Chapter 11: Busted
"We meet at last..."
The voice. It was so familiar. Where had she heard it?
Kelsey cautiously turned and gazed up at the balcony. The mysterious stranger was hiding in the shadows, not a lantern or fireplace lighting his way. Only the sun rays beating through the windows shined on the black boot hanging over the balcony's edge.
He startled her, no different from how he treated his servants without meaning to. He was a poltergeist, the kingdom was forced to tolerate for centuries. His spirit would've been extinguished long ago if not for one technicality, guaranteeing an eternity of mischief much to everyone's delight.
"My apologies, my lady. I didn't mean to frighten you," he retreated his leg, entirely consumed in darkness.
Kelsey's mouth dropped. Her options battled one another to determine the next course of action. Was she going to let him go or chase after him? Did she imagine him? The voice. Where had she heard it?
"Wait!" she called, just like Alice calling for the Cheshire Cat. A strain emerged in her right brow. She winced and heaved some breaths, pressing the source until the pain had passed.
"Lady Kelsey."
She gasped and whirled around to face the stranger behind her. How did he get down here so quickly? She didn't see him come down the stairs. Maybe he did, but her pain occupied her senses to notice. Maybe he was the Cheshire Cat in disguise.
The burning lump in her throat clogged as she took in the mystery man's appearance that lived up to his beautiful voice. Raven hair streaked back to his neck. His face was smooth, not a single whisker in sight. He wore emerald green robes with black pants and matching boots. He looked like a captain, ready to set sail. All that was missing was a hat almost equivalent to a king's crown, however, it might ruin his groomed hair.
Loki was taken aback by the long-time stare. Did he have something between his teeth? Loki knew he was handsome, but her gaze slowly dwindled his self-esteem. What was she thinking about? He needed to know.
"Lady Kelsey, are you alright?" he pressed softly.
And there it was. Kelsey had heard that line before - well, almost the exact line. Her fragile mind triggered an unknown memory of what she thought to be a dream.
"Are you alright?"
She pictured his face in front of her. His wide eyes filled with anxiety. Around them was a room of gold, but it wasn't the throne room. They were trapped in a sphere.
"Who are you, girl, and how did you get here?!" An angry voice demanded. It didn't belong to the handsome devil but his father, Odin. The king was standing right behind Loki, looking annoyed as ever. Loki advised his father to stop scaring the girl.
"My lady?" Loki narrowed his eyes at her as he cautiously approached her, a bit annoyed that she wasn't responding to her. She was staring at him in a daze as if caught in a trance. Loki had been allowed to look at her big, dark brown eyes again. They're captivating enough for someone to fall into an abyss and never return.
"Lady Kelsey?" Loki snapped his fingers in front of her face. The sound blinked Kelsey back to reality.
"I'm sorry. What?" Kelsey asked, clearing her throat. Her voice was sweet but sharp, almost scratchy due to frantic screaming this morning.
"Is there something wrong, my dear? Shall I take you to the healers?"
"Oh! No!" Kelsey shook her head while smiling, trying to be friendly. "No. No. No. I'm sorry. I'm fine. Really... Well, sort of..." she pointed at her head. "Oh!" Kelsey remembered one of Frigga's rules when meeting royalty: kneel unless they tell you otherwise.
Loki's lips stretched, amused by Kelsey's stammering and feeling the need to be proper. He was the god of mischief and lies, so he understood body language well. The way she was talking so fast, the way she was fiddling with her hands and averting those eyes. She smiled so big as if she was trying to throw him off track. He knew better. It was clear to him that she was nervous about being in the presence of royalty. That may be the case, but she had no reason to be intimidated by him. He didn't know her. Therefore he had no right to use his silver tongue against her.
Not yet.
Kelsey's knee was about to touch the ground, only to get caught off guard by the grip around her arm. He pulled her upright to briefly meet his mixed-color eyes between blue and green. Was she bowing wrong?
"There's no need for that, my dear," Loki gently freed her bicep. Usually he preferred the respectful gesture - a reminder that despite not being the Allfather's chosen heir, he still had some power and privilege. He didn't know why but letting this mortal bow to him felt wrong, degrading even.
"Wait, you know my name," Kelsey acknowledged.
"Yes," Loki stated. "Lady Kelsey of Midguard, are you not?"
How he said her title with that pearly-white smile warmed Kelsey's cheeks. He was one prince charming, and Kelsey used to hate Disney princes. She had only met him for two seconds, and already, he was making her heart race.
Kelsey nodded, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, "Yeah, and I know you - who you are, Prince Loki."
Loki grinned, offering a hand for hers, "Charmed."
She silently accepted his hand with little hesitation. Kelsey jumped at the cold contact. His hands were freezing ice while the fireplace was providing heat. She breathed through the chilling touch as she watched his face hovering over her hand, about to kiss it. Her adrenaline kicked in. She trapped his hand instead, shaking the lock with a friendly smile.
"Nice to meet you."
Loki was caught off guard by her sudden act but said nothing about it. Much to her relief, he dropped the weight of his forearm.
"I'm glad I caught you," Kelsey began. Loki's thin lips curled into a cocky smirk. Her words were backward. It was more like he caught her.
"Really?" he wondered.
"Mm-hm," she nodded. "I - I just wanna meet you so I can thank you."
Loki furrowed his brows at her in confusion, "Thank me? For what?"
"For carrying me to the healing room, saving my life," Kelsey frowned, taking note of the long-time confused stare. "Unless it wasn't you," she leaned back awkwardly, "then I'll take that back-"
"No. No," Loki clutched her hand out of instinct, again making her jolt in shock and temperature. He had no intention of harming her, only to keep her from leaving. Nobody has ever shown appreciation to him, ever. He eventually released her, offering his apology for touching her without permission. She forgave him, unsuccessfully rubbing off the chill bumps.
"You are correct," he assured her. "It was me. However, your appreciation is not necessary. I've been told that you may have lost your memory. How dreadful."
Kelsey sighed, "Yeah, but some parts of my memory came back slowly."
"How much do you remember?"
Kelsey closed her eyes, picturing the night in her mind, "I saw your face... gold everywhere... blood on the steps..." Her breath hitched at the memory of her clothes covered in blood, temporarily believing to have killed someone. She could almost hear the king's voice beating her eardrum, "I could almost hear Odin being a pri-" She sucked her lips inside her mouth to hold back the upcoming insult.
"I beg your pardon?" Kelsey may not have finished the word. Loki may have picked up on what she was about to say, yet he didn't call her out. Never in her wildest dreams would she berate a king in front of his son. Jane was right about one thing. If Kelsey didn't keep her frustration and anger in check, it would lead her into trouble one day.
'Wait, when did she say that?' she temporarily held off that question to rectify another crucial mistake. "I'm sorry. I'm so-so sorry, your highness. I'm not thinking straight. Your father isn't a prince," she emphasized her correction with a sheepish grin, oblivious to Loki raising a brow. "He is..." Kelsey paused, trying to think of something nice to say about the king, but she couldn't. How could she? The man was rude.
"A king?" Loki offered.
"Yes!" Kelsey pointed at him in agreement. "Yes, he is. A king. Thank you. Your father is a very intimidating king."
"What a keen observation," Loki awkwardly cleared his throat to suppress a laugh. It was funny how the truth nearly slipped from her and how scrambled she looked when trying to cover it up.
"As intimidating as he is," Loki's voice deepened in a hush fashion, "I advise you to be wary of how you speak about my king."
"I know," Kelsey nodded frantically; her heart couldn't stop racing. "I'm-I'm really sorry, your majesty." It wouldn't be a surprise if Odin offer a death sentence to anyone who spoke negatively about him. Kelsey prayed not to become the prime example of stupidity; her brain hadn't fully developed yet.
"For what?" Loki challenged, earning a confused look from the girl. She refused to breathe just yet. "There is no need to fret, my dear. I hear you speak no ill word of him," Loki assured to prevent her eyes from burning even more. She gasped for air and dabbed the inner corners of her eyes with her sleeve, enduring another painful battle. "Believe me, my dear. Your words are nothing compared to what I have actually heard."
"I don't expect you not to say anything to your dad."
"It's not me you should worry about. You see..." Loki professionally folded his hands behind his back and walked a few steps toward Kelsey without leaving eye contact, "we have a Gatekeeper here in Asgard."
"Heindall?" Kelsey assumed, hoping that she pronounced his name right.
"Heimmm-dall," Loki purred. The goosebumps hadn't faded from the girl's skin. "He is known to see and hear everything. I shall not tell Father what you may have said, but Heimdall might."
"Shit!" Kelsey looked up at the sky as if praying to God, beginning her plea. "Heimdall, if you're listening, first of all, I didn't insult your king!" She turned to Loki questionably, "I didn't, right?" Loki shook his head in confirmation. "Right. I didn't. Please! Don't mention us talking about him! If you don't... I don't know what I could do to repay you, but I'm sure you'll think of something!" Loki snickered. Kelsey's clenched her jaw and frowned; now, the floor seemed to be the most fascinating thing in this castle.
His laughter slowed, matching her expression as he awkwardly cleared his throat, "My apologies, Lady Kelsey. My intention was not to offend."
"No-No, you're fine," she dismissed. "Do you really think the Gatekeeper would sell me out?"
"Sell you out?" Loki's eyebrows furrowed, not understanding Kelsey's choice of words.
"Do you think he'll tattle on me?"
Loki raised his brows, understanding, "Oh, not that I am aware (never about my brother, anyway). As long as you keep your negative perception about the Allfather to yourself, I am sure you have nothing to worry about."
Kelsey gave him the thumbs up, "Got it."
"Good."
They both exchanged a glance in awkward silence, unsure what to say.
'Stay away from him. Do not trust him. He is a liar and a trickster. He will provide you with a great deal of harm.' Kelsey suddenly felt uneasy. She wanted a good conversation with Loki, but Sif was partially right. Even though the myths were proven inaccurate, Loki might still be the Big Bad Wolf in disguise, ready to pounce on his prey. It's a shame, for he was indeed Prince Charming. Now that Kelsey had achieved her task, she wanted to watch Sif take down the men who were called the Three Warriors. But first...
"Well," Kelsey bounced slightly, not forgetting the intense burn in her bladder. She required the toilet immediately. "It's been fun meeting you and all, your highness, but I must use the restroom." Loki reacted in haste, permitting her to leave and asking if she knew where the nearby toilet was. "No, I don't." Loki offered to escort her like a true gentleman, which she gratefully accepted. "Also, if you have time - it's okay if you don't, really," she added hastily, "could - could you show me where the courtyard is? I told Sif I would watch her practice."
Loki narrowed his eyes, "Sif?"
Kelsey nodded, "Yeah, she and the Three Warriors (at least I think that's what she called them). Anyway, I don't know where it is - the courtyard."
Loki paused in debatable silence. Kelsey could tell by the creases around his eyes and scowl that the fondness between Loki and Sif was mutual. Their spite wasn't her business, but Kelsey couldn't help herself.
"I take it you two-"
"I would be happy to show you the bathroom and the courtyard," Loki offered, resuming his friendly charm and smooth face, which took Kelsey by surprise.
"Really, you don't mind?" she pressed.
"Certainly not," Loki's smile stretched, exposing his pearly whites. "In fact, I will like to take the opportunity to show you around the castle."
"Oh!" Kelsey gazed around the library, away from Loki, in deep thought. "I... I would love for you to help me not get lost, but I told Sif-"
"You mustn't worry about her, Lady Kelsey," Loki insisted. "She and the Warriors Three train every day until sunset. You have plenty of chances to watch them practice. Trust me."
Kelsey knew what he was doing. Loki wanted to pull Kelsey away from Sif and probably narrate some bad things about the goddess. Perhaps find an excuse for the misdeed he had done to Sif.
"I suggest you take it slow for today," he advised, playing the role of a caring friend. His ingenuity was debatable. "Don't you agree?"
Despite the motive, he was right. Kelsey mustn't get lost in this labyrinth, especially when she requires the bathroom. Odin warned her of the possible dangers that could cost her life. If what Loki said about Sif's regular training schedule was true, Kelsey didn't have to worry about missing anything during her stay. Besides, Loki was the prince; it would be stupid to deny his offer.
Loki lifted his elbow to assume the role of her guide. He couldn't escort her yet without cooperation, "Shall we, my dear?"
Kelsey looked at his sleeved arm before slowly hooking it around with hers, content with the barrier of clothing between their skin. "Okay."
"Excellent," Loki easily opened the large door, opposing Kelsey's mortal strength.
"You know you don't have to call me 'Lady Kelsey,'" the girl offered.
Loki cocked a brow at her proposal, "Shall I call you Lord Kelsey instead?"
She scoffed, "No. I mean, I'm Kelsey. Just Kelsey. I don't care about the formalities."
The prince blinked as he guided Kelsey around the Yggdrasil tree, "Very well. I shall call you Kelsey on one condition."
"Shoot," Kelsey couldn't help but admire the magical plant and the mirage above. It reminded her of Hogwarts Great Hall - truly beautiful. Loki furrowed his brows at the interesting choice of words, only to pick up the figure of speech as she looked back at him with expectancy.
"You call me by my given name. Loki."
In Kelsey's mind, that was the easiest request to remember.
"Deal."
~000~000~000~
Darcy searched everywhere for the sneaky eight-year-old, calling his name and finding all the hiding places fit for a child, but no luck.
"Shit! Shit! I better not get fired for this!" Even though she wouldn't get paid for working.
"Lewis!" She whirled around to see Garrett rushing inside the house. He hunched over and placed his hands on his knees to take a breath.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" Darcy hissed, stomping towards him. "You were supposed to hold off Erik!"
"I was," he panted, "but when I unplugged his computer the umpteenth time, I ran!"
"Why?"
"What do you mean, why? I think he saw me!" Garrett cried out.
"He saw you?"
"I don't know! I ditched the library the second the book boss caught me herself," he scanned the area for someone, not the missing child. "Please, tell me that I gave Jane plenty of time."
"I don't know, Brad," Darcy opened her arms, gesturing the space. "You tell me. Do you see her anywhere?"
Garrett didn't bother with her snarky remark, "Did she tell you when she'll be back?"
"That I don't know."
Garrett exhaled, attempting to calm himself, "Okay. Just as long as Jane comes back soon without that crazy dude around, no more, and Erik doesn't find out what we did - I should be fine."
"You?" Darcy challenged. "You forgetting someone, Brad?"
"Yeah, you're right. My bad," The teen nodded in agreement, adding another party to the mix. "Jane and I should be fine."
"Forget Jane! What about me? I'm in on this plan, too, and this was her idea."
Garrett dismissed her comment with a wave, "Yeah. Yeah. Sure." Darcy rolled her eyes, slapping her arms against her thighs. Garrett looked at the living area, then at the kitchen. He noticed the lab was quiet and the TV switched off. "Squirt's in the RV?"
Darcy widened her eyes and pressed her lips together, "Um..."
Fear washed over Garrett when she didn't reply quickly, "Lewis, AJ is in the RV, right? Please, tell me that you were playing hide-and-seek with him."
"Uh...if we were, he is winning."
"Lewis," he pressed.
Darcy raised defensive hands in the air, "He must've found a secret room or something - I don't know! - because right now, I can't seem to..." her voice trailed off as she searched her surroundings, not a single trace of blonde hair in sight, "find him... anywhere."
Garrett's jaw dropped; his eyes bugged wide in disbelief, "You lost the kid?!"
"No!" Darcy denied. "I didn't lose him! He's just good at the game, that's all. He beat me at Goldfish once, and he's supposed to be dyslexic."
Instead of losing his cool, the teen laughed, confusing the intern. Did Garrett lose his marbles already? "Man, Jane is going to whoop your ass for this! My mama sure would."
"Me?! What about your ass?! You were supposed to distract Erik for her?!"
"Yeah, but Erik is a grown man, not Jane's godson!"
"Well, don't just stand there! Help me find him before Erik asks!"
"Ask me what?" Garrett and Darcy jumped, not expecting the older man to return so soon. The two widened their eyes, staring at the professor with their mouths agape. "Answer me instead of gawking at me like I'm some ghost biker," Erik demanded. He looked around to see if Thor was around. "Please, tell me that nut already left."
"Pfft!" Darcy hopped on the kitchen counter. "Yeah! The hunk is gone with the wind... unfortunately," she pouted in disappointment.
When Erik turned his back, Garrett took the opportunity to search through the cabinets, under the sink, and even the refrigerator to see if AJ was there. Darcy shook her head and made faces, silently informing him she had already searched those hiding places.
Darcy kept the professor busy by conversing, "He left after you left. Yeah, we kicked them out."
Now it was Garrett's turn to offer a stern glare while Erik furrowed his brows at the intern questionably.
"Them?" he asked.
Darcy widened her eyes, realizing her poor choice of pronoun. "Did I say them? I meant him."
Erik shook his head, "But that's not what you said."
"Did I?" Darcy looked at him with false concern. "Are you alright, Dr. Erik? Do you need a hearing aid?" The intern placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, only for Erik to shove away the unwanted contact.
"I can hear just fine!" he claimed, offended by her accusation, "You said them!"
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did!"
"Nu-uh!"
"Enough!" the older man snapped. "I'm not Garrett!"
"I'm right here!" The teenage boy uttered, taking offense to his comment. Erik looked around the lab before facing the pair with a simple yet complex question.
"Where's Jane?"
Garrett and Darcy started blurting out answers in unison.
"Out shopping."
"Putting up missing posters."
They looked at each other before changing their answers, which were the opposite of what they'd said. Erik silently looked at both of them suspiciously.
"She walked out to the shops," Darcy answered carefully, "putting up some missing posters."
"Really? Is that a fact?" Erik challenged. The intern hummed and motioned Garrett to agree by nodding and shifting her eyes toward Erik.
With no other alternative, Garrett agreed, forcing out a nervous grin, "Uh, yep. That's right, Professor. She should be back very soon."
"Where did the van go if she went out on foot?"
Darcy and Garret's sheepish smiles fell, unsure how to answer that.
"And Garrett." The boy gulped when it was his turn to be interrogated by the professor. "How could you possibly know she was out shopping when you were at the library with me?"
Garrett quickly shook his head, "Not sure what you mean, man."
Erik scoffed, "Come now, Garrett. I saw you with the plugs. Why do you keep turning off the computer when you know I'm using it?!"
Even though Garrett's mouth was open, words had failed to come out.
"Seriously, what did you expect to gain from it? Help me out, dear boy. Did someone put you up to this? Is this your idea of a sick joke..." Erik paused, slowly realizing why the boy had done it. Garrett wasn't there to prank anybody. No, Garrett was there to keep him away from the lab, just enough time for his muse to take off with...
"My God!" Erik's face slackened in horror. "She left with him, did she?!"
The students may not have verbally incriminated themselves. It was their guilt-ridden expressions that narrated the tale. As much as Erik wished to yell and strangle their necks, mostly Jane's, all he could think about was the worst-case scenario. His fear came true when Erik received the phone call.
~000~000~000~
The sun had gone down while the illuminating moon appeared. The van made it to its destination. The three passengers found the crater filled with vehicles, iron fences, armed guards, spotlights, and a plastic cube structure surrounding its primary investigation.
"Whoa!" AJ was astonished by the massive sight down the hill. "They build all that in one day?!"
"AJ, stay in the car," Jane commanded as she and Thor unbuckled their seatbelts.
"But-"
"AJ, do as I say! This is dangerous! You need to stay put! Please, for me."
"But Jane-"
"Jane, why can't the young man wa..." Thor jumped into the conversation only to trail off by the angry look in Jane's eyes, almost identical to his mother when she was enraged. "Uh - I mean, AJ," he addressed the boy, "You were courageous to come, but there is a time when a man needs to fall behind. You must stay here for the good of Asgard."
"Can we at least keep in touch?" AJ pitched. "Just in case?"
The couple paused in consideration, not having a clue how. The crazy man had no cell phone, but AJ offered an alternative. He handed the pair of Spy Gear walkie-talkies from his backpack. Thor furrowed his brows at the device in confusion, unaware of how to use it. AJ instructed him to hold the red button down and talk to it. He tested it out to cause a loud screech at Jane's end. She silenced the man and covered her speaker, frantically checking her surroundings, worried the agents might've heard it.
"This is a mistake!" she pinched the car key and was about to start the van but was stopped by Thor's hand over hers.
"Lady Jane, calm yourself," Thor uttered. "Nothing shall happen to me-"
"What if you get caught?"
"Then you and AJ shall drive away."
"Without you?"
"We need a code," AJ declared.
Thor blinked, "A code?"
"Yeah, a code. A signal in case you get in trouble. I did it with some of my classmates when we..." AJ trailed off, widening his eyes at Jane and Thor's expectancy. Instead of finishing his tale, he returned to the question, "Anyway, what can we say?"
Thor didn't understand the concept of a code when they could've easily called it a warning instead.
"How about Code Blue?" AJ offered.
"No, too conspicuous," Jane rejected. AJ scrunched his face at Jane's vocabulary, questioning its meaning and mouthing the mispronunciation. Conspicu-what? "I would say something more subtle like... I need to make a phone call."
"Allfather," Thor declared, earning a confused look from the two. "I'll say 'Allfather' if something happens." The aunt and niece would've interjected but saw the sorrowful look on his face. They recalled him mentioning the Allfather as his father. The name meant so much to him; they decided to wing it.
"Okay. Allfather it is," Jane snatched one walkie and warned the boy to stay put and out of sight. With that, she and Thor stepped outside.
AJ was already on thin ice with Jane for sneaking inside the van, but he couldn't help himself. He was curious to know about their plan. He unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed over the front to get out of the car. When he attempted to pry the door open, it was locked. He looked through the window to see Jane pocketing the car keys.
"No!" AJ cried dramatically, creating fingerprints on the windows and using his body weight to pull the latch to no avail.
Thor and Jane crawled to the edge of the dirt hill to better view the massive plastic labyrinth below. Jane lay flat on her stomach while Thor kneeled beside her to strip off his jacket. Jane didn't have a telescope to see what was happening at the camp, but one thing was off from what her naked eyes could see.
"That's no satellite crash," she whispered. "They would've hauled the wreckage away instead of building a city around it."
"Here," Thor laid his jacket on Jane's back. "You're going to need this."
"Wait. What?" Jane looked over her shoulder to see herself covered up, then back at Thor questionably. "Why?" The roaring thunder in the sky answered her question. Was it going to rain? New Mexico was supposed to endure a drought. Jane watched Thor's excited face, feeling her heart rate increase. Was it fear or anticipation? She had no idea. She must get a hold of herself and finish this illegal act.
For Kelsey.
"Wait here," Thor instructed her. "Once I have the Mjolnir, I will return what they've stolen from you. Deal?"
"No," Jane answered directly. "Look what's down there," she nudged her head at the crater below them. "There's too many of them - they each were provided a gun. We didn't even pack a gun. I doubt Darcy's taser can help us."
"It won't," Thor agreed.
"Then what are you going to do? Walk in, grab our stuff, fight those guys with your hammer, and then walk out? Just like that?"
"No," Thor shook his head.
Jane breathed out with relief, "Good."
"I'm going to fly out," Thor corrected. Jane's aid was cut short, realizing the possible risks, worse than jail time. She shouldn't have come. She shouldn't have brought AJ with her. What was she thinking? This was insane even for her. They must go back and regroup.
"Um, Thor, I've been thinking. Maybe Erik is right, maybe we should," Jane turned to Thor to express her second thoughts, only to find him gone. It was too late. Thor was already sliding down the hill, sneaking inside the camp. "Shit!" Jane hissed as she squinted her eyes, trying to keep up with Thor's movements but got lost in the dark.
"So what's happening?"
Jane gasped at the sudden puff of air against her face. Her nephew was lying on his stomach beside her, invested in the action below them.
"AJ, I thought I told you to wait in the van?!" she looked over her shoulder to see all doors were closed and the windows unbroken. "How did you get out?"
"Found your spare keys in the glove compartment," AJ replied, jiggling the keys around his tiny fingers.
Jane huffed, snatching the keys from him. Why did she put them there in the first place? "Andrew Jackson, I order you to get back inside the van, or so help me-"
"I'm already grounded, Jane. What more can you take from me? I just wanna help bring my sister home... and share that pot of gold," AJ's attention was back on the camp, ignoring Jane's baffled look. "Did Thor go down there already?"
"Uh..." she shook her head, snapping back to the situation, "Yeah, he's down there, but I can't seem to find him."
"Here," AJ handed Jane a pair of binoculars. "Use this."
Jane looked at the binoculars, then at AJ questionably, "Where did you get this?"
AJ shrugged, "Glove compartment."
Jane groaned, taking the binoculars to locate Thor. "At least try to keep your voice down. If you think losing some privileges is the worst, that can happen. Imagine being taken away by strangers and never seeing your sister or me again." AJ pouted at the worst-case scenario. "Do you understand? Do you want us to get caught, do you?"
"I'm sorry, Jane," he whispered.
Jane sighed at her nephew's lost puppy look, "I know you are. Just stay quiet, okay?" The two of them jumped at the thunder's rumble.
"Is it going to rain?" AJ asked, watching the grey clouds getting thicker.
"I don't know," Jane lifted Thor's jacket from her body, "Come here." The boy snuggled closer to Jane, who dropped the coat on top of them.
"Did you find him?" he asked as she searched the perimeter with the binoculars.
"No, I can't see him anywhere, only guards and trucks."
AJ pressed the walkie-talkie button in Jane's hand, "Thunder-man, this is the Jock and the mad scientist calling for a status report. Over." Jane would've laughed at the boy's nicknames. AJ repeated himself, hoping for a response. Much to their relief, Thor responded.
"Who is this? I expect to hear Lady Jane."
AJ rolled his eyes, "Thor, it's me! AJ! My codename is Jock Jackson, and you are Thunder-man."
"Why use an alias? I know your name."
"Because it's cool!" AJ piped, earning a shush from the mad scientist. "Spies use codenames all the time."
"You do realize that your codename is a stereotype for jerks in high school, right?" Jane asked the boy.
"Nuh-uh," AJ argued. "It can also mean a pilot or an astronaut. Look it up." Jane blinked, dropping the argument instantly, making a mental note to get out the thesaurus if they could return to the lab alive.
"I must say, Jock, I like your codename for me," Thor boasted, "Thunder-man."
Jane pulled her hand back to regain control of the talkie, "Where are you, Thor?"
"Thunder-man," AJ corrected in a whisper before recoiling back from Jane's scolding look.
"Starboard of this evil lair."
Jane searched again through the binoculars but couldn't find him. She turned to the other side of the field, finding a picket fence that contained a bunny-size hole. She shifted her view slightly, picking up blonde hair nestling behind stacked crates.
"Thor, starboard is right, and port is left," Jane corrected.
"That's what I said, didn't I?"
"Are you talking about your left or mine? I'm confused." They need to brush up on communication to achieve this. Not only would their mission fail, but they would also suffer jail time if they didn't.
"Thor is Batman," AJ declared.
"I thought I was Thunder-man?" Thor asked.
"Well, Batman is known to blend in the dark and knock out each villain one by one until they're all unconscious. You can take the agents out, too, Thunder-man, by choking them from behind or using their guns against them."
As much as Jane didn't want to hear more of AJ's superhero fanatics, his plan was brilliant. Thor must follow the boy's lead, for a Jeep sped towards the fence's hole to investigate.
"You got two coming your way, Thor," Jane announced. "Be ready."
Thor chuckled in the other line, "Mad scientist, I didn't defeat Mangog the invader by standing around and looking pretty."
"I'm sure Man-dog was swooned by Thunder-man's looks either way," Jane grumbled.
"What was that, Mad Scientist?"
AJ widened his eyes and puffed air in his cheeks, holding in the laughter. The look of surprise on Jane's face was priceless. She mentally cursed herself for pressing the button while saying that. She was ready to ditch the mission altogether.
The ATV arrived at the fence. The drivers shined their headlights at the evidence, concluding that some animal waltzed into their operation. Little did they know this wasn't an animal until it was too late. Thor punched the agent near him and used his armed gun to knock out the other.
"Score!" AJ cried. Jane shushed the boy, warning him to be quiet or she would have to drag him back into the van by his ear.
Meanwhile, Thor heard a static male voice from a replica of AJ's talking device, asking for a report, only to get no response. Thor stole one of the agents' black ponchos to blend in with the agents. He followed AJ's plan, but that plan died when another S.H.I.E.L.D. agent approached the crime scene and spotted the two unconscious victims.
"Agents down! We've got a perimeter breach!"
Red lights and sirens were going off. A spotlight was shining across the desert hill, almost spotting the lookouts.
Jane gasped and shuffled away from the light, pulling AJ with her, "Stay low, AJ." She resumed her quiet communication with Thor, "Okay, Thunder-man, they know you entered their base camp. You better move quick."
In case they were to get caught, the team required a bailout. Jane hated this, but she had no choice but to do one thing: Call Erik.
She lifted the jacket, instructing her nephew to hold it for her. AJ turned on his back and kept the coat up while Jane shuffled underneath the clothing. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Erik's number. AJ crawled under the layer while keeping the jacket up so they could breathe.
Jane heard the dial tone, then the click that initiated an angry reply from the other line.
"Jane, what the hell - CRASH - are you thinking?!" Erik's voice was loud but fuzzy due to the reception here. Surely, S.H.I.E.L.D had excellent service due to its wealth and advanced technology. Maybe it was the so-called satellite weakening the signal.
"It's great to hear your voice, too," Jane mumbled sarcastically. "I guess they told you."
"I don't need them to - CRASH - tell me anything! I could tell by their - CRASH - faces that something was off! I figured you would - CRASH - something so - CRASH - reckless!"
"Okay, Erik, I can barely hear you. I was calling to let you know-"
"What? Jane, I - CRASH - hear you!"
"Yeah, the service here is bad."
"Where - CRASH - you?!"
"I'm at the crater. Where else?"
"You need to get - CRASH - Now!"
Jane couldn't hear what he said but understood what he was trying to say, "I can't do that, Erik. Thor is out there, risking his life for my stuff."
"You can't get - CRASH - too! Think of AJ-"
"Oh, speaking of AJ, thank Darcy for watching my nephew again. She did an outstanding job," she grumbled sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"What?" Erik asked loudly.
"Erik, AJ is here with me."
"My God, Jane, you don't - CRASH - trouble you're in! The kids-" The line went dead.
"Hello?" Jane looked at her phone to see that she had no service. "Great," She pocketed her phone and peered through the binoculars to see what was happening.
More armed guards appeared, searching for the intruder. Following AJ's instructions translated by Jane, for he too didn't know his right and left, Thor hid behind a dark trailer but smiled when he saw a silhouette of his hammer through the plastic cube structure. Lightning struck across the sky. A rumble cued the rain to start pouring down, soaking the desert ground. He looked at the connected tubes around the structure to find the nearest entrance. He rushed past an agent, who noticed him without a gun. The chase had begun.
AJ saw how Thor was eyeing the see-through labyrinth, specifically what was at the end of it. Little did Thor know more armed agents were inside.
"Not yet, Thunder-man," AJ advised. "Keep a low profile. Wait till one comes out!"
"I'm not waiting, Jock. I'm going in!"
"Thor, no!"
Ignoring the warning, Thor entered one of the tunnels only to be approached by one agent. The armed official threw a punch, which Thor blocked quickly.
AJ gasped, witnessing two shadow men fighting inside the entrance, "Jane, look!"
Jane shushed him while taking the binoculars to see Thor's silhouette flipping a guard. Meanwhile, the agent who Thor passed by earlier sneaked up behind him.
"Thor, behind you!" AJ warned before holding his breath. The agent tackled Thor, only to get pushed off by him. "This is way better than TV," AJ commented, watching Thunder-man take down both agents simultaneously.
Thor hurried down the tunnel, ignoring the chase by more men - all were either in suits or ponchos. It didn't matter. They were going down - literally. AJ quietly cheered him on; while Jane watched Thor with fascination. For a homeless man, he sure knows how to fight. Thor picked up the pace. He was so close to Mjolnir that he could feel its power.
...
Coulson had to pause his investigation to catch the intruder. He was now barking out orders through his walkie-talkie.
"I want eyes up high. With a gun. Now!"
Instead of grabbing a gun as ordered, a sniper chose a crossbow. He rushed outside, didn't mind the cold downpour on him as he leaped inside a crane bucket that automatically lifted him in the air.
...
Thor kicked three men off a ladder. He jumped over them as they groaned and writhed in pain. Thor knocked down each agent standing in his way, including more men with guns.
"Thor, stay in the tunnels. They gotta guy with a gun! Over." AJ's warning barely made it into Thor's eardrums.
...
Agent Coulson entered the command trailer, demanding a status report from his suited associate.
"There's a massive electromagnetic surge coming out of that thing," the bald agent explained, leading him to a screen of the hammer. "It's barely coping."
Coulson turned away from the screen and pulled out his radio, "Barton? Talk to me."
"You want me to slow him down, sir?" The sniper outside wondered while aiming his arrow. "Or are you sending in more guys for him to beat up?"
"I'll let you know," Coulson dismissed the cheeky remark.
...
"Where do I go?" Thor asked through his walkie, hoping Jock Jackson or the Mad Scientist would give him directions to his hammer. AJ was willing, for Jane couldn't handle the pressure of this stressful situation. Nobody would've thought that one man could defeat all these skilled agents (most were armed) without a gun. What's worse, he recruited an eight-year-old dyslexic as his guide. The results could be disastrous if word gets out about how they embarrassed a federal agency.
"Go to the next tunnel on your right," AJ instructed.
"Left," Jane corrected.
"Left, sorry. Left." Thor furrowed his brows, debating whether to turn around or not. The directions were confusing, for they were facing the opposite. He stepped to his left, about to return the way he came in.
"Your other left, Thor!" The man quickly followed the frantic lady's orders. "Continue forward until you reach the center, but beware of that sniper!"
Thor found that he was entering the cube structure.
"Go forward," the boy called.
Thunder-man walked down to see Mjolnir's glory on his right. There was the finish line. He grinned happily, knowing he was almost there, just a leap across the rail.
"Thor, there's - CRASH!" Thor furrowed his brows at the sudden screech of his walkie-talkie. He asked AJ to repeat that, only to hear the obnoxious sound repeat itself. The closer he got to his hammer, the signal on this device weakened.
Unfortunately, the distracting moment had cost the former god of thunder. A fist shot out of nowhere and landed a powerful blow across Thor's jaw, knocking him to the ground. Thor picked up AJ's warning too late. Two feet taller than Thor, a S.H.I.E.L.D. official towered over the blonde male, offering a menacing look.
"You're big," Thor admitted with a cocky grin. "I fought bigger." He stood up and threw the first punch. The agent wasn't affected by it. He threw several punches until they ripped through the plastic wall, falling into the mud. It didn't take long for them to wrestle in the pit, unaffected by the rain. Eventually, Thor was on his side, getting choked from behind.
"C'mon, Thunder-man," AJ cheered through the talkie, although their communication was cut short. "I have faith in you."
Thor elbowed the agent right in the chest. The tall guard unwillingly released his hold on Thor while grunting in pain. Thor was on his feet and stepped back to see the agent slowly getting up. Before the agent knew it, Thor jumped in the air and kicked both feet squarely in the big man's chest, then his face, defeating him.
Thor puffed up with pride and wiped the mud from his face with his filthy arm. He peered through a plastic wall to see a silhouette of the hammer. No more mazes and games - it's time to take back what's his. For that, he ripped the plastic open.
...
"You better call it, Coulson," Barton suggested after witnessing the fight between Thor and his comrade, shifting his aim at the moving target. "I'm starting to root for this guy."
...
Thor approached his hammer and smiled with satisfaction. Finally, he made it. One pull shall regain his power. He will stop S.H.I.E.L.D. He will retrieve the stolen items for Lady Jane. He will return home and reunite Kelsey with her family. He will become king of Asgard. Thor's grin extended, picturing the future now.
...
Barton pulled his bow back, about to release his arrow, "Last chance, sir."
"Wait," Coulson's voice stopped Barton. All this time, he watched Thor from above with the rain soaking him head to toe. After witnessing tonight, Phil realized that the madman - the boy's so-called uncle - came all this way and beat up his men senselessly for the satellite. How curious. Every agent, partygoer, and militia tank had an opportunity to pull the stick from the ground but failed. Could this intruder perform the impossible?
"I want to see this," Coulson explained.
Thor wrapped his fingers around the handle.
AJ and Jane were watching Thor, holding their breath at the suspense.
He began to lift...
...only to find that the hammer didn't budge. Thor furrowed his brows in confusion, he tried again with two hands this time, but the hammer remained stuck. He grunted and yelled as he pulled with all his might but to no avail. Thor eventually released the Mjolnir and stared down at it in disbelief. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't part of the plan. He was supposed to pull the hammer out, and everything would be alright again. Why couldn't he lift it?
Thor looked at the sky and bellowed at the top of his lungs. No words could express how he felt. Mixed emotions overwhelmed him - angry, betrayed, and mostly, broken.
AJ and Jane heard his cries. Tears were welling up in their eyes. AJ was shaking his head, refusing to believe Thor had failed.
The former god collapsed onto his knees and bowed his head, hearing the harsh statements echo inside his mind...
'You're not king!' Odin stated angrily.
'You long for battle,' Laufey explained. 'You crave it! You're nothing but a boy trying to prove himself a man.'
'You're a vain, greedy, cruel boy!' Odin's voice roared. 'You are unworthy of these realms! You are unworthy of your title! You're unworthy! Of the loved ones you have betrayed...'
'You're talking nonsense!' Erik cried, 'Your plan isn't going to work! You want to know why?! It's irrational, childish, and mostly stupid!'
'You're unworthy!'
Coulson watched Thor's failure in disappointment. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents moved into the scene, pointing their guns from different levels of the base camp - all surrounding Thor.
Coulson lifted his walkie-talkie, "Alright. Show's over. Ground unit, move in." Two agents rushed and grabbed Thor's arms. The target didn't protest nor care to fight as they handcuffed and dragged him away from the scene.
...
Jane lowered her binoculars after witnessing Thor being taken into custody. She knew now that it was time to leave so much for using the safe word.
"Come on, AJ," she slipped her arms through the sleeves, nudging the boy to follow. "Let's go."
AJ glared sharply at Jane, surprised by what she said, "What? That's it? We're just going to leave him?! What about the code?! He didn't say-"
"Shh!" Jane slapped a hand over his mouth to silence him, ignoring the painful wail in response, "AJ, we don't have a choice. He's busted!"
"So are you!"
AJ and Jane froze, knowing neither of them had said that. They turned around slowly to see three S.H.I.E.L.D. agents pointing their guns while one of them was holding a hound's leash.
The Rottweiler barked viciously at the aunt and nephew, causing them to jump and shuffle back, keeping a safe distance from the mean dog. One of the armed agents lowered his weapon to take the boy to S.H.I.E.L.D's base camp.
"Let me go!" AJ writhed against the man's grip in protest. Annoyed by the boy's defiance and the tug-a-war with the godmother, the agent threw AJ over his shoulder and carried him away. "Jane!" AJ called out to his aunt in a panic. He never planned to get caught. All the possibilities jumbled in his brain. Was Jane serious when saying they might put him in child protective services?
Jane's eyes widened in terror, oblivious to the cuffs that snapped around her wrists behind her back. This was it—the inevitable. Jane was going to jail and might never see her godchildren again. She let everybody down.
Everybody.