Chapter 26: Unlimited Power

No one spoke as the quinjet took off. The temperature in the aircraft was frigid as Captain America and Tony glared at each other. Brigid left it to herself to break the tension.

"So, are we having a staring contest or a pissing contest?" Brigid asked, sensing the tension before turning to Captain America. "I take it you're Steve Rogers, or Captain America. I'm Brigid Stark, Tony is my dad."

"Dad?" Steve asked.

"Adopted, yes," Tony added.

"I've heard of you, but my dad never mentioned you," Brigid said, throwing Tony a confused look.

"Only because your grandfather never shut up about what good buddies they were," Tony replied.

"Grandpa? How old are you?" Brigid asked, her face wrinkling.

"I'm ninety-four," Steve replied.

"Holy shit, I hope I look as good when I am that old," Brigid said in jest.

"Thanks, I think," Steve replied, shifting uncomfortably.

Natasha then radioed Fury. "Fury, we have Loki in custody."

"Is he saying anything?" Fury asked.

"Not a word," Natasha replied.

"Just get him here, we're low on time," Fury barked.

After that brief conversation, Steve and Tony were uneasy.

"I don't like it," Steve said warily.

"What, Rock of Ages giving up so easily?" Tony added.

"I don't remember it being that easy," Steve countered. "This guy packs a wallop."

"I agree with the Captain," Brigid declared. "I've studied Loki and this isn't like him."

"Well, you are pretty spry for an older fellow," Tony replied to Steve. "What's your thing Pilates? Its like Calisthenics. You might have missed a thing or two, doing time as a Capsicle."

Steve glared at Tony. "Fury didn't tell me he was calling you in, or that you were babysitting."

Brigid's eyes flashed. "Hey Cap, do you wanna know how hard I can punch?"

Tony held up his hand to calm her. "There's a lot of things Fury doesn't tell you."

Just then, thunder and lightning churned in the sky. Loki shifted in his seat, wearing a nervous expression.

"What's the matter? Scared of a little lightning?" Steve taunted.

"I'm not overly fond of what follows," Loki replied.

Just then, there was a great thud! atop the jet. Brigid and Tony put on their helmets, ready for attack. Just then, Thor burst through the hangar door.

Brigid was furious. "Hello again, asshole!"

Brigid blasted him with a beam from her glove before Thor pushed her aside. Tony tried to fight back, but Thor knocked him back with his hammer. Before anyone could blink, Thor grabbed Loki and jumped from the jet.

"Now there's that guy," Tony groaned.

"Think he's a friendly?" Steve asked.

"Doesn't matter. If he frees Loki or kills him, the Tesseract is lost," Tony replied.

"I'm coming after that bastard too," Brigid said firmly.

"Stay out of this, kid. Don't make it personal," Tony ordered her.

"Fine," Brigid grumbled.

"Stark, we need a plan of attack," Steve cried.

"I have a plan. Attack," Tony said flatly as he blasted off after Thor and Loki.

Thor crashed down on a cliff, sending Loki flat on his back with a groan.

"Where is the Tesseract?" Thor demanded.

"Oh I missed you, too!" Loki laughed.

"Do I look to be in a gaming mood?" Thor snapped, his face red.

"Oh you should thank me," Loki said, rising to his feet. "With the Bifrost gone how much dark energy did the Allfather have to conjure you here, your precious Earth?"

Thor testily grabbed Loki. "We thought you dead!"

"Did you mourn?" Loki asked flatly.

"We all did," Thor answered. "Our father…"

"Your father," Loki corrected him. "He did tell you my true parentage, did he not?"

Thor tried to reason with his brother. "We were raised together, we played together, we fought together. Do you remember none of that ?"

"I remember a shadow, living in the shade of your greatness," Loki replied with a pained expression. "I remember you tossing me into an abyss, I who was and should be king!"

"So you take the world I love as recompense for your imagined slights?" Thor scoffed. "The Earth is under my protection, Loki."

Loki cackled. "And you're doing a marvelous job with that! The humans slaughter each other in droves while you idly fret. I mean to rule them."

"You think yourself above them?" Thor asked.

"Well yes," Loki replied.

"Then you miss the truth of ruling, brother," Thor reasoned.

Loki shoved him aside. "I've seen worlds you've never known about. When I wield the Tesseract…"

"Who showed you such power? Who controls the would be king?" Thor questioned.

"I am a king!" Loki shouted.

"Not here!" Thor snapped back, cradling his brother's neck. "You give up this poisonous dream. Come home."

Loki sighed. "I don't have it."

Having had enough, Thor raised Mjolnir.

"You need the cube to bring me home, but I've sent it off I know not where," Loki argued.

"You listen well, brother…"

Just then, Thor was slammed off the cliff.

"I'm listening," Loki said with a smirk to the dark.

Thor crashed in a ravine, spraying pebbles and dirt. He got to his feet and saw Tony standing before him.

"Do not touch me again," Thor threatened.

"Then stop taking my stuff," Tony replied.

"Loki will face Asgardian justice," Thor declared.

"He gives up the cube he's all yours. Till then, stay out of the way," Tony said.

In reply, Thor tossed his hammer at Tony, sending him into a tree.

"Okay," Tony groaned, ready to fight.

Tony fired a blast at Thor, knocking him off his feet. Thor charged his hammer, sending a blast of lightning at Tony. Not phased by the blast, Tony fired another beam and dragged Thor up a cliff, spraying pebbles everywhere. The two dueled viciously until they were grazed with a shield.

"Hey, are you done?" Steve asked.

"I've come here to put an end to Loki's schemes," Thor shouted.

"Then put that hammer down," Steve said.

"Yeah, no. He loves his hammer…" Tony scoffed before Thor shoved him away.

"You want me to put the hammer down?" Thor said furiously.

He leapt in the air , bringing his hammer down on Steve's shield, sending a ringing shockwave that knocked all three off their feet.

"We done here?" Steve whispered, exhausted.

Thor and Tony nodded. Loki was taken in cuffs under heavy guard aboard the SHIELD carrier. As he passed Dr Banner's lab, he smirked at him before he was loaded into a large glass cell by Fury.

"In case its unclear, you so much as scratch that glass," Fury said, opening a trap door below. "Thirty thousand feet, straight down in a steel trap. Ant, boot."

Loki chuckled. "Its an impressive cage. Not built for me, I think."

"Built for something a lot stronger than you," Fury countered.

"Oh I've heard. A mindless beast. Makes play he's still a man," Loki laughed. "How desperate are you? You call on such lost creatures to defend you?"

Fury faced Loki eye to eye. "How desperate am I ? You threaten my world with war, you try to unleash a force you can't control and you kill cause it's fun. You have made me very desperate. You might not be glad you did."

"Oooh, it burns you to have come so close," Loki taunted. "To have power, unlimited power, and for what? A warm light for all mankind? And then to be reminded what real power is."

Fury would not be intimidated. "Well, let me know if 'real power' wants a magazine or something."

From the meeting table, Tony and Brigid watched Loki's interaction.

"So, Thor, what's his play?" Steve asked.

"Hang on, is he allowed to be here after he murdered my parents and kidnapped me?" Brigid interjected.

"Brigid, I know what I did to you but it was a tragic accident," Thor said remorsefully. "Can we put it behind us for all our sakes?"

"Fine," Brigid groaned.

"Great. Now Thor, you were saying?" Tony inquired.

"He has an army called the Chiaturi," Thor explained. "They will win him the Earth, in exchange for the cube."

"I'm not sure we should be focusing on Loki. That guy's brain is a bag full of cats," Dr. Banner replied.

"I was his prisoner for months. I agree," Brigid added.

"Have care how you speak. Loki is my brother," Thor said defensively.

"He killed eighty people in two days," Natasha said.

"He's adopted," Thor replied.

Brigid watched and listened as they discussed Loki's intentions with the cube. That night, under cover of fog and disguise, Brigid slipped into Loki's cell, her lips melting with his as she dropped her disguise.

"What news, my love?" Loki asked.

"They all wonder at your intentions with the cube," Brigid answered. "They know of your army and intent to create a portal."

"Good," Loki replied, pleased. "If Barton does as instructed, we will surprise them. Are you certain this lost creatures will fight together, especially Stark?"

"Well, my father might fight harder for his grandchild," Brigid suggested.

Loki froze and he wore a mask of confusion. "I beg your pardon?"

Brigid smiled, leading Loki's hand to her belly.

Loki scoffed in bewilderment. "Are you certain?"

Brigid nodded, grinning wide. "If it's a girl, I want to name her Frigga."

Loki knelt before her and kissed her slight bump. "Princess Frigga will be the strongest of all Asgard."

Loki rose and kissed Brigid. "I love you. You are my queen, and I love you."

"What is our next play, my king?" Brigid whispered.

"You are going to put on a performance, my love," Loki replied. "Wait for Barton to arrive. Then you will know what to do. Until then, return to the Avengers and help them try to plot my moves."

Brigid bowed her head. "As you wish, my love."

Loki kissed her hand before Brigid disappeared into the shadows.