A/N: Any reaction I could write up would be NOWHERE near as good as you could imagine. So just fill in the blank please! I appreciate it. PS - nothing violent please, I need the room intact!
Scene 12: EARTH
Once the initial shock died down, Coulson sat with the others - with the Avengers, Agent Hill and Director Fury seated, there were still two seats left empty.
"But where have you been all this time? Why didn't you tell us?" Clint had been probing him for the past five minutes.
"First I was in Tahiti, then Brazil, Ireland, Peru. I've been busy."
"Tahiti? What was that like?"
"It's a magical place."
"Okay- that's, that's nice. But - if I can be blunt - HOW are you alive?"
"That's where things get complicated." Fury cut in.
"What he means is, we know the how - kind of - but we don't know why."
"Does there have to be a why?" Bruce asked.
"Agent Hill, show them the video."
She nodded at the director, but looked to Coulson for confirmation. He gave her a reassuring smile - it was enough for her to bring up the holographic stereopticons, conveniently built into the table. "Just before the battle of New York, one of our security cameras captured these images. Now we do not know who she is, how she got there, or why she broke Loki out of prison; but what we do know is that she is the reason Coulson is alive."
"Is she some sort of Asgardian?" Bruce asked.
"We can assume… given her abilities," Thor began, "however I don't recognize her. No one we have spoken to has ever seen her before."
"We don't assume anything. Our first priority is locating the fugitive before he tries to blow up another city."
"Wait a minute," Tony broke in, "how do we even know he's even On Earth? Far as we know he's drinking martinis on Gallifrey."
Steve glared at him. "Galli-who?"
"The truth is we don't know. It's up to you gentlemen to find out."
"What would you suggest?" Natasha finally spoke. "The last time we were only able to locate him because he wanted to be found. It's not likely to happen again."
"The same way we found the tesseract. If they took Loki's scepter we could trace the gamma signature." Bruce rose from the table, taking his jacket from the back of the chair. "It's a start at least."
"Alright Doctor Banner; I do believe you know where to find the lab." Fury gestured that he was free to go. Bruce started his way out of the room.
"I'll join you." Tony said, getting up.
"Wait," Steve injected. "We can begin searching that way but that takes time. While Banner searches for the scepter we should have the rest of the team on the ground."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well it may be old fashioned but looking with your eyes can also be effective. Flying too; when you're searching through the entire planet." Steve turned his attention to all of the Avengers. "We can split up. Thor and Tony can search separately, since they don't need aircraft, the rest of us each take a plane. We can start our search in the United States since that is where Loki was last on Earth. From there we separate the ground into grids; narrow down a few places."
"That sounds like a plan." Coulson smiled.
"Then let's get started."
Scene 13: TITAN
A dark, twisted world on the edge of the universe - concealed in ancients powers leaving it invisible to all others. Obsidian rock of many levels reaches up to a tower, where the leader resides. He is all powerful, his judgment never to be questioned - lest you desire to be relieved of your head. He is cloaked in a robe of shifting colour; a tall figure silhouetted against the faded starlight as he stares into the oblivion in front of him. If he were to look below he would see troops of his Chitauri slaves; bred specifically to be his ruthless army.
The other approached his master carefully; it was unwise to come to him with bad news. The last few steps came slowly, kneeling down only a few feet away. He did not say anything - the master would know he was there. He waited patiently for his leave; happy for any delay at all. A few minutes passed before the silence was broken.
"You have come before me with such fear. Has there been a problem?"
"It- It cannot be promised. My Lord. There has been a-"
"Speak with haste, before I lose what patience I have."
"Yes my master." The other looked up from the ground to his master's back. "The Asgardian has been released by an unknown adversary. We have lost contact, my Lord. We do not know if he was able to complete the task my Lord had assigned to him before he was taken."
"Of course he was unable. He would have no means to have done so until I had told him to act." The master turned to look down upon his servant. "Now even I cannot seem to reach his mind. The woman is guarding him. She must know something of our plan. Do you know what that means?"
"No, Master."
"Naturally. You have neither intellect to speak of nor means to see what I see. You warned him of what would happen to him if he failed me. Now he has disobeyed me. They are both threats to what I have spent so long working to achieve. They must be dealt with."
"What is your will, master?"
"Send squadrons to every corner of the universe. Search every planet, ruin and comet. If he were on that foul Earth as the Asgardians believe I would sense him. I need them found and I need them alive."
The other bowed once more before scampering down the steps.
Thanos watched his servant leave before returning his gaze to the infinite space.
"Though I did not expect much, you disappoint me. Loki Laufeyson. Your failure will not be tolerated."