Okay, here's Chapter Two. I've done some altering of the setupd, because the story keeps growing in my head, even though getting the chapters written down seems to be like pulling teeth. I've decided that this is going to be a multi-part work, "Sounds of Silence." I haven't decided exactly how long it will be as of this update.

Thank you to those of you who've left reviews. I always love to hear from readers; my Muse does a happy dance and actually tries to work with me to get something accomplished. :-)

Chapter Two. Sound of Ignorance. [February 2012 CE]

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe.

- Albert Einstein

Tony Stark was going to get roundhouse kicked in the face.

"That's not going to work."

On second thought, she probably wasn't tall enough to reach his face. Pity.

"Seriously, Tony, you need to either be helpful or get out."

"I am being helpful. That's not going to work."

It was amazing that no one in the building had already done it in the brief time that they'd been cooped up here. She pinched the bridge of her nose and read through the page in front of her once more. The numbers added up to her. They were better than the ones scrawled across the crumpled up papers surrounding the wastebasket in the corner.

"Okay, Tony. What would you change, exactly?"

He hummed, leaned in closer, and made a few minor changes to the scribbles. She watched the changes, frown growing deeper, and decided that everyone must have grown accustomed to the irritating nature of Tony Stark.

"Those aren't significant enough to effect the outcome!"

"It's okay you can't see it. That's why I'm here."

"Well, on that note," she said, standing up, "I'm going to go get something to eat."

Leaving her work sitting on the table, she marched toward the door to the lab.

"Thor wanted me to ask you to meet him in his suite, by the way. Said it was 'of the utmost urgency.'"

She nodded but didn't turn around. "Tell Pepper I said, 'hey.'"

After the alien ships had been spotted looming over the major cities on Earth, many of the civilians had chosen to leave the congested cities for more rural areas. The few people that remained seemed to be steadfastly ignoring the problem, intent on going about their normal routines. This ultimately meant that, while the power grid in the immediate area was still functioning, most of the stores and gas stations had shut down and the general populace spent most of their days indoors, making the city itself feel completely abandoned.

The residential floors of Stark Tower had gained that feeling, by extension, it seemed. The same traditional décor she knew from her visits in the past took on a new tone, creating long, sinister shadows and echoes where before it had offered comfort and beauty. The tall wooden doors, covered in ornate carvings, carefully picked out by Pepper, sank back into their frames, obscured from view until you were in front of them, seemed to hide any number of sinister dangers from an unwary soul. She found herself watching every door as she came up to it, analyzing the possibility that someone was there, watching her back. Since she'd arrived for this particular visit, she'd been unable to shake the uncomfortable tingle in the base of her skull, where it met her spine, which cause gooseflesh on her arms. The overwhelming sense that someone, or something, was watching her. Studying her.

She knocked lightly on Thor's door and waited, her arms wrapped around her waist and her eyes darting from side to side. When she finally heard him call for her to enter, she heaved a sigh and slipped through the door.

"You sent Tony after me?" she asked, glancing around the living space.

Thor sat in an armchair that, from the way he was perched towards the front, looked like it was almost too small for his frame

"We need to discuss a few matters, Jane."

Jane drew her eyebrows together and sat on the couch across from him. "What is there to discuss? I thought we hashed everything out when you got here, Thor."

He rested his massive forearms on his knees and steepled his fingers in front of him. "Your leaders are refusing to listen to reason, Jane. They squabble amongst themselves but disregard all advice we give them."

"Yeah. I'm not certain what part of that is supposed to surprise me," she said, her face softening.

"I had been hoping that their unresponsiveness was simply the result of panic, but the initial reaction has dissipated, and they are… stubborn, still." He heaved a sigh, rubbing his hand across his face.

Jane was struck by just how aged he appeared in the dim lighting wearing his "king-in-training" face. She fiddled with the edge of her dress, unsure whether she was just there to listen or if she was supposed to offer some sort of advice.

"My brother wishes for us to return back to Asgard."

Her eyes shot back up to study his face critically. "You're not saying that you're considering…"

"No. We shall stay to see this through to the end. There is no other way."

"Obviously, there are other ways," she said, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. "You just said that Lo-"

"Loki has forgotten the burdens of his position," he said, waving his hand dismissively.

Jane huffed air out of her nose. "Loki has burdens?"

Thor's lips pressed together in a thin line. "My brother is a prince of Asgard. This title comes with burdens and responsibilities, as it should, and as such, commands respect."

Jane held her hands out in front of her in what she hoped was a placating manner. "Ok, ok. It was a joke. Your brother plays around alot. That's all I meant." After a moment, she heard him sigh.

"I am sorry, Jane. I should not have gotten ill-tempered with you so quickly. I know that you do not mean any harm. I have been under a fair amount of stress lately, and it sours my mood."

She raised her gaze to the ceiling and fought the urge to roll her eyes again. "We all have, Thor. Now, why did you need to talk to me?"

"I do not have great expectations about the outcome of this situation, Jane. If your leaders do not come to a decision and make a move quickly, then the end result will not be pleasant for Midgard."

She looked back at Thor, her brow furrowing. "Why does it matter what they want? There are billions of people in the world. We will fight."

"And without the power of your Midgardian magic, you will lose. Your science relies on your electricity. The invaders have only just arrived, and there is no telling what manner of magic that have at their disposal, but you can be certain that, if they know how heavily you rely upon it, it is the first thing that they will remove. It will be swift, and it will be efficient."

"Why are we even talking like this? For all we know, we're just jumping to conclusions!" The patronizing look on Thor's face was starting to make her blood pressure rise, and Jane took several breaths in the attempt to calm herself down. "We don't know why they're here. That's all I'm saying."

"If they were here for peace, Jane, they would not have sent an army. They are here for war, and you must be prepared for all of the possibilities."

She turned on her heel to leave, suddenly anxious to meet up with Darcy and grab a bite to eat. Today was turning out to be hell on her nerves. "Consider me prepared, Thor."

"In the event that Midgard loses…"

She stopped in her tracks. "We won't. We're going to beat them."

Thor paused, giving her a look that she couldn't quite translate. "In the event that they win, I have made arrangements."

"Arrangements?" She turned back to him, frowning.

He nodded. "For you. In the event that Midgard becomes fully compromised."

"And what are these 'arrangements' that you have already made for me?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"In the event Midgard becomes fully compromised, I have made plans for you to be removed to Asgard."

Alright, so it's not the longest chapter ever, or the most exciting, or the best written. But it's here! :-) Review! Let me know what's good/bad/is decent. It might help in getting another chapter written. :-)