In the main control area of the Helicarrier people raced back and forth talking to each other through their earpieces as well as face to face. Every computer screen held pictures of the man who S.H.I.E.L.D. was currently hunting down, or controls for keeping the giant airship running.

Director Fury was standing at his place on the deck, watching the screens next to him as search results and other statistics were projected onto them. Steve Rogers and Agent Phil Coulson stood side-by-side watching as the airship flew over the ocean.

"I mean, if it's not too much trouble." Agent Coulson looked at Steve hopefully.

"No, no. It's fine." Steve didn't uncross his arms as he said it. He had been expecting this conversation since he had arrived on the ship, ever since Agent Coulson had mentioned that he was a big fan of Captain America. When Natasha had mentioned that Agent Coulson would ask him to sign those cards Steve had determined that there was no polite way to say no.

"It's a vintage set," Agent Coulson continued. "It took me a couple of years to collect them all. Near mint. Slight foxing around the edges, but-,"

He was interrupted by an agent sitting to the left, his computer searching through recent photos for one particular man.

"We got a hit. A 67% match. Wait. Crossmatch, 79%."

Agent Coulson walked up next to the man, watching his screen as he pulled up the video and location for the target.

"Location?" asked Agent Coulson.

"Stuttgart Germany. 28 Konigstrasse Plazza. He's not exactly hiding."

"Captain," Direct Fury said, drawing Steve's attention away from the screen and towards the center of the room. "You're up."

The screen showed the man, Loki, dressed in fine clothes as he walked in front of the camera. Behind him, dressed in an emerald gown was a woman. Red hair, green eyes, and a face Director Fury was well acquainted with.

"Wait," he said to the Captain, gesturing for him to look at the paused video. "Both of them are more dangerous than you can imagine. That woman escaped the same facility the Tesseract was held in. Don't underestimate her."

Steve studied the pair for a moment, then nodded. He turned and left to get suited up.

Sigyn's green dress flowed around her in a way that reminded her of the past. She and her sister had dreamed and described dresses to each other when they were young. They designed the dresses they would wear to their first day of court, and the ones they would walk down the aisle in. Back then, the style had been a little different than what she was wearing now, but the thought and design of it had taken just as much effort to create.

The top portion had a lacy look to it. The neck to the dress almost reached her collarbone, and the long sleeves were off the shoulder. The dress cinched her waist and then flowed freely in the A-line fashion. The dress was simple and elegant. Her look was completed by the small amount of make-up Liz had insisted was necessary, and an elegant up-do. It wasn't much, just mascara, a little bit of lipstick, and a blush that was subtle enough to look natural. It was wonderful to be so well dressed once again.

She held onto Loki's arm as they passed through a large crowd of people, his other hand holding his scepter disguised as an ornamental cane. Sigyn kept her walls shut despite her worry for Loki's mind. She knew the yellow force made his mind unbalanced, especially since that part was still affecting most of his mind. She wasn't sure she was going to be able to stop whatever it was that he had come here to do. Sigyn would try, she would, but it would do her no good if she lost herself in the crowd when she opened her mind up to far. She had been able to gain practice and become used to large crowds again, but there were well over a hundred people in the room. She couldn't fight that yet.

Loki led her down the steps of a grand hall, a quartet playing and a man speaking in front of a crowd of well-dressed people. Vaguely, she could feel the lives of two men snuffed out, one with a small burst of pain, and the next only five seconds later. She knew two men had just died, but she had to respect the ability of the man with a bow if he could fire two arrows so quickly.

Loki led her down the rest of the staircase, and into the main room behind the speaker. He detached her arm from his, saying gently, "Please, stay here," before leaving her and continuing forward.

The man that had turned toward the pair when they had descended the staircase was a security guard and the first to feel the hard hit from Loki's scepter. He fell, catching the attention of everyone in the room, and every eye followed Loki as he tackled the man that had been speaking. Everyone gasped and backed away as Loki dragged the man over to an ornate and ancient table, flipping him onto it.

Sigyn couldn't help but stare in horror as she watched Loki pull a device out of his pocket, press it just above the man's eyeball, and watch the crowd as the man's mind flared with agony. Everyone in the room screamed, running towards the exits away from Loki and the man.

Sigyn pushed her back up against a pillar as people ran past, escaping. She was horrified. She opened her mind, grabbing onto Loki's infected one, trying to fight to get him to come back to himself, to realize what he was doing. But the thing that controlled him was too far embedded. He didn't stop, and Sigyn, knowing there was truly no way to stop him right now, pulled out of his mind. She wasn't at all surprised to find tears falling down her cheeks.

Loki, now done with the man he had just killed, held his hand out for Sigyn. She stared at him, terrified for what he might do next, but she saw his eyes, her Loki, begging her to come with him, to help fight off the control as much as they could. So she stepped forward, took his arm and tried to make another connection with his mind. She found herself blocked by walls of ice. Sigyn shivered.

As they followed the crowd out of the building, walking slowly, their clothing began to change. Loki's suit became much more formal, green in color and armored in gold. He wore a cape and a horned helm. Sigyn looked down, only slightly surprised to find that her dress had changed too. It had only changed slightly, the bodice had been covered in golden armor, and the skirt shimmering as if it was covered in emeralds.

But comfort didn't matter now. As the two of them crossed the road, a police car came around the corner. Before it could reach them, Loki pointed his undisguised scepter at it, and the blue light caused the car to flip onto its top and skid several dozen feet. Sigyn gripped Loki's arm more tightly as he created a copy of himself to stop the escaping crowd.

"Kneel before me." The crowd turned, only to find another Loki had appeared in their way, and then a third, effectively blocking the crowd between the four identical men. "I said…kneel!" Loki banged his scepter on the grown, causing all four scepters to shine brightly.

The crowd did as they were told, slowly kneeling in front of Loki, and Sigyn by association. Loki spread his arms, Sigyn letting go as she saw the look of amusement on his face. "Is not this simpler?" He started to walk through the crowd of kneeling people, looking on with a grin on his face.

Sigyn followed behind quietly, determined that she would do everything that she could to keep him from harming another person.

Loki continued. "Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power, for identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel."

Sigyn held back a gasp of horror as she watched a man stand. He was an older man, and by the look of him, he had been alive during the Second World War.

"Not to men like you," the old man said, staring at Loki with open defiance.

Loki smiled. "There are no men like me."

"There are always men like you."

"Look to your elder people. Let him be an example."

And that's when Sigyn knew what would happen next. She rushed forward as Loki raised his spear and pointed it at the man. She pushed the crowd out of her way and knocked into Loki and the scepter just as he released the power. She didn't see what happened next as she fell to the ground, only knew that there was a sound of something hitting the ground close to where the old man stood.

Loki looked at Sigyn with anger for a moment, before turning at the sound of a voice. Sigyn watched, sprawled on the ground as a man dressed in red, white, and blue walked towards them. He held a shield in the same colors on his right arm

"You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing."

Loki stood from his stooped position and said, "The soldier. The man out of time."

Sigyn suddenly had a recollection of who this man would be. She had heard about him, oh so long ago. This was Captain America. He had disappeared after the war. Everyone had thought he died. But how was he still alive?

"I'm not the one who's out of time."

As if those words had triggered its appearance, a small aircraft came into view behind him, hovering as a very large gun came out of its belly.

A calm woman's voice echoed through the speakers on the aircraft. "Loki, drop the weapon and stand down."

Loki shot a bolt of power at the aircraft, missing as it dodged the strike, and Captain America threw his shield at Loki's chest. The crowd scattered in panic, thankfully no on trampling or stepping on Sigyn as the shield bounced off of Loki's chest and the Captain ran forward, catching it and attacking Loki. Captain America was pushed back, rolling with a quick recovery, and threw the shield again. Loki batted it out of the way with his scepter, dodging Captain America's first punch, unsuccessfully trying to land a strike at the other man's head, and knocked the Captain back once he had stood from dodging.

Loki pressed the butt of his scepter to the Captain's head as he kneeled on the ground. "Kneel," he told the man dressed in blue.

Captain America jumped up, saying "Not today," and landed a solid kick to Loki.

Loki recovered quickly, grabbing Captain America and throwing him forward.

Suddenly, music was blasting out of the aircraft's speakers as another aircraft came into view. A bolt of yellow sparks shot out from it, knocking Loki back, close to where Sigyn was still laying and watching the commotion.

Sigyn saw that the second aircraft wasn't a plane, but a suit of armor. The suit stood, or the man inside it did, both hands raised and ready to release missiles and other weapons.

"Make your move, Reindeer Games." The voice from the suit had a metallic sound to it. Sigyn looked to Loki and was surprised to see his armor disappear in a golden haze. She looked at herself to see that her dress was back to the way it had been before.

"Good move," said the metallic voice again.

Sigyn was confused. While she hadn't wanted Loki to hurt anyone, it seemed as if he had been winning the fight before the suit of armor showed up. Even then, Loki only looked slightly disgruntled at the blast that had sent him flying. Loki wouldn't have given up, at least not unless there was a reason.

Sigyn looked back to the suit of armor, finding Captain America standing next to it.

"Mr. Stark," said Captain America.

"Captain," answered the suit.

Sigyn watched as the aircraft flew in closer, landing behind them.

They took Loki first, escorting him rather forcefully into the aircraft. Sigyn stood, unsure of what to do. She would be lost without Loki. Her mind and her body were still recovering, and neither could handle the stress a separation would do to the both of them. It was why she had come here with him in the first place. Sigyn trembled, crossing her arms and gripping herself tightly. She did the one thing she knew how to do.

She reached out, feeling each mind of the people who had come to take Loki away. She started to plant the idea in one of their heads that she could go too, that she had been part of this mess. Before she was even halfway done, a hand grabbed her arm, tight, but gentle.

Sigyn opened her eyes, looking up at the man who now gripped her arm. It wasn't even the same one she had been planting the thoughts in. Curiously, she touched her mind to his. There was a strangeness about it, normal, yet different from any other mind she had ever encountered. Modified? Sigyn didn't think it was possible. He knew that she was dangerous. He had been warned about her.

She looked into the eyes of Captain America, pulling out of his mind as she tried to free the grip on her arm. He didn't say anything, just started to walk towards the aircraft. Sigyn resisted, unwilling to go back to a cell because she knew being caught with Loki would end up with her in one. Was it the place she had just escaped? Were they taking her back to that place, to put her back into that cell, and torture for the information she had about Loki? And Captain America, the man who single handily saved an entire company's life during the war, was dragging her back.

She shook her head, pulling her arm away, using her other hand to pry his fingers off. They didn't budge. She had wanted to go with Loki, but not like this. She didn't want to be their prisoner. She just wanted to stay close so that their bond, weak but so very strong, didn't cause either of them pain.

"Who's this," asked the man in the armored suit.

"All I know is that she escaped from the same place Loki stole the tesseract from. Director Fury wants her back."

Sigyn could feel tears sliding down her face as she struggled against the hand that held her.

"She doesn't look like much," said the metallic voice.

"Maybe, but she's working with Loki. And she did escape. Direct Fury called her dangerous."

"Yeah, Director Fury says a lot of things."

Despite her efforts, Captain America strapped her into the seat beside Loki. She tried to take off the restraints that held her to the seat, but there was no latch. Sigyn's hands trembled.

"Are you okay?" Loki asked so quietly she didn't think anyone else had heard.

Sigyn shook her head.

Loki's hand reached for hers, took it, and squeezed.

Sigyn had been on an airplane before. Several times as she moved across the country. But those had been larger, louder, and much more crowded with the rows of seats. The one she was in now was much different. The only seats were in the cockpit, and those that Loki and herself currently sat in. She could barely see out of the front window, and she had been scared and awed as the plane they were in rose straight up in the air. It was like a helicopter, but this was nothing like that.

The technology that surrounded her wasn't surprising. Sigyn had known before she was even captured that there were going to be huge advances in technology. There had been a lot of talk about the moon. NASA had thought it possible to make it in one piece. And she had seen some amazing evidence of how advanced everything was first hand. She wasn't so sure why a plan flying straight up like a helicopter was surprising. She just hoped this thing was safe.

"Are they saying anything?" Sigyn heard the voice over the radio. She didn't recognize it, but it was someone who was obviously in charge.

"Not a word." The woman's voice was soft. Sigyn might have thought that she was trying to keep her voice down so that she and Loki couldn't hear. But Sigyn heard, not that it mattered. Neither she or Loki would say anything that would endanger the other.

"Just get them here," the voice on the radio said. "We're low on time."

Sigyn watched the two men standing just outside the cockpit through strands of her hair. She didn't want them to know she was watching and gauging their emotions, but she was curious about them both.

"I don't like it," said Steve Rogers, turning so his back faced her.

The armored man answered, not looking at her or Loki, but staring towards the ramp at the back of the plane. "What, Rock of Ages giving up so easily?"

"I don't remember it being that easy. This guy packs a wallop." He turned to look right at Loki.

"Maybe it's the girl. Still, you are pretty spry for an older fellow. What's your thing, Pilates?"

Sigyn couldn't help but allow her lips a slight twitch at the man's snark. Steve Rogers was only about one hundred years younger than she was. The fact that this other man was so obviously picking at the great Captain America like he was amused Sigyn more than anything had the past several decades.

"What?"

"It's like calisthenics. You might have missed a couple of things doing time as a Capsule."

Sigyn couldn't hold back the soft snort of amusement. All three men, Loki, Steve Rogers, and Stark if she remembered his name correctly, looked at her. She didn't make another noise. Instead, she was analyzing the complete change in her mood.

Only a minute ago she had been terrified to be on this odd plane. She and Loki had been captured, the two men who had captured them were standing there, looking right at her. She was going who knows where, in a small metal box like she had been trapped in for so long, yet she felt amused.

Searching her mind, she found the difference had been the people around her. Stark, while his humor and mind were very dry, was funny. Steve Rogers was just as confused about the technology and language as she was. The woman in the cockpit had been through some pretty terrible things herself. And the other man flying the plan didn't know what was going on, nor did he give a shit.

Their emotions and personalities were affecting her in a way she hadn't felt since her sister's children had died. It was almost nice.

Her attention was brought back to Steve Rogers as he said, "Fury didn't tell me he was calling you in."

Who was Fury? He must be the man in charge. The one who had spoken over the radio perhaps? Maybe someone else?

"Yeah, there's a lot of things Fury doesn't tell you."

The was a loud rumble of thunder and a bright streak of lightning that suddenly flashed through the cabin. Sigyn hadn't heard thunder, seen lightning, or felt rain for as long as she had been captured. It was almost a relief to realize that the weather still worked the same. Her relief didn't last as the woman spoke.

"Where's this coming from?"

Loud thunder blasted into Sigyn's ears, and Loki pulled his hand away from hers quickly. Loki leaned forward in his seat, looking up. Steve Rogers turned, his eyes landing on the now nervous man.

"What's the matter? Are you scared of a little lightning?"

"I'm not overly fond of what follows," Loki answered, still watching the roof of the plane.

At his tone, his nervousness, Sigyn shrank back into her seat, curling as tightly as she could against he restraints. Her ease and amusement was suddenly gone as she felt true emotions from Loki. He was actually fearful of what was going to happen next. She had only felt him afraid when they were in that cold cell of his, the guards unlocking the door to drag him away. Her eyes filled with tears at the memory and the fear she felt running through her body.

There was a strange mind approaching them very quickly. It was coming from above her. Someone was falling out of the sky, directly towards their plane. Sigyn whimpered as the mind grew closer and she felt it's immense power. It only grew closer, and she cringed waiting for something to hit the top of the plane.

There was a large bang, and the whole plane shuttered around them. Stark put his helmet back on and opened the hatch.

"What are you doing?" Yelled Captain America, his mask on as well.

Another man, the one that Sigyn had felt approaching them, landed on the now open hatch. He was wearing a cape, armor, and had a large hammer in his left hand. Sigyn's gaze shifted to Loki for a split second, and she saw and felt his fear.

Stark walked towards the new arrival, raising his hand. He was immediately knocked over and back towards the cockpit.

In a split second, the new man had yanked Loki out of his harness and was holding him by the neck. Sigyn screamed as larger man pushed Loki out of the plane and the both fell to Earth.

Stark, now standing spoke. "And now there's that guy."

"Another Asgardian?" Called the woman.

"That guy's a friendly?" Asked Steve Rogers, now standing.

"Doesn't matter." Came Starks metallic voice. "If he frees Loki or kills him, the Tesseract's lost." He turned, walking towards where the two men had fallen to the Earth moments ago.

"Stark, we need a plan of attack!"

The armored man paused for a moment to say, "I have a plan. Attack." And then he jumped out of the plane too.

Steve rogers lunged for the packs across from Sigyn, unlatching one then strapping himself to it.

"I'd sit this one out, Cap," called the woman.

"I don't see how I can."

"These guys come from legend. They're basically gods."

The man finished strapping on his pack and grabbed his shield saying, "There's only one God, ma'am. And I'm pretty sure he doesn't dress like that."

And then he was the fourth person to jump out of the plane.