Loki shook his head as yet another candidate left Pepper's office.

"It would be a contest what would destroy that one first: Tony being Tony or failing to keep up with Pepper. If this keeps up I might lose some of the general respect I've been building up for my fellow citizens," he commented to JARVIS.

"Given the caliber of these candidates that would not be unreasonable sir," JARVIS agreed.

Loki frowned. Tony's company is one of the best and most prestigious. These candidates have education and experience but all of them are lacking something personally. Is there no one who even approaches the balance of personality traits Pepper possesses? She is one of a kind, yes, but there should be someone with at least the potential to work for a few months. All these people would be chewed up and spat out in no time flat.

It's almost enough to make one wonder if something is going on. Could that be it? Is something going on? I need to discuss this with the others. Rhodes especially could be helpful: he could tell us if something nongovernment was behind it and look very uncomfortable while saying nothing verbally if the government was. He and I are not as close as I am with Tony, Pepper and Happy but he is still shield brethren however remotely. I can call him later.

"The next candidate is going to be in soon. A Miss Natalie Rushman," JARVIS reminded Loki.

Loki grabbed her dossier and scanned it quickly to refresh his memory. Before each day's interviews he would read the dossiers of that day's candidates. Before each person came in he would quickly speed read their dossier to make sure he had the facts correct.

JARVIS showed the door to Pepper's office open and Ms. Rushman entered the room. There was a briskness and confidence that was apparent without being overpowering. This one would be able to keep up with Pepper and fend off Tony's bouts of less than optimal behavior. Loki gazed at her alertly. His eyes narrowed. Everyone else has shown themselves lacking. Is she what she appears to be? If she is what does that mean when put together with my earlier thoughts? Given that half of the candidates showed themselves unsuitable in demeanor before even speaking with Pepper Ms. Rushman already has a chance. As the interview went on his suspicions grew. She's perfect: great education, relevant experience and the attitude mixes perfectly with Pepper's. This two would be duo to be dealt with. Her perfection, paradoxically, is the problem. She stands so far out above the others it is obvious. Painfully obvious.

Ms. Rushman was the last candidate, so Loki was able to go see Pepper. She was grinning.

"I finally found a potential personal assistant!"

"Therein is the problem," Loki commented with a suspicious frown.

Pepper gave him an inquisitive look and gestured for him to elaborate.

"Isn't it odd that there haven't been any other potentials? That everyone else in some way has been lacking? I think someone could be using her to get close to Tony, you and the company," Loki continued.

"Loki everything about her checked out," Pepper challenged.

"I mean no offense to anyone, especially not JARVIS, but is it not possible for someone besides me to hide something from Tony?"

Pepper shook her head in a way that was rueful not disagreeing.

"There was this man named Fury who was able to break into Tony's house in Malibu. He approached Tony after Tony announced himself as Iron Man. He said Tony had entered a bigger world and that he would be watching. Tony managed to confirm Fury worked for something called SHIELD, but couldn't get more than that. With everything else that happened Tony laughed it off because plenty of people watch Tony. That it was for something called the "Avengers Initiative" which involved a group of super heroes only made Tony laugh harder," she commented.

"Yet this Fury is the only one to have evaded Tony, JARVIS and everything else Tony has to command," Loki mused with a narrow look.

"It makes sense but we could be reaching too far with this," Pepper commented.

"It is possible," Loki conceded reluctantly. His instincts had never failed him before. This Natalie Rushman was too perfect. It had the feel of one of his schemes in Asgard. Dangle something which made sense to someone and then reveal a twist which led to their humiliation. Far it be it for me to empathize with anyone there but I can see how it could be unnerving. If it weren't for me she could slip in perfectly undetected.

Loki was attentive for the last candidates and frowned after the last one left. No one is close to Ms. Rushman's suitability. The others are average or a little bit above. She is exceptional. The only other option would be for me to do it. I would be willing to work for Pepper, but I can't because I need to stay with Tony to drain the palladium.

What happens if we choose Ms. Rushman? She could be sent to gain information on Pepper, and therefore Tony, since Pepper still will be speaking with Tony frequently. This would fit with Fury's intention to watch Tony. Clever. Very clever. If we hire her we could use her to get to Fury and learn more about him. Of course the question becomes what she would be learning about Tony in the meantime. She is obviously intelligent or she would not have been chosen for this. Limiting her information, or feeding her disinformation, will be difficult.

I wonder if Rhodes, with his government connections, had heard of this SHIELD. Then again, the very act of asking could send a warning we are onto them. The element of surprise should not be surrendered easily.

Pepper saw his thoughtful frown and sighed.

"You're sure about this aren't you?"

"The SHIELD thing," Tony asked.

"Yes," Loki answered Pepper and Tony. Tony pouted.

"First Fury drops in on me and now this. Totally not allowable. Loki you and I are going to have to plan the prank of the century," Tony stated.

"No," Pepper put in.

"Come on Pepper we can't just allow this," Tony argued.

"If we wish to get to the bottom of this that is exactly what we're going to have to do," Loki put in.

"You've got to be kidding me Loki," Tony refuted. Pepper, however, agreed with Loki.

"She's the only way we have of learning about these people. Plus, if we turn her down, they'll know it had to be because we're onto them. Besides, their planning isn't perfect. Yes, they got past you and JARVIS. She's got the perfect history and demeanor for working for me. What they haven't planned for, and can't, is Loki. They probably know he's something other than what he appears to be, but they can't know who he really is. Could you figure her out?"

Loki looked over at Tony. Time with Ms. Rushman would be time away from detoxing Tony. Tony could easily do without Loki for a few hours and could manage for a few days before the contamination started to discernibly affect him. It would be doable for Loki to spend some time with Ms. Rushman. If Ms. Rushman worked for SHIELD, or some other unknown interested in Tony and/or his company, she would be interested in unlocking Loki's secrets. Since her performance was flawless even Loki would find dealing with her a challenge. He was the only one who could and they needed to learn more about who sent her.

"I see no other choice," he concluded and smirked mischievously.

"You sound so reluctant Reindeer Games. Hey, I've tried to think of a better nickname but nothing has fit so far," Tony mused.

Loki and Pepper exchanged commiserating looks.