesis couldn't say anything. His breathing was already clogged up as it was, and his mind let his instincts took over. He grabbed Loki's ankle and clamped it in an iron vice grip.

"What are you doing?!" Loki spat.

With all the magic he had remaining, Genesis sucked what maybe could be his last breath, and used Dual Cast; he casted both Drainga and Osmoga at the same time (15).

He wasn't quite sure either, but he thought he released a Limit Break on the Asgardian at the same time too out of reflex.

Loki trembled and was out of breath as his magic and stamina were drained from him so rudely. Just as he wanted to pry away from the hand that held him, black feathers snowed around him.

'What in the Nine Realms is going on?!'

He never got an answer to that as the white blinding light struck him in the face and caused him to stagger back away from the dying agent. (16)

Heaving a labored breath, the former SOLDIER sighed in relief as energy started to pour back into him. He wheezed in more air as he cast Regen and a Curaga. It wasn't enough to get him standing or even sitting up again, no thanks to the magic interference that the scepter had caused to his magical reserves. At least, he'd survive for now… unless he died out of blood loss later… or Loki killed him first. With how Loki was heaving and absolutely sounded livid, Genesis feared this was still the end for him.

Loki was about to stab the agent when his boot stepped on something. To the surprise of both mages, the said object detonated with white magic rippling out and sent the Asgardian flying into a Quintjet ready for take-off.

Seeing as the floor angle of the Helicarrier was getting worse, Loki (who quickly recovered himself) had decided to leave and ordered an evacuation of his still mind controlled pilot. He loathed and fumed at the thought that the young agent had done some moderate damage on him, but he wasn't going to risk his plan of an upcoming invasion on Earth. He could take the pleasure that the swordsmage was damaged enough to die there before the Avengers could get to him. The damage he intended was done. Now, he had a new throne on Earth to make and focus on.

As the Quintjet flew out, the hanger was left in silence once again. Grunting, Genesis managed to push himself up on his elbow to see what the God of Lies stepped on.

It was a laminated yellow flower bookmark.

Aerith.

The former SOLDIER slumped back on the ground. Genesis tiredly and inwardly chuckled (even though he was feeling awfully sick) at the thought that the very thing that actually saved him from a crazy Asgardian god from killing him was a flower bookmark charm. Well, it was technically a white magic spell, but it saved him nonetheless. It must have slipped out of his suit pocket at some point during the fight. He really needed to thank the Ancient later.

All his happier thoughts were put on hold when his body shuddered and his coughing was back in full force. He couldn't use any more healing spells even if he wanted to. While Regen was keeping him alive, it hadn't been able to close the wound he sustained. His vision was hovering was between the hanger and inky darkness.

"Agent, Sir?"

Genesis blinked, "…Who?"

"I'm the agent you saved, it's Walsh!"

His eyes weren't cooperating with him… sleep felt… good.

All he heard in and out of consciousness were Walsh's frantic calls for help.

.

.

---

Natasha gritted her teeth as Clint pulled her hair to expose her neck to his dagger. In a desperate attempt to get free, she sunk her teeth into his free hand, which caused him to let go. The archer tried to force her down, but the Black Widow spun and threw Barton head first into a railing. He crumpled to the ground and groaned but then looked up.

"Natasha?"

Just as Natasha was going to give him a left hook, something odd occurred. A bubble of white rippled around them, and just as it appeared, it was gone.

"What just the hell happened?" Clint confusedly asked as he gasped. To him, he felt like this body was washed away with water.

Natasha was asking the same question in her mind, there was a moment of peace when the white ripple appeared. Nonetheless, her real attention was on her partner looking and acting more of himself that she had ever seen than just moments ago.

"Are you back?" she asked, still cautious.

Clint's face looked upset at the thought of his partner not trusting him, but he nodded silently and understood why.

"Was it because I threw you into the railing?" Natasha asked wanting to confirm Genesis' theory was true.

Hawkeye nodded but frowned, "Yeah… But I think you should have hit me again to make sure– at least until that white bubble of energy just appeared and disappeared. It was surreal; something flashed in my mind and pushed away everything else that controlled me."

Natasha was surprised. "What was it?"

"Everything was white around me," Barton described, "but I was standing in a field of yellow and white flowers."

The Black Widow nodded and decided it had nothing to do with Loki. Still, she suspected that Genesis might be behind it somehow. "Welcome back," she said quietly as she helped her partner up to his feet.

The archer was still dizzy as he tried to keep his balance while he stood. He gripped on a railing for support. "Where am I?"

"The Helicarrier, you were heading towards the detention area." Romanoff supplied.

He was still collecting his muddled memories. "I was going to free Loki somehow…but when you came, the orders were to-" He stopped there.

The female agent didn't reply to that notion. She only said, "You're here now."

"…Thanks," he croaked, but was glad of his partner's acceptance with all the things he did being under the control of an Asgardian God of Lies. Just as he was going to relax, Natasha's hand slides to her earpiece in an alert. "Natasha?" She ignored him for a moment, took the earpiece out of her ear, and turned on the loudspeaker.

"Agent Coulson is down." was Director Fury's voice over the communicator.

Both agents stilled at the shocking news of their former handler.

A reply from another SHIELD agent. "A medical team is on its way to your location."

"They're here," Fury said with a deep sigh. "They called it."

.

.

Away on the other side of the Helicarrier rotor engines were Tony Stark and Steve Rogers listening to the Director's announcement in a heavy silence. While both were exhausted from their job to keep the flying fortress afloat again, they both dropped their heads down at the news of the fallen agent that they were acquainted with. It was a shock to them; they certainly hadn't expected to hear he had died in the chaos that Loki's underlings created.

Tony was more shocked than the Captain. Unlike Steve, he had known the agent since he first became Iron Man. To hear him just die like this made feel like someone twisted his insides. While he didn't really like Phil all that much, Tony wasn't sure how he was going to tell Pepper of such news. In fact, how was Genesis going to react-

Both Captain America and Iron Man had to wince when the frequency they were listening to shrilled as if someone was forcing their way into it. The shrilled sound opened the communication channel to a new voice.

~( Help! … need assistance… *Kzzzt*… agents down… critical… )~

Steve was the first to react to the situation and replied to his communicator, "Where are you?"

Tony, on the other hand, went to his A.I. "JARVIS, clear the frequency."

"Yes, Sir."

~( Lower hanger… Kzzzzt… locked doors… We need medical assistance immediately! We have an agent in critical condition! )~

"Calm down, agent," Steve said with authority, "What's your status?"

~( I'm fine. Please hurry! I'm losing him as he is! )~ the agent panicked over the line. ~( Agent Rhapsodos has lost a lot of blood– )~

Both Avengers were thrown into a loop at the news and looked to each other in a swift agreement before they both dashed through the halls.

.

.

---

Two of SHIELD's best assassins had rushed to the hanger area when they heard the news that their youngest agent was hanging onto life.

Clint Barton sighed in frustration and despair as both he and Natasha were facing the worst luck of trying to open the large hanger door with no avail. The circuits were broken and he was out of explosive arrows. His mind was haunted with the news of Phil's death, and he really wished he could get to Genesis before he too would follow the elder agent. Natasha kept on trying to rewire the circuitry in a frantic effort to get to their dying friend.

They both stopped what they were doing when both Stark still in his full Iron Man suit and Steve Rogers appeared.

Both co-leaders of the Avengers stopped at the sight of Barton with Natasha. However, when Natasha wasn't hostile towards the archer, they both figured out that he was somehow not under Loki's control anymore.

"Any luck?" Steve pressed onto more important matters.

Barton shook his head grimly. "We're locked out."

"But Stark can get us in." the Black Widow countered. She then turned to Tony, "Can you cut us a way in?"

Iron Man nodded. "JARVIS, are there any people directly behind the door?"

"No, Sir. There are a dozen unconscious personnel inside, but are not in the line of fire should you choose to break the door."

"Alright, stand back." Tony said as stood in position and aimed his hand. He used his laser beams and cut the door. Once it was cut, he pushed it. The black slab of what was once the door slammed down and there were numerous agents on the floor. One of them was sitting up and holding down another agent with a bleeding wound.

"Over here!"

It was Natasha who first ran over followed by her partner. The others followed as they surrounded their injured friend.

The archer was the first to ask the agent who was keeping a pressure on Genesis' wound. "What happened?" His heart dropped to the pit of his stomach, this was probably the worst condition he had ever seen on his youngest team member since he joined SHIELD.

"Loki attacked us." the agent replied ashamed. "I-I was disorientated, but he p-pushed me out of the way and took the hit for me."

Natasha cupped the younger agent's face with worry. "Genesis, can you hear me?"

Genesis forced his eyes to open and saw a familiar face. "Nata...sha?"

She nodded. "I got Clint back, just as you said. It worked."

When Clint was in his line of sight, Genesis' face showed relief. "You're back… Good."

"I'm not the one who has a hole in the stomach, you know." Clint responded in a deadpan tone. When he assessed Genesis' wound closer, he was stunned. "Make that two." The hole went through the red haired agent's body; no wonder there was so much blood.

In the meantime as the two assassins tried to help Genesis directly, Stark was wondering around going through the hanger looking through the belongings of the unconscious soldiers frantically. He had his helmet was taken off. The genius huffed, "Where is it when you need it?"

That caught Steve's attention. He asked, "What are you looking for?"

"An antihemorrhagic agent," Stark replied automatically like it was the most obvious thing in the world to him. When Steve looks confused, he tried again, "Uh, hemostatic agent; it stops bleeding."

At Stark's last statement he understood. "Right; it patches a wound and stops heavy bleeding. QuikClot Combat Gauze, right? At least one soldier should carry one around in their Individual First Aid Kit."

Steve didn't need orders and started searching through the unconscious soldiers on the other side of the room. It was one of the very first things that Genesis taught him when given about the course on their more up-to-date Military First Aid. At the time, it made him feel sad that people during World War II didn't have that sort of immediate medical treatment on the field; it would have saved a lot of more lives. For now, he needed to find one to save Genesis' life.

When he went through the second soldier's IFAK, after finding none with his first, he found what he was looking for. "Stark! I got one!"

"Got another here as well right here, Captain," Stark said back. They both hurried back to their injured agent and found both the agent who was now known as 'Walsh' and Clint holding pressure the two wounds.

"…Ste…ve? …To…ny?"

"It's not really a good time to sleep, V," Stark said with a shaky breath while trying to keep light of the situation. None of the Avengers initiative members around him were aware he was fighting trying to not see two images at once. In Genesis' place, it was Yinsen dying all over again. He shook his head and dismissed the image at once. The kid was still alive. "I really don't want to make a request to Fury that I need a new co-consultant. You're the first decent one in a long while."

"Not going… to die easily… even if no paperwork sounds nice." Genesis slurred.

"Genesis, we're going to stop the bleeding," Steve said seriously. "We're going to turn you to the side to get both wounds closed for now. Alright?"

The former SOLDIER weakly nodded and the team quickly went to work. After a tense few minutes of applying the gauze and making makeshift bandages that kept the pressure on both wounds, the bleeding had significantly stopped. Even so, Clint and the agent were still keeping direct pressure to make sure the worst didn't happen. They didn't want to reapply the gauze again and let the injured agent bleed again. Steve meanwhile kept Genesis from turning his head too much.

As they all anxiously waited for the medics, Natasha was in a quiet discussion with Agent Walsh on the events that led to Genesis being in critical condition. Tony was only half listening as he was keeping an ear on the communications line and on JARVIS' scanners.

Clint was silent throughout the wait. He had his utmost attention on Genesis, fearing that he'd lose another friend. It was a miracle that Genesis' body hadn't broken into spasms. Yet his heart felt cold as Genesis' breathing slowed down and was getting quieter.

Sensing his distress, the younger agent turned to Clint. "What happened after the PEGASUS Facility…," Genesis rasped as he held the archer's arm, "It's not your fault."

Clint shook his head fiercely in dismay in a shaken voice, "That's not true, and I did everything that Loki wanted–"

"No. You were still fighting…his control." His eyelids drooped heavier by the moment, but he wanted Clint to know the truth.

"You have no proof on that Genesis."

With all the remaining consciousness he could gather, Genesis said, "You're… the best marksmen, Clint. The Director's alive. Hawkeye never… misses a target."

When Genesis' eyes rolled back and closed, the archer panicked. "Genesis?!"

What surprised Clint next was a reassuring metallic hand rub on his shoulder. "He's just unconscious, Agent Barton. JARVIS is keeping a scan on his vitals," Tony pointed out trying in his own way to keep the archer calm. "According to JARVIS, the medical Cavalry should be here right about… now."

True to the genius' word, a medical team came rushing in. While Clint was mostly in a state of shock, Natasha was the one who lead the medical team to Genesis. In no time, Genesis was evacuated on a stretcher and mobilized away from the room with Natasha escorting just to the hallway. Tony stood up after making sure that the young agent was taken care of, and also helped the lingering medical team members pointing out the various unconscious men around the hanger about their health conditions.

This left Steve guarding Barton and observed how much faith Genesis had in the man who he counted as a brother. He surprisingly noted that Tony had a soft spot for the young agent that he was actually subtly directing people's attention away from the archer.

Steve did his part by offering his hand to Clint, which caused the archer to blink in confusion and look up. The super soldier had no misgivings towards what the agent did under Loki's control. He didn't have the right words to say about the situation, but in his heart, the right thing to do was offer that help with actions. At first, emotions passed by the archer's eyes: reluctance, shame, and even dread. However, when Rogers made no accusation and gave a knowing look to Hawkeye he wasn't here to judge him, there was curious look. Clint turned to his longtime partner for a confirmation as she walked behind him, back from escorting Genesis just down the hallway.

"You can trust the Captain." She said like she meant it. In turn, a small nod from the archer to the Captain was her way of saying that she wanted the Captain that the feeling should be mutual. Steve nodded in return.

Clint took the hand in front of him caused Steve to smile in relief and hauled him up with a strong grip. "Genesis will make it, he's strong."

Clint tiredly huffed, "Yeah." Worry was still evident on his face.

Natasha swiftly was by her partner's side. Despite she made no move to lay a hand over Clint's shoulder but with only their shoulders touching, the archer's visible demeanor relaxed somewhat.

When Steve's enhanced hearing picked up the sound of multiple footsteps and an appearance of a new tactical team, it made him edgy. Even Stark had stopped on what he was doing and walked over to what was left of the Avengers' Initiative.

Tony asked the question first in a casual manner, even though caution leaked through his body language. "So, what do we owe a pleasure to this team coming here?"

The leader of the group spoke up, "We're here to pick up any hostiles that Loki has taken control previously." His gaze was soon upon the archer. "I believe you have one."

"He's not a hostile anymore," the Black Widow answered defiantly for her partner. "I made sure of it." Clint seemed to want to protest, but thanks to a silent glare from her, he didn't say a word.

"We're not taking any chances." The tactical soldier said, not heeding her words. "We have orders."

Hawkeye paled when Natasha was hesitant between letting the soldier take him or defy orders. Just as his doubts were becoming worse as the tactical team had every right to lock him up, Clint's point of view was blocked by a blue presence. "Captain?"

Steve stood and firmly made his point clear, "Agent Barton is part of the Avengers Initiative. We'll take care of it."

"But that's–"

"Um, actually," Stark piped in, "I'm taking that as a vote too. Besides, I think you should be helping out the medics here in carrying the unconscious former hostile troops and agents instead. They were mind controlled by Loki as well."

"I'm sorry, Sir. Agent Barton is still–"

Tony rolled his eyes but then stated, "Article 23, Particle 4 of the Avengers Initiative Agreement says that in the state that the Avengers Initiative co-leaders–that's me and the Captain over here–vote on something that relates to a compromised team member, you guys have no say on it." When the tactical leader wanted to retort, Iron Man surprised the remaining Avengers as he took on a cold businessman-like mask on his face. "Don't make me call my army of lawyers, soldier."

"Tactical Team Beta, stand down!" Fury shouted as he entered the hanger.

"Sir! Agent Barton–"

"Is with them for now," the Director said, as he wasn't stupid enough to not notice how both Rogers and Stark were on the defensive at Barton's current situation. Inwardly, he was relieved he had gotten one best of his agents back. "Team Beta, I want you to take the rest of these unconscious men and secure them. Now!"

"Yes, Sir!" the leader saluted, and the team dispersed away with orders.

This time, Fury turned his attention to his returned missing agent. "Glad to have you back with us, Agent Barton. Thanks for not shooting me in the head back at the Facility, and you would probably have known then I always wear a protective vest."

Barton was speechless, but his questioning face was enough to let the Director explain his reasons.

"Agent Rhapsodos insisted you were fighting Loki's manipulation spell; I believe he's right. You're my best sniper in SHIELD; you never failed to take down a target from a distance, but that one time, I'm glad you did."

To the group, especially Steve and Tony, the Director's words confirmed what the younger agent had said before he passed out. Seeing that major hostiles were over and that the Director was supporting them, Natasha, Clint, Tony and Steve relaxed.

"So what exactly happened here?" the Director asked the team.

Surprisingly it was Tony who spoke up, "There was a soldier here, and he was under Loki's control previously. But it looked like he was knocked out somehow like Barton–you know, not under control anymore–and he was the one who called in the distress signal."

"Who and where is he?"

"Agent Ryker Walsh," Natasha, this time, filled in. "He went with the medical team, and volunteered to keep an eye on Genesis for me." There was also a lingering silent threat in her tone that if the assigned agent didn't do his job right, he had to deal with the Black Widow later.

"Did Agent Walsh say anything?" Fury asked again, as the other three males were trying not to notice Natasha's killing intent that was directed towards the hanger door, obviously at Walsh if he didn't get the job done as requested.

Tony frowned at the memory and answered, "Something on the lines that Loki wanted your agent out of the picture. He said Loki mentioned that your young agent was guessing his plans too well."

"Genesis is a tactical forecaster," Steve nodded in agreement. "If Loki knows about us, he must have guessed Genesis would have been part of the operation in Germany."

At Barton's silence, Fury shook his head in pity; he knew who gave Loki that source of information. "Romanoff, get Agent Barton settled in." To the other two, he ordered, "Treat any injuries if you have any; when you're good to go, meet me at the bridge."

When both assassins had left the hanger along with the Director, Steve called, "Stark?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for your support." Steve said. When the genius looked confused, the Captain explained, "You mentioned the agreement rule about the Avengers Initiative, and stopped Agent Barton from being taken away."

Tony was suddenly self-conscious. "Me? You should thank Genesis. He was the one who reminded me to read it before I got to the Helicarrier."

"All the same, you have my thanks." Steve nodded in respect for the billionaire.

A heavy sigh escaped from Stark's lips. "Don't thank me yet, though; we're still in trouble. Everything is a mess." The genius made way towards the armory.

While Steve wasn't the best at reading the expressions of others, his enhanced hearing did catch there was sadness in Stark's voice. He wondered what relationship the billionaire had with Agent Coulson. From what he saw when Howard's son first came into the Helicarrier's bridge, he was in a casual conversation with the Agent. However, perhaps Stark was probably upset on what had happened to Genesis as well.

Then there was Genesis and how Loki had made him a target. Being a soldier, he had to learn to cope with loss when it came to war. However, when Phil was declared dead and Genesis was nearly left for dead, Steve couldn't help but feel the attack was too close to home. To him, it could have been losing a friend like Bucky all over again. Still, he couldn't imagine what Natasha and even Clint were feeling; to them he could only guess they had lost an important family member, and they were also worrying about their youngest member who was still fighting for his life to live.

Plus Banner was gone, and Thor was missing.

His eyes wandered around the hanger with the medical team buzzing about. He blinked in recognition when he saw a lone flower book mark on the floor. Walking over to it, he then picked it up. It was stained in blood, and he realized it belonged to Genesis. It had to be, Steve himself was given one by the twins of the Gast family before he left the facility as a goodbye and good luck present. He wasn't surprised if the girl, Aerith, had given one to Genesis also. Carefully, he tucked it away in one of his utility belt pockets and made his way out of the hanger.

His thoughts were back on what Stark had said. Steve didn't like to admit it, but the billionaire was right. Everything was in a mess, despite the fact the Helicarrier was still flying in the air. Their enemy was out there advancing his next plan to take over Earth.

Steve sighed in despair as he wasn't sure what to do.

How was he supposed to lead the Avengers with Stark against Loki now?

---

"We are at the edge of an abyss and we're close to being irrevocably lost." ~ David R. Brower

---

Next Time… Chapter 11: "SHIELD Eagle Down, Ripples of Lifestream"

Notes/Trivia:

1) Clearance Levels are used by S.H.I.E.L.D. to keep order in their system and protect information that is protected by S.H.I.E.L.D. There were 10 levels of clearance, as well as Level Alpha and Omega Clearance. As agents moved up from Level 1, they gained access to more information, and frequently, more power. – Marvel Cinematic Universe Wikia.

2) Fury's Big Week (The Avengers prelude comics): in which the events of Thor coming down to Earth, the Hulk's battle at Harlem, and fiasco at the Stark Expo happens in the same week. – Marvel Cinematic Universe Wikia.

3) Technobabble is a form of jargon that uses buzzwords, esoteric language, specialized technical terms, or technical slang that is incomprehensible to the listener. Various fields of practice and industry have their own specialized vocabularies, or jargon, that allow those educated within that industry to concisely convey ideas that may be confusing, misleading, or nonsensical to an outside listener. Tony Stark frequently uses scientific and technology jargons to deliberately confuse Steve Rogers. – Wikipedia

4) A line Tony uses in the movie Iron Man 3 (2013).

5) Resist is the third level spell on the Heal Materia. It makes those who are cast with it immune to all statuses (poison, paralyzed, etc) including instant death. – FF Wikia

6) Cactuar Summon is a recurring enemy from the Final Fantasy series and sometimes appears as a Summon. Cactuars are little cacti, typically depicted having stiff arms and legs, three black holes for their faces, representing two eyes and an oblong mouth, and three reddish quills at the top of their heads. They have their own language, mostly consisting of variations of the word "Ge-ka", which resemble squeaks and warbles to the ear. The Cactuar uses 1000 Needles as its signature attack. – FF Wikia

7) Wall is a Materia spell that enables the user to create both a physical (Protect) and magical barrier (Shell) to protect themselves or other people. – FF Wikia

8) Ifrit is Fire-elemental summon that appears in several games in the series. His signature attack is Hellfire – sometimes called Inferno or Flames of Hell – that deals Fire-elemental damage to all opponents. In this fic, Ifrit is summon is Genesis' 2nd tier summon. – FF Wikia

9) All-Speak: When Thor speaks with the All-Tongue anyone who hears him will hear him speak their native language in their hearts. – Marvel Database Wikia

10) Audrey Nathan commonly referred to as the Cellist, is the second chair of the Portland Symphony Orchestra and is Phil Coulson's fiancée. She makes an appearance in Agents of SHIELD TV series. – Marvel Cinematic Universe Wikia.

11) Apocalypse is Genesis' strongest magic based Limit Break. In the Crisis Core game, Zack is capable of using the limit break after he faces Genesis in Modeoheim. – FF Wikia

12) Sense/Libra Materia is a recurring ability in the Final Fantasy series. It is a usually a command ability or spell that exposes the stats of enemies, such as HP, MP, and elemental affinities. – FF Wikia

13) Magical Swords is one of Genesis' original special attacks in Crisis Core. It summons red physical manifestation of swords, which cannot be blocked. – FF Wikia

14) Infinity Stone (Mind Stone)/Loki's scepter is a Chitauri weapon powered by an Infinity Stone. The stone gives the scepter the ability to fire energy blasts and manipulate others. – Marvel Cinematic Universe Wikia.

15) Drainga and Osmoga are spells exclusive to Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core, which are upgraded versions of Drain (Absorbs the opponent's health) and Osmose (Absorbs the opponents magic reserves/MP) respectfully. – FF Wikia

16) Black Flurry is Genesis' original special attack in the Crisis Core game. It deals moderate damage and inflicts the status alignment Curse. – FF Wikia

Notes on the Mage Battle: I can say I did a ridiculous amount of research for this fight (I blame the perfectionist in me). Yes, I decided it would be a draw (or pretty much Loki getting away with it & with his ego trampled). In many ways though, MCU Loki would actually lose to Genesis if the said former crimson commander could use his powers without consequences (Comics Loki quite the opposite)… but since we're on the Helicarrier, Genesis is in a tight spot. The scepter being an Infinity Stone (I'm routing for the Mind stone) is making things worse for him. And just because Loki's off to conquer New York, who says he got away clean? xD Anyone who's played Crisis Core might know what Genesis did on Loki before the god flew off. For those who haven't… well, I'll keep you guessing. I hope I've delivered a good even mage fight.

If you've noticed, there details in which Genesis refers to some unknown people in his memories in this chapter (such as a certain 'old man') are characters I've introduced in my Prequel and Introduction series which take place before this fic (check through my profile if anyone's curious).

Comments, opinions, your thoughts, are always welcomed.