Here is the next update! This story is so much fun to write, but it's a challenge as well because I have taken on the legendary Avengers and can only hope to capture their characterizations. It keeps me thinking to say the least. Anyways, here's an announcement that I posted on my other two updates tonight. One of my good Fanfiction friends, Nako13yeh, wrote an Avengers fic called Cross Reality. It was very awesome, but it was taken down. It is back now, in edited form, so for those of you who have read it, I promised her I would spread the word, so there you go! Get out there and read it. It's awesome and you won't be disappointed!

Pergjithshme: Hello! Ha, I like what you did there. The dramatic possibilities make it a definite ":D" so you got it right the first time. Don't worry about Loki. Keep your "doubt" in mind. That's all I'll say on the subject. ;)

Agent Natasha Romanoff steeled herself and knocked on Doctor Bruce Banner's door. She knew what he was capable of, but she also trusted him. Having fought by his side, she was confident that he would not hurt her. He was very good at keeping "the other guy" under control, so she knew that she was safe. "Doctor Banner," she called softly.

Banner opened the door and faced her, his calm features reflecting curiosity. "Why do I have a feeling that this isn't a friendly visit?" he asked.

Natasha sighed. "I wish it was, Doctor," she said. "Can I come in? You might want to sit down." He stepped aside and allowed her to enter the small house. He pulled out a chair from the kitchen table and gestured for her to sit. She obliged. He sat down across from her and gazed at her expectantly for several moments. She had to take a couple of deep breaths before launching into the bad news. "I will get straight to it. There's no need to dodge around the truth."

Banner frowned. "And what is the truth, Agent? Do I want to know?"

"No, you don't. But given the current circumstances, you have to know." He nodded for her to continue. "I'm calling you in. S.H.I.E.L.D is in the process of calling in the Avengers team. Director Fury is headed off to speak to Captain Rogers right now. Tony Stark will be contacted afterward and we are not entirely sure how to get through to Thor. We suspect that he is busy with Loki and will be unable to come."

"So…why is Fury calling us in?" Banner asked.

Natasha handed him a folder. "He calls himself Count Dooku. He claims to be the leader of a group called the Confederacy of Independent Systems. According to Fury, this man plans to conquer the Earth."

"Wonderful. The last thing this world needs is another Loki," he mused.

"The full extent of the information is in the packet here," Natasha continued. "We have reason to believe that Dooku is contacting his army right now. He escaped, so he could be anywhere at this point, gathering reinforcements. It says here that he has powers unlike Loki's. We aren't sure if they are more dangerous than his or not."

Banner sat, still and quiet. "What do you want me to do?" he asked at last, raising his head.

"We need you to join the team once again," Natasha said, leaning forward.

"Do you really want to try the other guy's patience?" Banner asked. "You are seriously testing the water by asking him to join you."

"We're not asking him," Natasha said. "We're asking you."

"Hello there, Captain Rogers."

"Director Fury." Steve stepped away from the punching bag.

"A bit of déjà vu, wouldn't you say, Captain?" Fury asked. "Is this where you spend all of your spare time?"

"Only when I'm bored, Director. Only when I'm bored. I've had a bit of down time since the battle." He tilted his head to one side curiously. "What brings you here?"

"Unfortunately, a new threat."

Steve sighed. "I was afraid you would say that. Did Loki escape?"

"No, but I have reason to believe that we have another Loki on our hands." He handed Steve a packet identical to the one that Natasha had handed Banner. "Count Dooku is his name. He claims to be a master of what he calls the Dark Side of the Force. He intends to take over the galaxies, including our world."

"I assume he has an army." Steve opened the folder and leafed through it. "Are you calling in the whole team?"

"Yes."

Steve closed his eyes a moment, letting the memories of the previous war sink in. If anyone knew war strategies, it was him. He might not be a super-genius like Doctor Banner and Tony Stark, a god like Thor, or a master assassin like the Black Widow and Hawkeye, but he knew what to do in the heat of battle. His eyes opened and fixed on Fury's brown ones. "Count me in."

"Sir, there is an important message for you."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Maybe I don't feel like taking an important message today, JARVIS," he said. "Today is my 'me day.' Emphasis on me. Why do all messages have to be important? Why don't people just send me a friendly 'hello' for once?"

"I can't answer that, sir. Nick Fury would like to speak to you personally."

"Tell him I'm out," Tony said. "I'm…taking steps to end world hunger. I've got my hands tied right now and can't possibly—"

"Mr. Stark."

Tony turned around to see Nick Fury standing in the doorway. "Oh." He stood up slowly. "Darn it, JARVIS. Next time warn me when I'm about to entertain a guest!" He walked over to join Fury. "Sorry for the mess. I just came back from taking steps to ending world hunger, and—"

"Now's not the time for your antics, Mr. Stark. We are about to go to war."

Tony's eyebrows shot up. "If that's not an entrance, than I don't know what is. Way to drop the bomb without even giving me a chance to offer you a drink."

"Listen, Stark." He handed him the folder. "This is critical information that requires you immediate attention."

Tony sat down. "I'm listening."

Fury launched into the description of Count Dooku and his intentions to take over the galaxies. "He is a self-proclaimed hostile and intends to force our world into subjugation. He plans to take over the Earth."

"Great, my favorite. You've got to love the crazy lunatics bent on world domination. Everybody's got to have a hobby, right?"

"This is no laughing matter. Might I remind you that he wants to take over the galaxies. If he has an army big enough to achieve this, then we may be facing something far more threatening than Loki."

Tony opened the folder and studied the files. He came across a picture of Count Dooku. "Not very good-looking, is he?" Fury fixed him with a harsh stare. "No, really. I mean, look at the guy. At least Loki was considerably handsome. If you're going to try to conquer the worlds, you might as well look good doing it."

Fury shook his head. "Can you at least try to take this seriously?"

Tony let out a breath. "Okay. Getting serious now. But really, just because he claims to have an army doesn't mean he actually has one at his disposal. If you freaked out and called in the Avengers every time someone threatened to take over the world, we wouldn't have a moment of peace."

"Yes, but if you read the information, you will find that this hostile has superhuman powers and claims to be a user of the Dark Side of the Force. If you ask me, I'd say it sounds suspicious." He paused a moment, then added, "You weren't there. You didn't see or experience lightning coming at you from his hands. I'm asking you to join the team in an investigation on a possible war. If you are up to the task, then we will all meet here."

Tony nodded. "Of course I'm up to it. My life's been getting kind of boring anyway. Bring them over."

Fury half-smiled. "That's what I thought."

The Gatekeeper, Heimdall, always had his eyes on the other realms. Even though the means of travel that he had guarded for so long was gone, he still resumed his post as if nothing had happened. The arrival of Count Dooku did not escape him. He analyzed the intentions and detected that there was indeed a threat, so he left his vigil and went to alert the All-Father.

Odin was conversing with his son about Loki. "I warned you not to go in there," he said exasperatedly. "Your compassion for him may eventually lead to his release. If you are not careful, he will use you. He is very much aware that you still care about him, despite everything he has done."

"I understand, Father," Thor said. "I felt the need to speak with him. I believe that he will come back to us. He just needs some time. Locking him up and stripping him of his rights will not make him return to his former self any sooner. In fact, it will make him even bitterer than he already is. I feel that I can reach him if I am persistent."

Odin put a hand on his son's shoulder. "I ask one thing of you, Thor." He paused, lengthening the moment a little to emphasize the seriousness. "Do not be disappointed in failure."

Thor nodded. "Of course. But I will not fail."

"Do not put too much confidence in that. If you do fail, then it will hurt that much more."

"All-Father," Heimdall interrupted, bowing and placing a fist over his heart. "I have urgent news for Thor."

Thor was surprised. "Go on," he said.

Heimdall gazed at him very seriously. "The Avengers need your assistance one again," he said.

Thor's eyes widened. "Father, I need the Tesseract," he said.

Odin nodded. "If you are needed on Midgard, then go. I will take care of Loki's sentence."

Thor hesitated. He didn't want to leave his brother behind. Something tugged at him, making him want to visit Loki once more. "Of—of course. I will depart as soon as I can. Thank you, Heimdall." He turned and left. Once he was out of sight, he changed direction and made his way toward the prison where Loki was being held.

The guards never spoke. They just stood there, still and silent, as they followed their direct orders to ensure that Loki was kept under a watchful eye at all times. If his life was a book, this chapter—and the chapters that follow—would be entitled The Dull Life of Loki Laufeyson. Everything looked pretty bleak at this point. At least everything was quiet. It was as peaceful as things would get, anyway. Plenty of time for thought and reflection.

His thoughts and reflections were interrupted by Thor. "Brother."

Loki decided to stop pursuing the hopeless notion that they were not and never would be brothers. Thor would never stop calling him "brother" so he might as well quit fighting it. If the god of thunder wanted to chase a fruitless dream, then that was his choice. His green eyes, filled with irritation, flickered expectantly to Thor's electric blue ones. What did he want this time?

"Brother, something has happened."

Loki raised an eyebrow. What could possibly have happened that would compel you to come in here and inform me?

"Leave us," Thor ordered the guards. The guards looked like they wanted to object, but Thor's serious stare led them to simply bow and march out as one. Thor entered the cell and pulled Loki's muzzle off again. Loki put a hand on his jaw, opening and closing his mouth as he had done the first time Thor had removed the restraint. Thor put his hands on Loki's arms. "I worry for you, brother," he began.

"Why must you worry yourself?" Loki asked. "Since when does it matter what happens to me?"

"Do not talk like that. I care very much what happens to you," Thor said.

"So you worry about me. What has happened to make you feel so?"

Thor paused, looking intensely into Loki's eyes. "The Avengers need me again."

This took Loki by surprise. He raised an eyebrow and looked around the cage sarcastically. "If you are implying that I am threatening Midgard, then you obviously lack more intelligence than I thought. If the Chitauri are attacking again, which would be an act of suicide, then why waste your time here with me? Do you really think that I have the means to launch another assault on that realm?"

"No, brother, I am not accusing you of anything. I do not even know why I am needed. I only know that there is another threat that calls me away from Asgard." He gazed at Loki sadly, taking his hands off of his brother's arms and taking a step back. "If I am gone, there will be no one to watch out for you. Our parents—sorry, my parents—will do nothing to make your life any easier. You and I both know that I am the only one that believes in your redemption. If I am not around in this critical time of your life, you might never come back to us."

Thor was rambling. Loki couldn't help but laugh. "You still think that I am going to change?" He shook his head. "Go to Midgard, Thor. Just forget about me, okay? I am perfectly fine here."

"Of course you aren't. That is why you are coming with me."

Thor never failed to shock him. "Are you crazy? Do you really think those Midgardians will take that well? There are a number or reasons why that is a horrible idea. Come on, Thor. I knew you weren't that smart, but seriously? Why do you taunt me like this? Do not make such jests. It is not at all funny."

"I jest not, Loki. Do I look like I am trying to make a joke?"

Loki could not resist; Thor had practically handed him that one. "You never exactly look what you are thinking, Thor. It is impossible to take you seriously half the time because you are so daft."

Thor narrowed his eyes. "Just because you are a genius mastermind that knows how to use a little magic does not make you over me."

"I know!" Loki shot back. "Father reminded me of this every day of my life!"

Loki was emoting. Thor seemed to realize that he had overstepped. "I'm sorry, brother," he said, putting his hands on his brother's shoulders. Loki pulled away, though he could do little with his hands chained. "I never knew what you went through when we were young. You hid it so well."

"No, Thor. It was not because I hid it," Loki seethed. "It was because you were so caught up in being Father's favorite that you didn't see it."

"But I see it now," Thor insisted.

"You will never see it!" Loki shouted.

Thor winced. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I want to make it up to you. I intend to bring you with me to Midgard. You will prove yourself and you will be free and…"

"Stop it, Thor. Stop it right there." Loki turned his back and started pacing furiously. "Do you really think that taking me to Midgard will solve anything? It will just stir up trouble. You know what they think of me."

"Yes, but if you helped us—"

"Why should I help you?" he spat.

"Because we need you."

Ooh, intense! Let's hear what you guys think of it. Push the button, everyone! This fic is on the favorites list of four people already, which makes me happy. Those of you who are favoriting it, take a moment to review if you can. IF ANYONE HAS IDEAS THEN LET ME KNOW BECAUSE I DO NOT LIKE WRITER'S BLOCK SO IF IT CAN BE AVOIDED THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!

Disclaimer: I own very little, that little being the plot and the pilot in the previous two chapters.