Chapter 6: Assemble! Part 6
*Central Park, same time*
17:03 EST May 4, 2012 AD
"She is…very resistant…" Amora mused, puzzlement on her face.
"Indeed," Loki smirked.
Wanda didn't know how much longer she could hold out. She was willing every single bit of her arcane and hex abilities into her focus; she was manipulating probability, making it so that Loki's spells and attempts to drain her of her powers would almost certainly not work, and she had been up to now succeeding in her attempts. The magical forces Loki had doused her with were working nonstop to drain her of her abilities and Wanda was countering it as best as she could. Her screams from the beginning had turned into roars of pain and determination, her focus channeling directly into her efforts to counter Loki's actions. But it was taking a tremendous toll on her body and her energy reserves; she had never channeled her abilities in a way like she was now, never channeling her full power set like she was now, in a single all powerful movement. She felt herself getting weaker and weaker with each passing minute. She was closer and closer to faltering and soon she'd be unable to keep up with her resistance. If some sort of miracle didn't happen soon, then she would collapse under the strain of Loki's power, and her own mutant powers and arcane abilities would be stolen from her, and if Loki took them unto himself…then the world truly was doomed.
She just had to hold out a bit longer…
"Why do you resist so much, mortal?" Loki taunted with a sneer, fascinated by how much the Scarlet Witch worked to resist his attempts to steal her abilities. "You are getting weaker and weaker, and all the while, my armies are razing this so-called mighty city to the ground. Soon, they will spread across Midgard, and all your people's pitiful attempts to resist will fail. I will take this realm, and I will then take Asgard itself, and then all Nine Realms of the Cosmos. It is my birthright, my destiny."
"Ha…" Wanda sneered as she squirmed in the pain of Loki's magic and her own resistance. "Birthright…I used to think that was my birthright, too; to rule this world and the Homo sapiens. Let me tell you something…that is simply a delusion, a warped concept that you're superior to the rest. You aren't; you are going to fall, just as any other tyrant. Mankind, mutantkind…all life on this Earth will never submit. Not to men like you."
"There are no men like me," Loki smirked.
"There are always men like you," Wanda strained to say. "My father is a prime example."
"Loki!" The invaders, their human cohorts and the Scarlet Witch turned to see the Jotun horde that had been dispatched to attack the assembled heroes arriving towards them, led by their king, Ymir. Loki was surprised to see that the Jotun were in actually bad shape. Many of them held a variety of wounds and burns. Not only that, the Enchantress had seen Ymir lead a few hundred of the creatures, but now only 30 remained.
"Ymir?" Amora asked in puzzlement. "What has-?!"
"You sent us to a defeat!" Ymir roared, his hand grabbing the Enchantress' throat, only for the Executioner's blade to slice through his arm, not enough to sever the limb, but enough to cause great pain and have the Jotun release her hold.
"Do not touch the Enchantress," Skurge snarled, readying himself for battle.
"Calm yourself, Skurge," Loki ordered as he, flanked by Wrecker, Piledriver, Thunderball and Bulldozer, came over to the towering beast. "Ymir, loyal servant of my father Laufey…what happened to you and your fellow Jotun?"
"The mortals you sent us to slaughter," Ymir snarled. "Your Enchantress promised us that they would be like pigs at the slaughter…but they are nothing as such. They are powerful. They have a fighting spirit unlike anything I have ever seen, even in the wars against Asgard. They refuse to surrender, and they refuse to fall. Even the ones who have no abilities as the others, they do not show fear. They are formidable warriors, and they were not the cowering wretches we were promised. And…you said there were only 13, but there were 14."
"14?" Loki asked, actually confused.
"And the woman in red you claimed to kill? She was alive, and she stood against the Destroyer itself, Laufeyson. And the green brutish monster has sent it to parts unknown."
"Amora?" Loki asked as he turned to the Enchantress.
"I sense them," the sorceress said as her eyes began glowing green, her magics working to locate the heroes. "They indeed stand…the half breed does live and she is again empowered…there is indeed a new hero amongst them…and also two mortals. And…they have decided to come bring the fight to us."
"Ha," Wanda sneered as she squirmed in her pain. "And the mad tyrant shall fall."
Loki took one glance at her before he nonchalantly fired a devastating blast from his scepter at her. It was like being burned alive and her inside being torn apart. Wanda screamed in agonizing pain, barely able to keep her probability defenses up. She was desperately trying to hang onto her powers, for she knew that if Loki got them, the Earth was screwed.
"Ymir, you will stand with us when they come," Loki commanded. "As will these Jotun with you. Amora, be a dear and summon the Destroyer back to our ranks. As for you four," he added as he turned to the superhumans under his command, "this will be your greatest test of loyalty. Stand by my side and you shall gain a great privilege in this world."
"You don't need to tell us twice," Wrecker sneered as his fellow criminals nodded in agreement.
"By the time they arrive, I should have drained the mortal of her powers and-"
"Thor."
Loki snapped back to the Enchantress. "What did you say?"
"One of the mortals," Amora said as she turned to face Loki, her eyes no longer glowing, "is…Thor."
Loki was stunned for a moment, shocked by the news. Then, he smirked deviously. "Well, things have gotten quite more…interesting."
*Empire State Building, same time*
17:04 EST May 4, 2012 AD
"Wait…what?" Jan gasped.
"Did I hear that right?" Hawkeye said, looking to Spider-Man standing next to him. "Did you hear him say what I think he said?"
"Well, unless he said he just got 15% of car insurance by switching to Geico, then yeah, I did," the arachnid replied, to which Barton face palmed.
"You're…you're his brother?" Iron Man asked as he came to Cap's side, his visor retracting.
Thor sighed and nodded his head. "Yes…I am."
"JARVIS?"
'Scans show that he has no superhuman or supernatural abilities about him, sir,' the AI replied.
"Loki was able to manhandle all of us," Steve said. "Even the Hulk and Captain Marvel. He was able to make us all look like fools when he mopped the floor with us, and he did so with his powers. Apparently, you don't have any powers. And not only that, you don't look anything like him at all, and brothers usually show some kind resemblance. You really don't have any resemblance."
"Because we are not of the same species," Thor replied.
"Then how are you brothers?" Logan asked gruffly. "Besides, you look and smell like a typical do-gooder kind of guy. That Loki guy is an insane psychopath with a god complex who is also a homicidal maniac with no disregard for life."
"Have care for how you speak," Thor replied with anger, surprising the heroes. "Loki may beyond reason, but he is family, and my brother."
"He's invading Earth and has allowed probably hundreds of people to be killed," Captain Marvel deadpanned.
"…He's adopted."
"So that's how you're brothers?" Peter asked.
"Indeed, Spider-Man," Thor replied.
"But Loki isn't of this world!" Stark said. "I scanned Loki, and even though he looks human, his biological complexion is nothing like a human's! Different anatomy, different system make-ups, and don't even get me started on the lungs! Different muscle density and everything! My scanning of your biology is exactly like a human biological complexion! How can he be your brother if he's like that and you're…this?"
"Well, he did say they were different species," Yellowjacket pointed out.
"How are we to believe what you're saying, Thor," Cap asked, getting all attention back on the topic at hand.
"Because I can tell you that it's the truth," Jane interjected. All eyes focused on her, but she continued. "Three years ago, I was in New Mexico studying data I was collecting on the Einstein-Rosen bridge theory with my intern and my old professor. A wormhole suddenly appeared in the sky and Thor here appeared. About five minutes later, another wormhole appeared five miles away and something else crashed in the desert. But we were focused on Thor, and he kept babbling about Bifrost and Heimdall and Asgard…my professor, Dr. Erik Selvig, recognized it as related to Norse mythology. And then there were these runes that had appeared at the site that Thor had appeared in, Nordic runes. At first, we didn't know what was going on-we just thought he was crazy so he took him to the hospital. He almost broke out and trashed the place, so he had to take him out. He wanted to go back home, but when we offered him a ride he said we couldn't take him. Then he asked if a hammer had appeared with him, and we said no, but that something else had crashed deeper in the desert. He headed there, and I had to drive him. It was the hammer he was talking about, but when he tried to lift it, he couldn't, and he kind of yelled to the skies."
"I know what she's talking about," Jess interrupted. "SHIELD picked up anomalies in the New Mexico desert and when we converged on the scene, we found those runes and the hammer. We set up a quarantine area around it and we've been trying to figure it out and get it out of the ground since."
"For three years," Natalia agreed, and the other SHIELD agents nodded.
"You will not be able to lift it," Thor said. "Only those deemed worthy can lift Mjolnir. And I was the only one…until I was deemed unworthy when I sparked a war between Asgard and Jotunheim in my arrogance and my desire to be crowned king before I was ready."
"Worthy? Well, if someone had told us that, we would've saved a lot of money trying to pick it up," Barton muttered.
"Anyways," Jane continued, "the hammer had Nordic inscriptions on it that Selvig was able to distinguish. On the hammer was the name Thor. That's when everything started to make sense-his story, his confusion in our world when we found him, his old fashioned speaking and his…really hot body…um, oh, right-and then his explanation of this World Tree that the Vikings used to speak about. It pretty much simplified the field of wormhole study in only a few minutes. The stories he told, his violent nature…it all fit with what he claimed to be. Loki is his adopted brother; he is actually the same species of the Jotun."
"He's one of those things?!" Bobbi exclaimed.
"Then why isn't he tall, ugly and blue?" Peter asked.
"Because he was a deformed infant when my father found him after the war my people waged against the Jotun for possession of the Casket of Ancient Winters hundreds of millennia ago," Thor answered. "He is not of my species…he is not of Asgard. I am. I…I am Thor Odinson, the Norse God of Thunder."
The heroes were silent for a few minutes.
"Huh…puny god," Hulk muttered.
"I kind of have to agree with Hulk," Carol agreed. "Loki said he was a god, too, and he was a bit…strong, to say the least. You…yeah I'm sorry, you have godly good looks, but I don't think you're a god."
"And we work with a god," Spider Woman said. "Phobos…good kid, but he needs to stop with the creepy stares."
"I assure you all, heroes, I am indeed a god, as is Loki," Thor replied. "I said I was deemed unworthy of Mjolnir when I sparked war. When I was deemed unworthy…my father, Odin, removed all of my godly abilities and my control of thunder and lightning, and cast me out of Asgard and unto Midgard. He made me mortal as a punishment for my actions, and I have lived with it for three years…which are long, I have noticed since I'm no longer immortal."
"So…you have no powers at all," Cap said, "and yet you want to help us. Why?"
"Because you need my help, Captain America," Thor answered. "Loki is a god bent on conquest. He believes it is his right to rule on a throne, and he believes Asgard is rightfully his. Because of this, he has no regard for anything that will not benefit his will. The Enchantress and the Executioner help him, but one day he will sever his ties to them because they will indeed one day be of no more use to him. He views mortals as less than nothing, and he will not hesitate to slaughter your kind in droves if you resist him. All he wants is a throne, and he will stop at nothing to gain it. Your world is in danger, and Loki is the single greatest threat Midgard may ever face in its history. Of all life on Midgard at the moment, only I have ever faced him and managed to win. He has made to conquer Asgard many times, and has failed. Odin hopes he can redeem himself one day, but I see that…it may not be possible. And though I love him as my brother, I will not allow a realm to burn for his satisfaction. I see Midgard as a home now, and that is what it is, as I have been banished from Asgard. As a god, I tell you that your chances of defeating Loki are slim. I can help you. Will you let me?"
*SHIELD Helicarrier UNS Odyssey, 1800ft above the United Nations complex*
17:07 EST May 4, 2012 AD
"So you are really going to put your trust in…a group of superhuman & mutant vigilantes?"
"The fate of the world is now in their hands?"
"At the moment, we have no other choice, Council," Fury retorted, folding his arms. "We have no idea what is going on down there other that the fact that these creatures are causing massive destruction all across Manhattan. The entirety of the island is in chaos, and we've gotten reports of a giant robot causing destruction across Uptown, which is something we have no idea of any kind about. These heroes and vigilantes are currently the only organized force on the entirety of Manhattan that has actually managed to do anything since this invasion began."
Director Fury brought up a virtual satellite feed of the island of Manhattan, which showed exactly how badly damaged each section of Manhattan really was. "SHIELD forces are deploying as we speak, and we're going to be focusing on the creatures across the island, and the local NYPD and the arriving American Armed Forces are also doing the same. I've activated SHIELD Protocol 10-Omega shutdown. As we do this, those heroes and vigilantes, aided by the Warriors on scene, will be able to put all their focus on the ones leading this invasion."
On the screens Fury was facing from his Director's Stand, a digitalized view of nine sub screens was visible, each connected to the Helicarrier's feed via advanced video conferencing technology. Each screen held the face of one of the nine members of the United Nations' World Security Council, the political head of SHIELD. The members were chosen from the nations of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Egypt. And, like in many previous occasions, they didn't approve of Fury's response method for this incident.
"Director Fury," the French Councilman said. "This Council has made it clear time and again that we are not in approval of these so-called 'Secret Warriors.' Ever since your predecessor began the…concept of this black-ops team, it has been a point each incarnation of the Council was vocal against. We had hoped that your succession of Victoria Hand would've brought some changes, but after many instances we see that we were wrong. Though we approve of certain agents such as Barton and Morse, the Council has been vocal against Romanova since 1981. The Exo-7 that Agent Wilson employs is debatable. Even with Captain Rogers' track record, we were vocal against his being in your current unit. And then there is the point of adding superhumans and mutants…both you and Hand seem to have some sort of fixation on them. Adding superhumans such as Agent Drew and Agent Johnson, and then going so far as to recruit a child of a Greek God-!"
"Councilman, the ideas that Victoria Hand brought to SHIELD and their effects on today really don't pertain to the current situation," Fury interrupted, "so if there's a point to all this, then can we-?"
"What Councilman Hans is trying to say, Director," the Brazilian Councilwoman said, "is that the Council is wondering if your decisions to handle this invasion are indeed worthwhile. Given your track-"
"The world is still spinning," Fury retorted. "I'd say that's enough of a track record."
"Is it too hard to look for other options?" the British Councilwoman replied. "Director, you cannot simply put your trust in these superhumans and mutants!"
"We have no choice!"
"Yes, we do," the Japanese Councilman retorted. "You just will not accept them. You know very well that SHIELD barely tolerates these superhuman and mutant vigilantes-!"
"No, that's the OFFICIAL stance," Fury replied. "I think they're a benefit that SHIELD and SWORD can't bear to be without."
"Director, the Council is making a decision," the Councilman from Egypt said. "We need to consider what will happened if these creatures breach the perimeter that you have established around Manhattan; who are we to say that these are all the creatures there? We must strike at the source."
"You aren't serious," Fury gasped angrily, realizing what he was saying.
"The Helicarrier is equipped for such capabilities; once it is out of range, it is-"
"No."
"Director," the Chinese Councilman said. "By the order of the Council, that jet is to be scrambled-!"
"THAT IS THE ISLAND OF MANHATTAN!" Fury yelled angrily. "There are still millions of people down there, along with SHIELD personnel, and US military personnel! I will NOT order a nuclear strike against a civilian population. That is non-negotiable."
"Plus, I highly doubt the President will approve of the United Nations nuking America's greatest city," the American Councilman, Alexander Pierce, interjected. "I motion for the nuclear option to be denied. However, there are other methods, Director Fury. Perhaps the Insight satellite tracking programs-"
"Those satellites are specifically designed for Project: Insight, Councilman," Fury replied, "which is still in the developing stages."
"There is one other option," the Councilman of Saudi Arabia offered. "The ARC Cannon."
Fury stared. "The ARC Cannon?"
"The force of a nuclear weapon without the fallout radiation and the massive destruction a nuclear weapon would give. Stark Industries' final greatest military achievement before the arrival of Iron Man."
"The ARC Cannon is supposed to be a last resort weapon, Council. And we are not out of options."
"Director Fury-" Pierce began.
"Council, I'd like to return to the important matter at hand-saving Manhattan and the world from the destruction of a mad man. Good-bye." And with that, Fury shut the feed off and returned to directing the SHIELD-US effort to contain and combat the Frost Giants.
*En route to Central Park, 10 minutes later*
17:16 EST May 4, 2012 AD
The MetLife Tower had seen better days, to say the least.
The grounds surrounding it, once a lovely and tranquil outdoor café and walking grounds for pedestrians, were now chaotic fields of destruction as the Jotun continued their destruction; the forces of the NYPD, of SHIELD and of the US military, however, were fighting back with vengeance. Fighter jets, attack choppers, battalions of ground forces and Mandroids flooded Manhattan in an effort to combat the invaders. The Jotun had never seen such enemies and were caught unprepared by their bullets and missiles and lasers. But as Jotuns, they retaliated. A group nearby had managed to grab a USAF chopper by the tail as it had lowered itself to fire missiles, and it threw the aircraft into another chopper, enticing a massive explosion. The debris joined the rush of chaos that filled the streets. The café had not been attacked by the Jotun yet, but the people outside racing inside for shelter were bound to draw their attention soon. Or so was thought.
One of the café waitresses noticed a young woman caught under the tables in the chaos the Jotun were causing, and she instantly raced out to get her and send her racing for the café. Unfortunately, this was when the Jotun finally noticed the café, and they attacked with a frenzy. The waitress was caught in the falling debris, screaming in horror.
"BETH!" another waitress screamed from the café entrance. The waitress, named Beth, saw the Jotun smash the side of the building and the debris falling right at her, and she went into a crouch to accept her death-
Only to be slammed into the ground and shielded by what she saw to be a man in a blue & white uniform with a shield, the shield protecting them both from the debris. She gasped when she realized who her savior was.
"Keep your head down!" Captain America yelled. Meanwhile, the Jotun were then viciously attacked by the energy blasts of Captain Marvel and the missiles of Iron Man. They let out vicious roars of pain as they were hit repeatedly. Then a volley of arrows and bullets and stingers reigned on them and then they were hit with blurred punches. Each of them collapsed, either badly hurt or dead.
"Well, what now?!" Wasp yelled as she flew past, Yellowjacket and Spider Woman in tow. "I think there are only about…100,000 left!"
"We stick to the plan!" Stark yelled as he flew past, with Spider-Man close behind with Thor hanging on as he swung through the streets. "We head to Central Park and bring the fight to them! JARVIS has them pinpointed there, and they have the Scarlet Witch!"
"Let us make haste then!" Quicksilver said as he slowed down, revealing that Jane Foster was clinging to him on his back. "We must save Wanda and ensure that Loki doesn't take her powers! The last time someone tried that, the entire mutant race was almost eradicated!"
"Yeah, don' remind me!" Logan yelled. Although, that incident did help him get his memories back...
"Let's move, team!" Cap yelled as he joined the other heroes in their race to get to Central Park. As he ran, he turned back to the waitress named Beth and yelled, "Get out of the street! It's not safe!"
The 14 heroes and their two guests continued their mad dash for Central Park. They, of course, did what they could to stop any and all Jotun that they found in their path. They were protectors and heroes, after all. Why wouldn't they try to? All around them, the chaos of the invasion continued, but it was being fought back now. With SHIELD and the US Armed Forces now on scene to back up the NYPD, they could now lay down some serious firepower.
"Head's up!" Peter yelled as he fired a number of web lines at a Jotun making to throw a crowded bus. The webbing caught the bus as it was flung, just before it hit the ground.
"I got it!" Wolverine roared as he dashed up and jumped, slicing away at the Jotun's junk. It barely managed to release a scream of pain before a giant Wasp rammed a fist into its face, knocking him out.
"This isn't going to help us get there as soon as possible!" Spider Woman yelled out.
"She is right, there are too many Jotun!" Thor agreed. "By the time we get there, Loki could have already acquired the powers of the Scarlet Witch!"
"Then let's send a friendly welcome gift ahead of us!" Stark decided. "Hulk, how about you knock and let them know they have company?!"
"Sounds fun!" Hulk sneered.
"Save some action for the rest of us, Banner!" Logan yelled before the Hulk suddenly leapt into the air and began massive jumps towards Central Park.
*Central Park*
17:18 EST May 4, 2012 AD
With an explosive puff of green smoke, the Destroyer appeared, its rampage of destruction in the portion of Uptown that Hulk had thrown it to now over. "The fact that one of their number can so easily stand against the Destroyer is of concern," Amora stated as she turned to Loki. "That instantly removes our greatest weapon from our advantage."
"But we have other advantages," the Trickster smirked as he turned to a nearly unconscious Scarlet Witch. "Their most dangerous asset is now under our power, and will soon no longer be a threat. Their brutish monster can be handled by the Executioner, and remember…they cannot stand against me and my power. Besides, we have the advantage of numbers," he added as he gestured to the Jotun and the four magically endowed supervillians. "They weren't able to succeed against our lackeys when there were only four of them. They weren't able to stand against the Jotun even when they were united. To stand against them all as they are forced to be divided…hmmm, I believe the victory is ours."
"Not…not yet…" Wanda gasped, her energy just about spent from channeling her abilities into her probability manipulation, keeping her powers safe from Loki. She didn't think she was going to be able to resist any longer, though. Channeling such power in an effort like this was too much of a strain for her. She was going to collapse at any moment, she was going to faint under the strain, and then…all would be lost.
"Oh I believe quite so, my dear," Loki taunted as he began twirling his scepter. "I have the advantage of godhood, and in the arts of magic. I have advantage of numbers. Your allies were unable to stand against me at their strongest. Your city burns in the background. Where is my disadvantage?"
"We…we…" Wanda gasped.
"We what?" Loki taunted.
"We…have a Hulk."
"HULK SMASH PUNY GOD!"
FRAKAKABOOM!
The invaders didn't even have time to register the words and turn around before the Hulk landed a devastating smashing hit on Loki, creating a deep crater in the ground as a result of the impact, which resonated for miles. The sonic shockwave managed to send the Jotun, the Enchantress, the Executioner and the four supervillians flying back dozens of feet. Hulk paid no attention to this, however; all he was focused on was landing haymaker after haymaker on Loki's face and torso. Engulfed by the rage and anger, the Hulk and Bruce Banner worked as one conscious to deliver the blows to Loki. Suddenly, a flash of green light burst out as an energy blast fired from the crater and sent the Hulk flying.
"YOU DARE STRIKE A GOD, YOU DULL CREATURE!" Loki roared, his helmet fallen off and his scepter on the ground at his feet, but both his hands glowing with magical energy. "ALLOW ME TO SHOW YOU THE ERROR OF YOUR WAYS!" His only response was a roar and a charging bum rush. Loki took great joy in firing devastating and powerful magic blasts at the Hulk, sending him crashing onto the ground. Loki was then really shocked when the ground he was standing on began shaking violently and was soon lifted from the Earth itself. Hulk had grabbed a portion of the ground itself and lifted it up. With a roar, he threw it at the Wrecker, Piledriver, Thunderball and Bulldozer.
"JOTUN!" Ymir roared. "SLAY THIS CREATURE!" At that, the Frost Giants roared in fury and a desire for vengeance from their previous battle with the heroes and all charged to attack. Hulk saw them coming, however, and responded accordingly with a vicious thunderclap, the shockwaves sending the Jotun flying back in the direction they were coming from. With a roar, the Hulk grabbed one of the boulder rocks found in Central Park and ripped it out of the ground, flinging it at the Executioner. Hulk then saw Wanda, and made to go over and help, when he stopped in his tracks and stood up straight, his eyes now turning an emerald green.
"Now, my pet brute," Amora said in a sultry and seductive voice as she approached the titan with a sway to her hips, her hand glowing with emerald magic energy. "You may prove to be of use to us in our cause. You're allies will no doubt be here soon, so when they arrive, I want you to lay waste to them for me, and make sure that not one of them is left standing to-"
"No…" the Hulk strained to say, his fists balling up and a strained look on his face.
"What?!" Amora exclaimed, shocked by this. "How-how are-?!"
"NO ONE…CONTROLS THE HULK!" Hulk roared savagely as he landed a vicious uppercut on the Enchantress, her screams loud and clear as she went flying into the nearby trees and crashing into another of the boulder formations.
"FALL, BEAST!" Executioner roared as he leapt at the Hulk with his ax in hand, landing a vicious swing and leaving nasty slash on the Hulk's chest. Executioner made to deliver another hit, but was suddenly bombarded with vicious energy blasts from the skies.
"They're here!" Wrecker exclaimed as he, Piledriver, Thunderball and Bulldozer got up, their eyes to the sky. Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Wasp, Yellowjacket and Spider Woman came zooming down from the skies with their energy blasts, repulsors and stingers firing at full power, landing hits on Executioner and the now returning Frost Giants.
"Destroyer!" Loki commanded as he got up from the ground, his scepter back in hand and his helmet being put back on his head. "Destroy them all!" At his words, the metallic juggernaut came to life and began entering the battle. Instead of using its vicious energy blast, though, it simply ripped another boulder formation from the ground and flung it at the airborne heroes, who barely dodged in time as they landed onto the ground.
"Captain Marvel!" Iron Man yelled as he fired his uni-beam at an Enchantress trying to get back up. "He's all yours!"
"Don't mind if I do!" Carol yelled with glee as she rammed at the Destroyer with all her strength-only for the Destroyer to grab her by the face and slam her head first into the ground, and followed up by slamming its metallic foot onto her back. Carol's roar of agony and pain reflected greatly just how powerful a hit that was, but she wasn't done yet. As the juggernaut made to use its foot again, she blasted a photon blast to its face, surprising it momentarily and allowing her to land a devastating uppercut to its head. "C'mon, hit me with that blast of yours! Make this interesting!"
"Gentlemen," Loki commanded to his four superhuman lackeys. "Give our visitors a proper greeting."
"Will do, Loki!" Wrecker exclaimed as he and the other three raced into the battle.
"Hey, heroes!" Piledriver yelled out. "Let's see you take us on!"
"Executioner, deal with the beast." Loki's only answer was Skurge attacking the Hulk savagely with ax swing after ax swing, Hulk fighting back one smashing haymaker after another. Loki smirked, convinced that the battle was now definitely one…until he was suddenly slammed in the face by a punch he never saw coming that came at lightning speeds, and it wasn't just one punch. Loki didn't even register it yet as he was bombarded by more blinding punches, empowered by the momentum of near supersonic speeds, and a final punch sent Loki crashing into the ground, which had been the moment Loki just began to realize he was hit.
"You will release my sister, monster," Quicksilver snarled as he took up an offensive stance. "And you will not have her powers."
Loki's response was to blast him with his scepter. "I will do no such thing, mortal! However, I will perhaps do you the courtesy of being killed by her abilities once I acquire them. Can you not see that I am your superior?!"
"You sound like our father," Pietro smirked as he raced up and slammed another fist into Loki's face, only to be whacked in his own face with the scepter.
"…Pietro…" Wanda barely managed to say, but her voice was hoarse, reflecting just how bad she was at the moment, now ready to give into the strain at any moment and unwillingly surrendering her mutant and arcane abilities to Loki.
Meanwhile, Iron Man, Spider Woman, Yellowjacket and Wasp were each doing battle with Wrecker, Piledriver, Bulldozer and Thunderball. Both Pym and Jan had gone supersized to be able to better battle the villains. They were giving it their all, but these four villains were enchanted with the abilities of gods, and they were no easy fight. Stark's Iron Man armor only gave so much superhuman strength capabilities, and Spider Woman was nowhere near their power level. The Pym Particles were able to increase strength, stamina and durability to superhuman levels, but not on par with the villains. "This isn't going very well!" Jan yelled as she landed a hit on Piledriver, only for the villain to grab her fist and push back.
"Yes, thank you for stating the obvious, Wasp!" Jess yelled back as she barely evaded a hit from Wrecker's crowbar, retaliating with a dual venom blast. "Where the bloody hell are the others?!"
"They'll be here, so stay focused on the ones in front of you!" Stark replied, barely activating his deflector shields in time to withstand Bulldozer's insanely strong bum rush, the collision actually causing Stark's form to be sent back, his armored boots dragging in the ground. "Damn, this guy is strong!"
"They all are, Stark! Thanks for stating the obvious!" Pym yelled as he grabbed Thunderball's face and rammed it into the ground, only to be sent crashing into the ground himself by the villain retaliating by throwing his ball & chain at the hero, impacting on his chest.
"HANK!" Wasp yelled, distracted enough for Piledriver to viciously grab her leg and force her giant form down, enticing a yell of pain from the heroine.
"Say goodnight, biiiiaaaaaaaaAAUUUGHHH!" Piledriver roared, suddenly attacked by an arriving Wolverine, his claws embedded into the villain's flesh again. Captain America, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Mockingbird, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Jane and Thor arrived onto the scene also. "GET OFF ME, ASSHOLE!" Piledriver roared, desperately trying to grab at the mutant on his back as he began bleeding from the wounds.
"Ok, you asked for it!" Logan yelled as he ripped his claws out of the wounds, making the villain yell out even more. At that moment, Barton fired two explosive arrows at the wounds, the resulting explosions further hurting the villain, allowing Cap to fling his shield at his face.
"About time you guys got here!" Stark yelled as he and the other three converged with the arriving heroes. Addressing Thor and Jane, he said, "Ok you two, things are about to get very crazy in just a few minutes, so I think it'd be best if you both stay out of the way."
"Yeah, I think that sounds like a good idea," Jane agreed instantly.
"But-" Thor tried to argue.
"Iron Man is right," Cap agreed. "Even if you are who you say you are, you're definitely in no condition to go up against these kinds of psychos. You both need to stay out of the way. That is an order. As for the rest of you," he added as he turned his attention to the other heroes, "this is where we make out stand. Here we show these goons just how Earth responds to threats like this. You are all heroes, each in your own right. And you are amongst the greatest heroes out there. I'm honored to be fighting by your side. Now, let's show this Loki guy some New York attitude!"
"I'm not from New York," Widow and Spider Woman pointed out.
"Neither am I, but I ain' sayin' nothin'," Logan retorted. Just then, a bright green light flashed as Loki sent Quicksilver flying into the nearby trees. His scepter and his hand glowing with energy, he rose into the skies with a cackle, the Jotun now returning to his side as did the Enchantress, Wrecker, a bleeding Piledriver, Thunderball and Bulldozer, with the Destroyer and Executioner battling Captain Marvel and the Hulk, respectively, in the background.
"So," Loki yelled with a laugh as he touched down and twirled his scepter. "Once more, you mortals make to defy me! What will it take to make you realize that you are nothing to me?! I am your better, in every sense of the word! I am stronger, smarter and more cunning! You mortals have no hope of stopping me!"
"Well, forgive us if we wish to prove you wrong," Panther replied defiantly, pulling out his last two vibranium daggers, connecting and extending them to form a dual bladed staff. "We shall not surrender to the likes of you, Loki. We will stand until our last breath, and that will not come so easily. You simply fight for conquest, while we fight for our right of freedom."
"As my good friend Churchill said, we shall never surrender," Captain America confirmed.
"This is your last chance, Loki," Stark demanded. "Surrender."
"I have a better idea," Loki smirked. "Instead, I shall teach and instill unto you all just how foolish it is too deal with a god…especially one with an army at his back. Destroy them all!" And with a yell of war, the Jotun, Wrecker, Piledriver, Bulldozer and Thunderball charged, their weapons ready.
"LET'S MOVE!" Captain America yelled out as he, Iron Man, Yellowjacket, Wasp, Hawkeye, Mockingbird, Black Widow, Wolverine, Black Panther, Spider Woman and Spider-Man charged. The impact was titanic as Thor and Jane saw from their cover position in the nearby trees. With the whine of repulsors and the sounds and thwips of blasts and webs, with the SNIKT of claws and clicks of staffs and guns, and the whiz of arrows, the assembled heroes unleashed every inch of hell that they could muster. They rammed themselves into the Jotun and the four supervillians, not being cautious in any way or form. Their home was at stake, and they would do anything and everything possible to save it. With the agility and skill and expertise that they each possessed, they moved as one unit and struck viciously.
"This will not do," Amora smirked. With that, she teleported right into the heat of the battle and blasted a vicious emerald wave of magic, sending the heroes flying. All except Spider-Man, whose Spider-Sense allowed him to dodge just in time. "So, you must be the newcomer Ymir spoke of," she sneered.
"And YOU must be crazy to be wearing only one color," Peter quipped in reply. "Seriously, even that tiara is green; even your lipstick is green! You have no fashion sense at all, girlfriend. You and Gobby would make quite the team-up, though!"
"Be silent!" the villainess shot back as she fired a magic blast, only for him to dodge and cover her face completely with webbing.
"Sorry, lady, no can do! And I think you pissed off my new best friend!"
"What is this disgusting thing?!" Amora yelled as she tried to remove the adhesive. "And what is this gibberish you speak of?!"
"He means me!" Jess shouted as she dealt a snap kick to her face, announcing her arrival. "Mess with one spider, you mess with them all!" Both arachnids then immediately worked together in battling Amora, signaling to the others that they would be handling her as the other heroes took on the four supervillians and the Jotun.
"Well, while this is going along," Loki mused as he turned back to his prisoner, "I believe I shall continue to work on taking the witch's powers and-" He never finished as he was hit by a super-fast cyclone of fists, signaling Quicksilver's return. His costume was now tattered in various places and his white hair was filthy and messy, but his face held only determination, fury, and brotherly instinct.
"YOU WILL DO NO SUCH THING!" he yelled as he delivered a rapid flurry of combos and punches. With his speed, Loki was unable to effectively block any of his hits. But Loki simply smirked and created a trio of illusions, surprising the mutant enough for him to fire a blast from his scepter.
Meanwhile Cap, Stark, Hawkeye, Widow, Mockingbird, Logan, Wasp, Pym and Panther were in vicious combat with the Wrecker, Piledriver, Thunderball and Bulldozer, as well as the Frost Giants. Thankfully, with SHIELD, the NYPD and the US Army keeping all the other Frost Giants busy across Manhattan, they only had to worry about these 30 here. Stark was busy taking on Ymir, unleashing vicious repulsor blasts and utilizing the remaining missiles in his armor's arsenal. Ymir was an apt opponent, however, and he was not going to surrender to Iron Man so easily. With his Jotun strength, the giant threw punch after punch and swung his ice scythes in mad attempts to cut Stark in half, and it was only by his deflector shield that the weapon wasn't gutting him. The two were locked in fierce battle, technology facing against magical giants.
'Sir, shield levels are stable, but the power levels to sustain them are dropping,' JARVIS stated as Stark fired his uni-beam, flying after the giant's flying form in the sky to land a powerful metallic punch to his jaw. 'We are currently at 68% power for shielding.'
"Then recharge, dammit!" Stark yelled as he was then sent crashing into the ground by a vicious backhand from Ymir. "I don't think the armor can take much more hits like that!"
Cap, Panther, Logan and Yellowjacket had divided Wrecker, Thunderball, Piledriver and Bulldozer amongst them, respectively. Cap was managing to hold his own against Wrecker, able to block all attacks from his crowbar with his shield. The Super Soldier Serum had made Steve into the pinnacle of human ability, and it was visible very easily from how Cap fought the Wrecker. With near superhuman agility, he successfully dodged many of Wrecker's punches and crowbar attacks, blocking the others with his shield. Cap repeatedly rammed his shield into the villain's face at every chance he could. As Wrecker made to deliver a vicious back handed crowbar swing, Steve managed to bring his shield up to block it just in time, the impact of the crowbar and the shield still sending him flying, but not as much. Cap landed on his feet and threw his shield at the charging villain, dashing up to deliver an uppercut to the jaw as Wrecker was dazed from the hit.
Logan and Thunderball were also in fierce combat; the feral mutant had managed to lay about a dozen slices and slashed on the villain in simply the first few minutes of their combat. Enraged, Thunderball continuously swung his ball and chain madly, but Logan skillfully dodged each attack, utilizing hit 215+ years of combat and war experience to evade and counter. With a punch backed up by the thickness of his adamantium laced skeleton, Wolverine delivered a mighty blow to Thunderball's solar plexus, causing the villain to stagger back. This gave Logan the chance to deliver a strike with his claws at the ball & chain, hoping to sever the chain from the ball and remove its effectiveness as a weapon. To his shock, his claws couldn't even make a dent. Thunderball realized that Enchantress' magic must've also enhanced his ball & chain too, and a laugh, he managed to land a hit on Logan and send him crashing into a nearby boulder formation. Thunderball raced over to finish it off, only to be met by a slash to the face.
Black Panther, meanwhile, was engaged with Bulldozer. Thanks to constant ingestion of the Heart-Shaped Herb of Wakanda, his abilities and skills were enhanced to near superhuman levels. His vibranium claws and his dual blades staff also helped him greatly. With swings and slashes and the expertise of the Wakandan Arts fighting styles, T'Challa relentlessly attacked the villain. Bulldozer, however, was unwilling to stop, and he madly delivered devastating punches and charged any chance he could, with Panther barely able to dodge all of them in time. He was well aware that while his uniform was laced with vibranium, it wouldn't stand up to a hit like the ones Bulldozer was delivering. As the villain again threw a punch only to hit the ground, Panther jumped onto his back and slashed away at his back with his claws, enticing roars of pain. Jumping off, he took his staff and delivered a slashing hit at Bulldozer's helmet, hoping that it would slice the inferior metal apart. It didn't even make a dent, and Bulldozer realized that the magics that gave him his powers must've also enchanted his helmet to be indestructible. With a vicious laugh, Bulldozer charged, only for Panther to dodge and land a vicious crippling punch at his knee, attacking the joint and enticing a roar of pain.
Yellowjacket was alternating between his size changes as he battled Piledriver, going from small to giant sized in the blink of an eye. He was taking advantage of the slashes that Wolverine had left as he ambushed the villain just earlier, bombarding the wounds with his bio stings, enticing roars of pain from the villain. He also delivered powerful haymakers in his giant form, shrinking quickly back into his smaller form to keep Piledriver unable to hit him with his own much more powerful hits. Pym managed to fire another round of stinger blasts before Piledriver managed to get a hit and backhanded him, sending him flying into the trees. Returning to normal size, Pym saw Piledriver rushing him with his fists ready to lay waste to him. Quickly, Pym activated a small communications mechanism in his cowl and entered one command: attack. Within a dozen seconds, Piledriver was swamped with millions of ants and wasps and other insects attacking him. Suddenly focused on getting all these insects off him, Piledriver never saw Yellowjacket's massive foot until it hit him.
Hawkeye, Black Widow, Wasp and Mockingbird, meanwhile, were dealing with the other Jotun. Only being three humans and one superhuman against about 30 creatures of superhuman strength and durability, these certainly weren't favorable odds. But Clint, Bobbi and Natalia were used to those kinds of odds and had always prevailed, and Wasp was no quitter. Working as one unit, they unleashed hell onto their opponents. Battle staves connected as one, Mockingbird pole-vaulted over the giants and used quick analysis to determine their weak points, landing crippling blows on their joints with her staff. With her petite and slender form, she was easily able to dodge all the attacks the Jotun threw her way. Hawkeye fired as many arrows as he could, sending explosive, incendiary, adamantium tipped, sonic, smoke bomb and electrical arrows at any Jotun in his sights, relentlessly pressing his attacks. Sliding in the grass with the help of the smoothness of his legwear and boots, he was able to slide under and fire arrows at the Jotuns' genitals, causing twice as much pain.
Widow was down to her last two M27 cartridges, but she was still as deadly as she was beautiful. Holstering her machine gun onto her back, she took out her 45 handguns and began firing at any and all Jotun in her path. With the help of her Widow stings and her KGB/Red Room enhanced physical attributes, she was able to dodge and dish out with amazing results, sowing confusion and blind fury amongst the ranks of the Jotun. Wasp, however, was going for a more direct approach, going immediately into her giant form and delivering powerful punches and short ranged sting blasts. Taller than the Jotun now, she was a clear target, but she didn't make it easy for them, as her attacks were well coordinated and like a blitzkrieg.
All the while, Captain Marvel was again holding her own against the Destroyer. She was still souped up on its energy blasts from earlier, but the energy was wearing off. And apparently, their enemies had wised up to her tactic against the metallic juggernaut, because the Destroyer was not firing its energy blasts at her at all-it was now going for a solely physical approach, delivering vicious and earth shattering punches left and right. Carol was able to evade many of them, but a few still managed to hit her. Her energy blasts, so far greatly enhanced by the Destroyer's blasts, were slowly losing the power boost and returning to her normal energy blast output. Her punches and kicks, though very powerful, did less and less damage as the energy wore off. If the Destroyer didn't shoot her with a blast soon, Carol feared she many not actually be able to hold it off much longer.
Hulk, meanwhile, was in a game of fist-meets-ax chicken with the Executioner, and neither was looking to give up any time soon. Their traded punches and elemental ax swings echoed across Central Park. Hulk's vicious roars of fury and pain were reflected by the occasional vicious cries of war and pain that Skurge gave out as he took Hulk's hits. They had caused multiple craters of damage and had destroyed a good portion of the part in Central Park that the heroes and invaders were battling in. Hulk's thick skin had multiple scars that were bleeding courtesy of his enemy's ax. Skurge's armor was half destroyed due to Hulk's vicious and all-mighty hits and punches. But this did nothing to deter them from what was currently important to them-beating the living crap out of each other. Unrelenting and undeterred, the monster and the god continued their clash, punches and ax blows trading blood and power.
All this was witness by Thor and Jane as they watched from their cover in the trees nearby. Jane was quite frankly terrified; before her eyes, actual gods were waging war against the Earth for conquest and destruction, and the only ones able to stand in their way were 15 of the world's heroes, and one of them was their prisoner. From what Thor had told her, the Asgardian rogues were some of the greatest threats Asgard and the other realms had faced in all of time. Loki had almost at one point managed to overthrow Thor's father. Here, they were faced with heroes who couldn't hope to come close to taking on someone of Loki's power.
Thor meanwhile, was in awe at the scene before him. In his time spent on Earth, living with mortals, he had come to see that mankind had a spirit of resistance inside them, one that refused to let them fall to their knee without surrender. Before him, some of the greatest protectors of Midgard had united as one to fight off an enemy that was too much for them and were unwilling to surrender. Thor knew that there were many heroes on Midgard across the globe, and he was always marveled by their compassion and heroism. They would truly make fine warriors if they were of Asgard.
"WHY DO YOU NOT FALL!?" Amora screamed as she fired another magic blast at the two arachnids, only to miss.
"Why do you dress like a slut?" Jess replied as she fired a venom blast.
"You DARE insult my-!" Amora was suddenly interrupted by a sound: a version of "Itsy Bitsy Spider" playing on a phone…and it was coming from Spider-Man's waistline.
"Oops, gotta take this!" Peter quipped as he webbed Enchantress' arm and sent her flying into the air for Spider Woman to deliver a kick at her. "Oh, man, where does the time go…? Hello? Uh, hi, Aunt May…no, I'm fine…yeah, I'm in Manhattan…um well, I kinda got caught up in the whole thing-great responsibility, you know?"
"How can you be on the phone at a time like this?!" Jess yelled as she dropped to the ground to avoid Amora's magic blasts.
"You need to realize, I AM VICTORIOUS," Loki sneered as he grabbed Pietro by the throat, having easily beaten him with the use of his illusions and his trickery. At that, he unceremoniously threw the mutant to where the Scarlet Witch was still dangling as his prisoner, nearly at the point of surrendering against the massive strains that Loki was putting on her to steal her powers and arcane abilities. "I have almost broken your wench of a sister's will and resistance. At any moment, I will take her abilities for myself, and with them I will rule the Nine Realms with an iron fist. There is nothing you can do to stop it. All of you mortals combined could do nothing against me, and you think you alone can stand against me?!"
"…Pietro…" Wanda gasped, just about ready to go unconscious. She had tried her hardest, but it was to no avail; her powers were going to be robbed of her, and she could do nothing. "G-go…save your-…"
"I will not abandon you, Wanda," Pietro retorted, struggling to get up to face Loki again. "Not as long as I live."
"That is easily fixed," Loki sneered as he came over and again grabbed his throat. His free hand began glowing dangerously with godly magical energy. "If you wish to die to fail to save this mortal wench, then so be it, mortal!" Loki yelled as he made to blast Pietro-only to have his hand grabbed by the mutant's own, and for Quicksilver to yell and tap into every bit of energy reserve inside him to unleash one final high-speed vortex, sucking both him and Loki into it. With everything in him, Pietro zoomed right into Wanda' captive form, and the three of them were engulfed in a bright light of high speed and magic energy. A massive shrill whine rang out, catching the attention of all the heroes and villains present, and then a vicious explosion of green and scarlet energy occurred, blinding everyone present with its light. Loki was send flying back dozens of feet, crashing into a nearby boulder formation and leaving a vicious dent.
Wanda was finally free from her bonds and her torture under Loki's magic. No longer bound by anything, she came collapsing down onto the ground, barely conscious, onto a panting Quicksilver.
"Wanda!" he exclaimed as he took her into his arms. "Wanda, are you ok?!"
"Pietro…" Wanda gasped, feeling her energy slowly and gradually returning to her, realizing her powers were still flowing inside her body. She was still one of the world's most dangerous individuals alive. Her brother had saved her. "Yes…I'm-I'm fine, just give me a-"
"YOU FOOLS!" Loki roared as he teleported back to them, his scepter blasting the twins and sending them crashing into Spider Woman and Spider-Man, freeing Amora from them and allowing her to blast Iron Man out of the air for Ymir to whack with his swords. "You think THIS will guarantee your victory against me?! I am a GOD! I cannot be defeated by mere mortals! You cannot stand against me! Her powers are as good as mine! Midgard will be mine to rule!"
"I must stop him," Thor decided, and made to head into the battle, only for Jane to pull him back.
"Thor, you're crazy, you can't go out there!" she implored. "You're as weak and fragile as the rest of us humans! You don't have any powers or weapons or anything! You'll be killed!"
"This world will be killed if no one stops him!" Thor countered, pulling his arm out of her grasp. "Jane, I need to reason with him, I know that the brother I grew up with is still in there. I have to try and reason with him!" And ignoring the rest of Jane's pleas, Thor headed into the battle zone.
"Thor, what are you doing?!" Hawkeye yelled as he and Mockingbird saw Thor run up to them. "You're going to get yourself killed!"
"I can try to reason with Loki!"
"You said he's beyond reason!" Bobbi exclaimed.
"He is my brother, I must try!" Thor countered. The two SHIELD agents would've argued more, but they had to push Thor out of the way before a Jotun collapsed onto the ground after it was slammed down by Wasp's bio stings.
"Thor, what are you doing here!" she exclaimed as she shrank down to her typical Wasp size. "You're going to get yourself-!"
"Yes, I've been warned already!" Thor retorted. "I need to get to Loki! I may be the only one to be able to try and reason with him!"
"I thought you said he was-!"
"I know what I said, but I need to try!" Thor replied angrily. "Can you get me closer?!"
"I'm going to regret this…" Jan muttered as she got bigger to 15ft and picked up Thor. "Hang on!" And with that, Wasp began heading to where Loki was, knocking Frost Giants aside with powerful punches as she got closer and closer. Captain America had managed to break away from Wrecker and was again engaged in fighting the Trickster. Despite all his best efforts to battle Loki and best him, he was only a human with a powerful shield. Loki managed to whack his shield out of his hands, and Cap tried to deliver a right hook, but Loki caught the fist and backhanded Steve into the ground dozens of feet away. Turning and looking up, he saw Wasp heading his way, and with a sneer, he a fired a magic blast at her and hit her right in the shoulder. The impact burned Jan as she let out a painful scream and collapsed onto the ground in agony. Thor managed to jump out of her hands and landed near Loki.
"Loki, you must stop this madness!"
"Thor?!" Loki exclaimed with an amused smirk. "What a delightful surprise! Please, allow me to prepare a proper reception…CEASE, MY LOYAL FOLLOWERS! CEASE YOUR FIGHTING!" At Loki's command, the Jotun, Amora, Executioner, the Destroyer, Wrecker, Piledriver, Thunderball and Bulldozer stopped their fighting, albeit they were confused as to why. The heroes were also surprised as to why their enemies suddenly stopped fighting…until they all saw Thor standing before Loki.
"Thor, what the hell are you doing?!" Stark exclaimed.
"Yer gonna get yerself fu-!" Logan began.
"Yes, I have understood that I may get killed!" Thor yelled back.
"Killed, brother?" Loki sighed in amusement. "Thor, Thor…I would never kill you; I would simply enslave you and force you to witness my rise to power as I conquer the Nine Realms!"
"Loki, this is madness!" Thor replied, raising his arms towards Loki. "This is not what a ruler would do! A ruler would not destroy the kingdom he wants! Our father-!"
"YOUR father," Loki snapped back, his smirk replaced by a look of anger. "You know of my true heritage, so why must you continue to pretend we are brothers?"
"We were raised by the same man. We grew up together, played together and fought together!" Thor continued, walking closer to his adopted brother. "We are loved by the same mother…does none of this mean anything to you? Does my word not mean anything to you?! Odin's words?! He instilled in us the teachings of a ruler! Do you not remember!?"
"I remember a shadow," Loki snapped. "I remember living in shade, the shade of your greatness…the greatness your father never bothered to give to me. Raising us both, making me believe I could be a king as you could. It was all a lie, Thor! You were always the favorite! You were the one who was destined to be king! I…I was not to be anything! Do you have any idea of how devastated I was to learn I was never to be your equal?!"
"Talk about family issues…" Peter muttered to Jess, who sighed and nodded in agreement.
"And so you think because of that, you can simply claim another realm as your own kingdom?" Thor asked. "You think yourself superior to mankind?"
"I do. I should be a king!" Loki replied angrily.
"So you take the world I love as recompense for your imagined slights?"
"The humans slaughter each other in droves…they court chaos. I mean to rule them, and why should I not?"
"You think yourself above them?"
"We are gods…I am!"
"Then a throne would suit you ill, brother. You miss the truth and reason of ruling."
"Says the prince who unleashed war against Jotunheim."
"I was foolish-!"
"And I am a king in the making!" Loki yelled, gripping his scepter. "I am taking my rightful place in the universe! I am Midgard's lord and ruler!"
"No, you are its destroyer!" Thor implored as he reached Loki and grabbed his shoulders. "You cannot be a king, not like this! You need to give up this dream of yours, Loki…you are my brother. I wish you no ill will, but this desire to rule blinds you and consumes you. You must stop surrendering yourself to madness…you need to wake up…return home. I know you can turn this around, brother, if you just allow yourself to. We are still family, and even if you seem to be beyond saving…I will always have that hope that one day, you may be saved. Please Loki…leave Midgard and trouble it no more."
Loki stared at Thor, eyes wide in surprise. "You really believe I can change my ways? That I can simply…return to who I was in our young age and be a true brother and son?"
"I do, brother," Thor said, a smile etching onto his face. "I know that my brother is still inside there, Loki. This madness would not stop with your rule. You may learn to love Midgard, as I do. Please…end your war."
The two simply stood there. The heroes stared on, as did Loki's followers. Was this really happening?
"You risk your life, now that you are mortal," Loki said slowly, "to attempt and save these mortals and their world. To do anything to ensure this world is protected, even be ready to give your life. Why?"
"Because Midgard has become my second home," Thor replied. "I have grown to love it, and I would do anything for this realm. I would gladly give my life to help mankind, and to help Midgard. That is how much I love this realm, and its inhabitants."
Loki remained still and silent. Thor began to smile a bit. He believed he may have finally gotten through to Loki-at least, he did until he yelled in pain as one of Loki's daggers suddenly embedded itself into his chest.
"NO!" Jane yelled in horror.
"THOR!" Cap and Stark yelled in shock.
"Sentiment," Loki smirked with a sinister glint in his eyes. And with that, he backhanded Thor with the godly strength he possessed, sending him flying through the air and through one of the boulder formations that had been thrown in the battle. Thor went right through the rock with a sickening crack, and crashed into the ground dozens of feet away and remained bloody and unmoving. "A useful distraction."
"THOR!" Jane yelled in horror as she ran to where he lay still.
"NOW, MY LOYAL SUBJECTS!" Loki yelled as he began twirling his scepter, devastating lightning bolts of green energy flying out of the jewel at its top. "NOW, WE SHALL HAVE OUR KINGDOM AND OUR VICTORY! TODAY, MIDGARD-TOMORROW, THE NINE REALMS!"
*New Mexican Desert, American Southwest, same time*
17:54 MWT May 4, 2012
"Agent Quartermain, we're getting spikes in our readings!"
"What?!" the SHIELD agent in charge of this outpost, for three years now, exclaimed in shock and disbelief, rushing over to the screens and monitors. "That-that can't be! All these years, and now-?!"
"The readings are right there, sir!" one of the agents at the monitors interjected, pointing at the spike levels on the screens. "We have no idea what caused it-they just came out of nowhere!"
"Have the radiology teams get out of there," Agent Clay Quartermain ordered, his eyes unable to move away from the screens. How…after three years, this thing was showing signs of…whatever this was. Without a second thought, Quartermain got out of the mobile data center out and ran to the crater in the middle of the SHIELD outpost he was in charge of. The crater was about 10ft deep at its deepest, and had a 15ft radius.
Within the crater, two SHIELD teams of radiologists were scanning the object that had caused the crater. It was a hammer, like a hand-held sledgehammer that construction crews used as opposed to the regular kind. It was dark grey and had a brownish handle with a leather loop at the end. It occasionally flashed an inscription on its side, which was in an old dialect of Norwegian, the Linguistics team had discovered. It had been unmovable for three years-not by hand or by machine, or even by helicopter; hell, Agent Barton had even tried to hook it to a missile once. That wasn't a pleasant experience. But at the moment, the hammer seemed to be activating in some nature, and a whining sound began echoing from it.
"Get out of there now!" Quartermain ordered, to the shock of the teams. "We have no idea what's going to happen!"
"Agent Quartermain, these spikes need to be recorded!" one of the scientists argued. "We can't-!"
"I think I value the lives of my agents more than-!" Quartermain was suddenly interrupted by a crack in the ground where the hammer was embedded in. There came a slight rumbling, but soon it began to get louder, and another crack appeared on the ground around the hammer. "Damn…" Quartermain muttered as the radiologists decided now was indeed a good time to get out. As other agents appeared on the scene, Quartermain activated his comm. "This is Senior Special Agent Quartermain contacting the Helicarrier. Get me Nick Fury, now!"
*Central Park*
17:55 EST May 4, 2012
"JANE, GET OUT OF HERE!" Captain America roared as he fought to keep the Jotun at bay with Iron Man, Spider Woman, Hawkeye and Black Widow.
"Jane, the Captain is right, you must leave!" Panther urged, trying to pry her away from Thor's body. Quicksilver came up and tried to help, but Jane refused to let go. Wanda was now forced to form chaos fields to protect the four of them from harm.
"No, I won't leave him!" Jane yelled, tears cascading from her eyes. She had run right into the carnage once she saw Thor crash through the boulder, right to where his body was. By the time she had arrived, she was too late-he was still bleeding profoundly, but he was no longer breathing. His eyes were cold and empty orbs of death. Thor was gone. "He can't be dead, he can't be!"
"He is, and he wouldn't want you to die either!" Panther yelled, seeing Jotun coming at their side. He left Jane and began to engage them, keeping them at bay with his vibranium dagger staff. "Pietro and Wanda, get her out of here!"
"Captain Marvel and Hulk are gettin' their asses handed to them!" Wolverine roared as he continued to clash with Wrecker, Piledriver, Thunderball and Bulldozer with Mockingbird, Wasp, Yellowjacket and Spider-Man.
It was true-once Loki began his merciless bombardment of magical blasts with the Enchantress, Carol and Banner had abandoned their fights with Executioner and the Destroyer and immediately bum rushed him, both of them delivering devastating punches and energy blasts and smashes. They were two of the most powerful beings on the planet, but Loki wasn't of this planet; he was a god, and even though he was getting pummeled by their hits, he hit back just as hard. Enchantress added to his devastating attacks, bolstering his magics with her own, further empowering his might. He relentlessly fired magical blasts and deliver hits with his own fists against Carol and Banner. They refused to fall, however, and continued their seemingly lost fight against him.
Jane saw this all. She clung to Thor's body, refusing to listen to Quicksilver or let him drag her off of Thor and to safety. Her friend had died before her eyes, trying to reach out to his brother, and he had failed. She had known him so much these three years, and he was just gone. She refused to move, refused to leave. She would not leave Thor like this…a part of her still screamed that Thor couldn't have been killed. It just wasn't possible…!
'Whosoever holds this hammer…'
*SHIELD Helicarrier UNS Odyssey*
17:55 EST May 4, 2012 AD
Central Park was a war zone, even worse off than the rest of Manhattan. All across the Command and Control deck, screens and monitors were filled with satellite feeds of Central Park, schematics of the damage done, and all kinds of other feeds and data. Fury was unsure of what was going on down there, but he did know that if the feeds weren't lying, then the heroes were all of a sudden losing badly. Something had happened that had turned the tide instantly against their favor, and he had no idea what. Maybe it was time to reconsider the ARC Cannon…
"Sir!" Hill yelled as she ran up to his Director's Stand, away from the insane chatter of the agents keeping up with everything that was going on down on Manhattan. "Agent Quartermain is on the line!"
"I don't have time to answer!" Fury snapped. "We're at war and we need to-!"
"Sir, he says the hammer is somehow activating, like it's coming alive! Energy levels are spiking!"
That was enough to grab Fury's attention momentarily. That was indeed a surprise; since being found, the hammer had not been able to be moved an inch, and it had not shown any sign of activity. The only reason SHIELD was still overlooking said hammer was because it simply fell from the skies out of nowhere-alien civilization marking Earth as its own? The sky falling? Who knew? But Fury couldn't afford the distraction of something that was far less important than the war happening in front of him. "Unless the hammer is flying and attacking people left and right, it can wait!"
"Sir, Quartermain says it's urgent," Hill tried to counter, but to no avail.
"I think this is more urgent!" Fury replied. "Our job right now involves stopping a war, not worrying about a hammer!"
*Central Park*
17:55 EST May 4, 2012
The battle was drowning out. The frantic yells of Captain America and Quicksilver, the roars of the Hulk and the Jotun, the massive explosions and the war cries of the heroes…they became muffled as Jane suddenly began to hear the voice.
'…if he be worthy…'
She had never heard that voice before, but for some reason, it sounded so familiar. Why? It didn't matter; what did matter was that it was ringing in her ears, overcoming his senses and drowning out the sounds of the war before her. She simply sat there on her knees, clutching Thor's body through her tears, nothing getting into her ears save for that voice. It sounded so commanding and majestic…and only she could hear it. Why? She didn't know, but she did know that somehow, it was connected to the hammer in New Mexico and, once she heard it speak again…the man in her arms.
'…shall possess the power of Thor!'
*New Mexican Desert*
17:55 MWT May 4, 2012 AD
"Well, what do you want me to do?! He's too focused on the battle over here!"
"Maria, I know he's focused, and it sounds like a horrific battle," Quartermain replied into his comm link in agitation, looking at the hammer in the crater as SHIELD agents and tactical teams stood at the ready. The hammer continued to whine in increasing sound frequency, and a few more cracks were now in the ground. "But this is just as important! We have no idea what this hammer is doing! For all we know, it could bring in a whole new army of these invaders over there in Manhattan! Fury can't just ignore this!"
"I tried to tell him, Clay, but there is-!"
Suddenly, the ground began to rumble and tremble violently, sending shockwaves out for hundreds of feet. The monitors and screens all across the outpost were haywire and static like, and the hammer began to whine even more. Quartermain saw even more cracks across the ground under the hammer as it began shaking. "Oh crap."
"Clay?!" Hill's voice came through the comms. "What's going-?!
FWASSSHEAAOOOMMMM!
The hammer then suddenly and violently ripped away from the rock and ground it was stuck in and raced into the skies, flying off in a northeastern direction. All the agents on sight looked on at its rapidly retreating figure in absolute shock. "Hill," Quartermain said into his comm. "I don't care how, but you need to tell Fury that the hammer just flew off." He was interrupted by one of the agents bringing him a satellite feed of the hammer's trajectory, keeping eyes on the hammer, and Quartermain cursed as he realized where it was going. "And let him know it's heading your way, too!"
*Central Park*
17:56 EST May 4, 2012 AD
"What must I do to get you to understand!?" Loki yelled as he blasted Hulk with a scepter blast, sending him flying right into the oncoming form of Captain Marvel. "I have ensured my victory! I will slaughter you all as I did my fool of a brother! I will conquer Midgard! YOU WILL ALL FALL BEFORE ME!" With an insane laugh, Loki began firing a vicious and devastating bombardment of magic blasts from his scepter and his hand, raining hell on the heroes as they did their best to keep the Jotun at bay. Loki's invasion looked to be unopposed. Hulk and Captain Marvel had given him the best beatings they could, and Loki was starting to wear down with all the battling he had endured, but he still had his magics and they were helping him continue on. "You have no chance against me! I AM YOUR GOD!" He would've said more, if not for the boulder formation Captain Marvel ripped out of the ground and flung at him, sending him flying into another nearby boulder, followed up by Hulk smashing right into him, delivering vicious haymakers and drawing blood from Loki.
"This…this is it, isn't it?" Spider-Man asked in horror as he took in the chaos before him. "I mean…we-"
"Stow that talk, son!" Cap yelled as he blocked a magic blast. "We can't give up! We will stand until the end!"
"A futile quest, mortal," Amora the Enchantress sneered; she teleported before him and grabbed his throat, using her Asgardian strength to slowly choke him.
"Quicksilver!" Stark yelled as he continued to hold a deflector shield, protecting himself and Wasp from the magic blasts. "Get Foster out of here, now! We'll hold them off as long as we can to cover, but we need you to get back and help us!"
"I…" Jane stuttered, "I…"
"Please, Jane, we need to get you out, now!" Wanda implored as she managed to go over to Jane. "This is a war zone; you won't make it any longer here!"
"But…" Jane began, only to be interrupted by a slowly approaching whining sound. She, Pietro and Wanda looked up to see something….flying towards them at incredible speeds, almost as fast as Pietro himself. They couldn't see what it was, but whatever it was, what mattered at the moment was the fact that it was heading right for…them. Everyone else on the entire battle scene was too busy fighting to notice the object approaching their battlefield.
"What is that?!" Wanda exclaimed.
"I don't know, but it's coming here, and we need to go, now!" Pietro decided as he grabbed Jane, and finally managed to pull her away from Thor's body. "Jane, let's go!"
"No…no!" Jane cried as she was forced to drop the body of her friend. She didn't want to abandon him-she couldn't just leave him there.
"I'm sorry, but we can't do anything for him now!" Wanda yelled as Pietro tried helped her up. She looked up to see the object getting even closer, the whine now getting louder. It looked like a heavy and powerful object-they needed to move, now!
"Looks like we picked the best side, boys," Wrecker laughed as he, Piledriver, Thunderball and Bulldozer watched the chaos before them, watching as the united heroes' efforts to fight back grew more and more disorganized and futile. "I say we just stand back and watch the show. We did good, boys-our reward's coming soon!"
"You cannot beat me!" Loki roared triumphantly as he blasted Hulk with a massive scepter and magic blast combo, sending him flying. Captain Marvel managed to land an ax kick on Loki's back, making him yell in pain. He responded by backhanding the heroine and sending her flying. Hulk made to go after Loki again, but his back was immediately sliced and slashed by the Executioner's blade, forcing him back down as the villain then rammed his fist into the wound, and both titans began battling each other again. Carol got up from the crater she had made, only to be grabbed by the head by the Destroyer and viciously and repeatedly rammed face first into the ground and thrown aside, and the Destroyer begins to walk over to her as she struggled to get up.
"How can you hope to defeat me!?" Loki cackled. "HOW CAN YOU HOPE TO STAND AGAINST A GOD!?" Loki took in the whole battlefield. The humans under his command were standing back, but he didn't mind-his victory was already secured. The other mortals fought desperately against the Jotun and their king, Ymir, and Amora continued to back them up with her magic assaults while choking the life out of one of their leaders. His own magic blasts were bolstering their efforts, and the Destroyer and Executioner were dealing with the monster and half breed from the stars. He saw the mortal witch and her brother…and the woman Thor had been with since he came to Midgard under banishment. He'd kill the brother, take the witch's power and give her to his human lackeys, and give other woman to Amora as he knew she believed Thor had chosen her over herself, which was quite…he frowned as he saw the three humans looking upwards. He looked to where they looked…and saw a hammer racing down from the skies, heading straight for them, where Thor's body was also laying. One word came to mind.
Mjolnir.
"It's almost here!" Wanda exclaimed, just as she finally managed to get to her feet, despite the pain she was in.
"Let's go!" Pietro yelled as he took Jane and Wanda and dashed away from the scene, with Jane screaming towards Thor's body as she realized the object was about to him as it finally-!
FRAKAKALABOOM!
Suddenly, a celestial lightning bolt descended from the skies, engulfing the object and Thor as the bright light engulfed the area and the sounds of millions of electrical volts worth of power crackling rang through the air. All fighting ceased instantly as heroes and villains alike were immensely surprised by this sudden change of events. Pietro was blown to his feet upon the lightning bolt crashing onto the ground, sending him, Wanda and Jane head first into the ground. They looked up and turned in shock. The Jotun began roaring in anticipation and fear, for they knew what this meant; and the heroes who had been fighting them-Stark, Wasp, Pym, Panther, Logan, Jess, Spidey, Hawkeye, Widow and Bobbi-only looked on in shock. Amora dropped Captain America in complete shock and awe, realizing what was going on. Hulk and Executioner ceased their battle and watched in shock, surprise and wonder. The Destroyer stopped lumbering towards Captain Marvel and turned towards the bolt of lightning, with Carol struggling off the ground and watching the spectacle. Wrecker, Bulldozer, Thunderball and Piledriver stared in shock and fear. Loki…Loki could only stared with his jaw open and eyes bugling. All could see what was in the lightning bolt: Thor, standing with the hammer in his hand, and his arms beginning to be covered in metallic plates and his eyes glowing sky blue, his hair billowing. The lightning bolt suddenly grew bright and fully engulfed him.
"No…no…NO!" Loki roared. "Destroyer!"
At that, the Destroyer began to fire a massive blast of energy-only for the hammer to fly out of the lightning bolt and slam into the Destroyer's face. It stopped flying in midair and flew back to where it had come from, into a hand encased in a thick black leather glove. As it returned, the lightning bolt dispersed, revealing not the Thor they had met only an hour ago, but a new man-one wearing thick chain mail plated armor that showed off ripped and large muscles and a dark blue & black fantasy armor vest covering the chain mail. He had black metallic gauntlets with red lines on his wrists, and he wore dark blue & black fantasy armor pants and black fantasy armor boots with red linings on the back of each boot. He had a billowing cape of dark red, and each of his hands was encased in a thick black leather glove, and one hand held the mighty hammer that surged and crackled with electricity. To top it off, on his head of long blonde hair, he wore a dark grey and winged metallic helmet, and his bearded face held a look of fury, justice and determination.
"Oh…my…god," Jane whispered in awe.
The other heroes suddenly were now able to see a chance to win. They had an answer for Loki: how could they hope to stand against a god?
With a god.
Thor Odinson. Crown Prince of Asgard. Norse God of Thunder.
"Brother. I would have words with thee."
XXXXX
TO BE CONTINUED…