Chapter 120
Avengers
Arc 8 - Ch 12: Project PEGASUS
Tuesday, May 01, 2012.
Location: Joint Dark Energy Mission Facility, Mojave Desert, Nevada
The wail of sirens shattered the New Mexico desert night. The Joint Dark Energy Mission Facility had descended into chaos. Floodlights pierced the darkness, illuminating a scene of controlled panic as men in suits dashed about, clutching files and equipment. Soldiers sprinted across the compound and leaped into waiting Humvees. Engines roared to life, tires spinning against the desert floor as vehicles peeled away into the night.
A disembodied voice crackled over hidden loudspeakers, barking barely audible orders. "Evacuate immediately. This is not a drill. Repeat, this is not a drill."
The whump-whump-whump of helicopter blades cut through the cacophony, growing louder as a black chopper swooped in from the starry sky. Its searchlight swept the facility, adding to the surreal, frenzied atmosphere.
Agent Phil Coulson stood a few yards from the landing pad, his suit crisp despite the swirling dust. Dark sunglasses shielded his eyes from the harsh lights, giving him an air of calm amid the storm. He watched intently as the helicopter touched down, its rotors slowing but not stopping.
The door slid open, and Agent Maria Hill emerged, her face grim. She strode purposefully toward Coulson, followed closely by Nick Fury, the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
"How bad is it?"
Coulson's reply was measured, but a hint of uncertainty crept into his usually unflappable demeanor. "That's the problem, sir. We don't know."
He led Hill and Fury through the facility's main entrance. The stark contrast between the calm desert night and the frenzied interior was jarring. Panicked staff members rushed past. Hundreds of technicians and personnel darted through the corridors, arms laden with equipment and files. The air was thick with tension and the acrid smell of fear. Shouted orders and hurried conversations echoed through the halls, only to be drowned out by the evacuation siren.
"Dr. Selvig read an energy surge from the Tesseract four hours ago," Coulson reported.
"NASA didn't authorize either Selvig or Richards to the test phase."
"Selvig wasn't testing it," Coulson clarified, stepping aside to let a group of scientists hurry past with delicate-looking instruments. "He wasn't even in the room. Spontaneous event. Richards claims it wasn't him either. He was in Phase 4, but he usually is, and nothing on the footage indicated he initiated the Tesseract."
Disbelief colored Hill's voice. "It just turned itself on?"
They reached a junction, and Fury paused, his gaze sweeping over the controlled mayhem. "What are the energy levels now?"
"Climbing. When Selvig couldn't shut it down, we ordered the evac."
A technician stumbled, nearly dropping a stack of hard drives. Fury steadied him with a firm hand, then turned back to Coulson. "How long to get everyone out?"
"Campus should be clear in the next half hour," Coulson answered, checking his watch.
"Do better," Fury ordered.
Coulson nodded, peeling away from the group, he was already barking orders into his comm unit to expedite the evacuation. Hill and Fury continued their brisk pace, descending deeper into the facility. The corridors grew quieter, the panic more controlled as they entered more secure areas.
"Sir, evacuation may be futile," Hill ventured.
Fury's response dripped with sarcasm. "We should tell them to go back to sleep then?"
Hill pressed on, undeterred. "If we can't control the Tesseract's energy, there may not be a minimum safe distance."
They rounded a corner, entering a section of the facility that seemed untouched by the frenzy above. Fury's voice dropped to a near-whisper. "I need you to make sure Phase 2 prototypes are shipped out."
"Sir, is that a priority right now?"
Fury stopped, turning to face her fully. His expression was deadly serious. "Until such a time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on. Clear out the tech below. Every piece of Phase 2 on a truck and gone."
Hill's face settled into a mask of professionalism, her voice flat. "Yes, sir." She turned to two nearby agents, gesturing for them to follow. "With me."
Fury strode into the Phase 1 lab, which was a flurry of activity, scientists hurriedly packing equipment and rushing towards the exits. Only a skeleton crew remained to monitor various instruments.
"Talk to me, doctor," Fury called out.
Erik Selvig emerged from behind a monitor, his silver hair disheveled and his eyes wide with excitement and concern. "Director," he acknowledged.
"Is there anything we know for certain?"
Selvig's expression turned grave. "The Tesseract is misbehaving."
"Is that supposed to be funny?"
"No, it's not funny at all," Selvig replied, shaking his head. "The Tesseract is not only active, she's... misbehaving."
"I assume you pulled the plug."
Selvig moved to a nearby computer. "She's an energy source. If we turn off the power, she turns it back on. If she reaches peak level—"
"We've prepared for this, doctor. Harnessing energy from space." Fury cut him off.
Looking up from his screen, Selvig's voice carried a note of frustration. "We don't have the harness. Our calculations are far from complete. Now she's throwing off interference and radiation. Nothing harmful, low levels of gamma radiation."
"That can be harmful," Fury said, unimpressed, thinking of Banner, gamma radiation, and the outcome, Hulk…
His eye scanned the room. "Where's Barton?"
Selvig scoffed. "The Hawk? Up in his nest, as usual."
High above them, perched on the railings, sat Agent Clint Barton. Dressed in tactical gear, he observed the scene below with keen eyes. Fury's voice crackled in his earpiece. "Agent Barton, report."
Barton rappelled down from his perch. He approached Fury, and the two began a discreet walk around the facility's lower level.
"I gave you this mission so you could keep a close eye on things."
Barton replied confidently. "Well, I see better from a distance."
As they circled the Tesseract, Fury pressed for information. "Are you seeing anything that might set this thing off?"
A NASA scientist called out, interrupting their conversation. "Doctor, it's spiking again!"
Selvig rushed over. Barton continued his report, unfazed by the commotion. "No one's come or gone. Selvig's clean. No contacts, no I.M.s. If there was any tampering, sir, it wasn't at this end."
"At this end?"
"Yeah, the cube is a doorway to space, right?" Barton explained. "Well, doors open from both sides."
As Dr. Selvig continued his frantic typing, Fury's mind shifted to another concern. "Where's Agent Mirage?"
"Should be in Phase 3. Alarm went off, he's been watching his area like a hawk."
Fury paused mid-step, "Like a hawk?" fixing Barton with a look, he accused, "Oh, now you're joking too?"
Barton merely shrugged, and Fury set off towards Phase 3.
Upon entering Phase 3, Fury found Tyson sitting vigilantly across from the cell doors. Dr. Sofen was engaged in a discussion with Lloyd Bloch inside one of the cells, but Tyson's attention seemed more focused on Dr. Sterns in the other cell.
"Agent Mirage, report," Fury commanded.
"Director, it's good to see you. As loud as everything has been, it's all quiet here. Figuratively. I don't trust Sterns, but Phase 3 is locked down."
Fury's eye narrowed. "And Phase 4?"
Tyson's expression shifted, a hint of concern creeping in. "Phase 4 is a problem. Reed is babbling. I'd need to absorb Sterns to keep up with everything he's saying, but I don't want to risk alerting him that something is amiss."
Fury processed this information quickly, his mind already formulating a plan. "Alright, Sterns is on ice. Sofen is fine with Bloch. Let's see what our other egghead has to say."
He continued walking with Tyson in tow.
Inside Phase 4, Reed Richards was frantically checking readings on a computer and inspecting the spacecraft. As Fury entered, he called out, "Dr. Richards, what seems to be the problem?"
Tyson mumbled under his breath, "It's a lost cause."
Reed began explaining in rapid-fire scientific terms, his words tumbling over each other in his haste. "Director, the Tesseract's energy output is interacting with the Alcubierre drive in ways we hadn't anticipated. The quantum fluctuations are causing a cascading effect on the warp bubble generator, and the exotic matter containment field is showing signs of instability. If we don't—"
Fury held up a hand, cutting him off. "Dr. Storm, please translate."
Sue, who had been monitoring another set of instruments, turned to face them. Her expression was grim as she simplified Reed's explanation. "The Marvel-1's engine is becoming active. Like the Tesseract, we can't shut it down."
Fury's eye narrowed. "Why is that a problem?"
Reed's frustration was evident. "An Alcubierre drive can't be activated in Earth's atmosphere. The spatial distortions it creates would be catastrophic. We're talking about potential gravitational shearing effects that could destabilize tectonic plates. The consequences could range from devastating earthquakes to unpredictable anomalies. My best projections say that if we can't get this ship into space, the effects of the drive will cause the Earth to shear itself apart."
"So launch," Fury said, pointing upward. "This facility was designed so that your ship could be launched directly from here."
Sue shook her head. "The rockets aren't installed."
Fury's expression darkened. "Let me get this straight," he said, his voice dangerously calm. "You've got a spaceship that can harness a power source that could destroy the planet, and you didn't put actual rockets on it?"
Reed's defensive words came out in a rushed explanation. "Thanks to Agent Mirage's help, the drive was completed days ago, but we don't have the rockets yet."
Fury turned to Tyson, his eye demanding an explanation. "You helped him?"
"Absorbed Sterns on and off the past few weeks. Two heads are better than one."
Fury took a deep breath, visibly reining in his frustration. "I need options, Dr. Richards."
Reed began pacing back and forth. "The only option is to get the Marvel-1 off the planet. We could transport it to a nearby Air Force base if you have multiple helicopters."
As if in response to his words, another pulse from the Tesseract echoed through the facility. Reed's instruments went haywire, screens flashing with alarming readouts and warning signals. His eyes widened in panic as he took in the new data.
"There isn't time," he said, his voice rising in pitch. "There's no way we could get it out in time. We only have minutes."
The tension in the room ratcheted up another notch as the implications of Reed's words sank in. Sue's face grew pale. Johnny and Ben, who had been silently observing from the corner, looked ready for action despite the grim prognosis and having no way to contribute. Reed looked from face to face, his brilliant mind for once at a loss. When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper, laden with defeat.
"We're doomed..."
Tyson looked at the Fantastic Four and couldn't help but smile. They weren't a team, not like the comics, not yet. But it was going to happen. He could feel it. They all wore matching outfits with the iconic '4' emblazoned on them, symbolizing not the Fantastic Four but Phase 4, where they'd been working together for months. He could see the small shift it would take to bring them together. But the priority was ensuring the spaceship didn't destroy the Earth.
Tyson interrupted, "My senses tell me the ship is made from Titanium and Aluminum."
Reed blinked, momentarily thrown off his train of thought. "Yeah, and?"
"And you've got the world's strongest ferrokinetic as your bodyguard," Tyson said, raising an eyebrow. "Have you factored that into your equation?"
Reed's eyes darted back and forth as he thought. Suddenly, they widened with realization. "You'll need to get us at least 62 miles up. Can you do that?"
Tyson replied, "Doesn't seem like I have much of a choice, doc." He seemed confident, and his smile said that he'd be able to do it. "Do you have an extra space suit?" Everyone was silent. He sighed. "Let me guess, that was coming with the rockets?"
Reed had the decency to look sheepish. "I haven't even finished the shielding against cosmic rays, and we never solved the spatial-temporal translocation calculation—"
"Priorities, Doctor." Fury interrupted, his voice sharp with urgency. "If Tyson can get you up there, can you pilot the ship away from the planet, or should I have him toss it at the sun?"
"The gravitational pull of the sun would cause significant stress on the ship's structure, not to mention the potential for solar flares to interfere with our navigation systems." Reed took Fury's statement seriously and began explaining why tossing it at the sun wasn't necessary. "Additionally, the heat shield wasn't designed for—"
"Reed, focus." Sue cut him off, firmly but gently.
"We can do it," he answered confidently. "So long as we don't hit any cosmic storms, we'll be fine."
Johnny crossed his arms. "Yeah, because space is known for being predictable."
Reed waved off their concerns. "The chances of encountering a significant cosmic event during our ascent and initial orbital maneuvers are astronomically low. We would have detected something like that long before it neared Earth. We'll be fine."
Tyson, who had been listening to this exchange with growing amusement, let out an exaggerated snort. The sound drew everyone's attention back to him. He knew it was a cosmic storm that granted the Fantastic Four their powers. The fact that the ship wasn't protected against them couldn't be a coincidence.
He waved them off. "Sorry, it's just the irony." His expression turned serious as he began to focus, reaching out to feel the metal of the ship and get a sense of its weight and dimensions. It would be the largest object he'd ever attempted to move over such a long distance, let alone launch into space. But as he'd said, and Reed Richards made clear, there wasn't much choice.
Reed started barking orders, moving between consoles, checking readings, and making last-minute adjustments. Sue began powering up the ship's systems while Johnny and Ben moved to secure loose equipment, preparing the cabin for what promised to be a rough ride.
As the Fantastic Four prepared for launch, Tyson closed his eyes, centering himself. He could feel the metal of the ship singing to him, responding to his power. It was going to take everything he had to get them to the edge of space, but failure wasn't an option.
Fury watched the scene unfold, his face an unreadable mask. Tyson asked, "Director, can I ask a favor?"
Fury joked, "You want to swallow another bomb?"
Tyson chuckled, "Eh, not me this time." He lowered his voice. "If things go bad, put a bullet in Sterns's head." Fury looked at him deadpan, prompting him to continue, "I'm sure you've read the reports. I worked with Dr. Sofen on his therapy. I've absorbed his intelligence, his thoughts, and his feelings. He's beyond redemption. He hasn't improved, no matter what we've tried or how we've presented things. If he escapes, he's just as big a danger to the world as this ship is."
Fury said, "I hear you, Agent Mirage. You worry about getting that ship into orbit. We'll handle Phase 3." Walking from Phase 4, he stood at the heavy doors leading to the area and closed them, saying, "Godspeed," as the blast doors closed and the ceiling overhead opened, revealing the desert sky.
The tension in the room was palpable as everyone took their positions. The fate of the world now rested on an untested spaceship, a team of scientists who'd never flown it, and a mutant about to attempt something far beyond anything he'd done before.
Tyson tapped his earpiece. "Ready when you are, doc," he said to Reed.
Reed gave a final nod to his team, then replied, "We're as ready as we'll ever be. Let's do this."
With a parting message, he added. "Agent Mirage, the Marvel-1 only weighs 82 tons, far less than what you hit the Juggernaut with. We all believe that if someone can do this, can save the world, it's you."
His words gave Tyson a momentary pause. He was going to save the world. The quintessential Hero moment. This couldn't be the first time he'd saved the world, could it? All his adventures, all his fights, wins, and losses…
Oh, nah. He'd saved the world a few times. This was an old hat…
…At Alkali Lake, he'd stopped Professor X from killing all the humans.
…At Midtown, he'd stopped Dr. Connors from turning the city into lizards, which might have eventually led to the extinction of humans.
…After graduation, he'd trapped La Magra, the demon vampire god, within Muse.
…In Vegas, he'd stopped Blackheart from releasing Mephisto on Earth.
He could do this.
Saving the world again would just become another notch on his belt, so to speak.
But it wasn't the time for reminiscing. With a deep breath, Tyson reached out with his power, feeling the massive bulk of the Marvel-1. He gritted his teeth, muscles tensing as he began to lift the ship. The metal groaned and creaked, the entire facility seeming to shake as Tyson exerted his will over the massive vehicle.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Reed." Tyson muttered, "Here goes nothing," as he prepared to launch the Fantastic Four and their ship toward the stars and, hopefully, away from Earth's impending doom.
His feet left the ground as he began to hover, his hands outstretched towards the Marvel-1. The massive ship trembled slightly as he exerted his power. He looked up at the facility's ceiling, where heavy blast doors were still retracting. As soon as he saw the open sky, Tyson started lifting both himself and the ship. The Marvel-1 rose steadily following his ascent.
Inside the ship, Johnny's voice crackled over the comm system, "Smooth, we're good in here. You're going to need to turn on the speed, buddy."
Reed's voice followed quickly, "He's right."
Sue's tone was urgent but encouraging, "Tyson, please, you can do this. You need to take us as fast as you can. Don't slow down or worry about us. You need to get this ship into orbit. Now."
Tyson had been practicing with the theory behind his powers. As much as he'd trolled Dr. Sterns about using his intelligence to play video games, he had spent his time researching new uses for Magneto's powers. Maglev trains were his first exploration, along with other practical applications of magnetism that he might be able to apply in a practical or combat sense. He knew he could replicate the train's propulsion system to get the shuttle into orbit, using magnetic fields to propel the ship upward. But as he considered the urgency of their situation, he realized that might not be fast enough.
There was something else he'd looked into when trying to figure out how to move faster.
A magnetic railgun.
The concept was relatively simple but incredibly powerful. Railguns use electromagnetic forces to accelerate a conductive projectile along a pair of metal rails. The projectile completes an electrical circuit between the rails, creating a powerful magnetic field. This field interacts with the current to produce a Lorentz force, which accelerates the projectile to extremely high velocities.
In this context, Tyson realized he could essentially turn the atmosphere into a massive railgun, with the Marvel-1 as the projectile. By manipulating the Earth's magnetic field and creating a strong electromagnetic corridor, he could theoretically launch the ship at speeds far beyond what he could achieve through simple levitation.
"Hold on," Tyson warned, his voice strained with concentration.
He began to focus intensely, using his powers to feel the Earth's magnetic field. It was vast, complex, and incredibly powerful. Tyson had never attempted to manipulate something on this scale before, but he knew it was their only chance.
Slowly at first, then with increasing speed, Tyson began to shape the magnetic field around them. He created a tunnel of intensified magnetic force, stretching from their current position high into the atmosphere. The air around them began to crackle with energy, and a faint blue glow surrounded the ship.
The team felt a sudden increase in pressure inside the Marvel-1. Reed called out, "Tyson, what are you doing? Our instruments are going haywire!"
"Creating a magnetic railgun," Tyson grunted, his entire body trembling with the effort. "It's our best shot at getting you to orbit quickly."
Sue's concern was audible. "A railgun? Is that even possible on this scale?"
"We're about to find out."
He took a deep breath, centering himself. Then, with a massive surge of power, Tyson unleashed the full force of his makeshift railgun. The Marvel-1 and Tyson himself shot upward at an incredible speed, the acceleration pressing the ship's occupants back with crushing force.
The ship rocketed through the atmosphere, leaving a trail of ionized air in its wake. As they ascended, the sky rapidly darkened around them, the blue giving way to the inky blackness of space. Tyson struggled to maintain his concentration, fighting against the increasing g-forces and the strain of manipulating such enormous electromagnetic fields.
He couldn't focus on his magnetic shield at the same time, and was hit with the full force of his working. The air was driven from his lungs, and his skin felt like it was being sheared from his body.
Inside the ship, the Fantastic Four were being pushed to their limits. Johnny, usually quick with a quip, was silent, his face contorted as he tried to stay conscious.
Reed, somehow managing to look at the instruments, called out, "We're passing 50 kilometers! 60! 70! Keep going!"
Tyson's power was still strong, but he had another problem. When he launched them skyward, the air was forced from his lungs, and oxygen was thin after two miles. He'd left that far behind. Now, the edges of his vision grew dark. The Earth's curvature was clearly visible below them, a breathtaking sight he barely registered through his intense focus. He poured every ounce of his remaining strength into the magnetic field with one final push.
The Marvel-1 gave a final burst of speed, breaking free of the last wisps of Earth's atmosphere. They crossed the 100-kilometer mark, 62 miles, the official edge of space.
Inside the ship, Reed's triumphant voice rang out, "We've made it! We're in space!"
But the Marvel-1 kept moving, being pushed further from the Earth.
Sue said, "Tyson, you did it! You can let us go. Tyson… Can you hear us?"
His earpiece was lost during their ascent. Tyson couldn't hear them in the shuttle, and he couldn't tell how far he was from the surface. So he kept pushing, and pushing. He'd used the Earth's magnetic field to help form the railgun, while he could still use his power, he couldn't harness it at the same scale while in space. So, he did what he could to continue dragging the shuttle away. With empty lungs, his consciousness faded fast.
With a final burst of effort, he launched the Marvel-1 away from the Earth with as much force as he could muster.
Sue pulled up the external camera feed on the main viewscreen. The Phase 4 team huddled around, their eyes fixed on the image of Tyson floating in the vast emptiness of space.
"There he is!" Johnny exclaimed, pointing at the screen.
They watched as Tyson, barely visible against the backdrop of stars, turned back toward Earth. His movements were sluggish. He made a feeble attempt to propel himself, but it was clear he was struggling.
"He's not making any progress," Ben observed with concern.
Sue's eyes widened. "He's going to lose consciousness!" she cried out.
The team exchanged worried glances. They all knew the dangers of space exposure; the extreme cold, the lack of oxygen, the radiation. Even with Tyson's extraordinary healing abilities, there was no guarantee he could survive such harsh conditions for long.
Sue's voice was filled with determination as she declared, "We've got to go back for him!"
Johnny nodded emphatically, his usual bravado replaced by genuine concern. "We can't just leave him there," he insisted. "I don't care how fast he heals. He can't survive in space."
Ben grunted in agreement. "The kid just saved our lives and probably the whole planet. We owe him."
Reed, who had been silently analyzing the situation, finally spoke up. His face was a mask of conflicting emotions; gratitude for Tyson's sacrifice, concern for his safety, and worry about the unstable Tesseract energy coursing through their ship.
"Alright. We'll go back for him. Sue, can you plot a course? Ben, follow her directions. Johnny, get the grappler arm ready."
Sue nodded, her fingers already dancing across the navigation controls. "On it, Reed. Calculating our trajectory now."
As Sue worked to turn the ship around, Reed moved to the engine controls. He needed to make sure they could approach Tyson safely without risking further instability in the Tesseract-powered drive.
Suddenly, a surge of energy pulsed through the ship. The lights flickered, and the control panels lit up with warning signals.
"What's happening?" Johnny asked, his voice rising in alarm.
Reed's eyes widened as he read the incoming data. "It's the Tesseract," he explained hurriedly. "It must have activated fully. The lightspeed engine is powering up!"
"Can you stop it?" Ben asked.
Reed shook his head, desperately trying to regain control. "I'm trying, but the system's not responding. The energy output is off the charts!"
Sue looked up from the navigation panel, her face pale. "Reed, if we engage lightspeed now, we'll lose Tyson completely. We have to shut it down!"
But it was too late. The ship hummed with power, the vibrations increasing in intensity. Outside the viewports, the stars began to stretch into long, brilliant streaks of light.
"Brace yourselves!" Reed shouted.
The team barely had time to grab onto the nearest stable surface before the Marvel-1 lurched forward with incredible speed. The stars became a blur of light, streaking past them in a dizzying display.
In a matter of seconds, they were gone, leaving behind the Earth.
Tyson felt the ship disappear, just as he was losing consciousness; his sense of the metal faded in an instant. But just before it disappeared, he sensed something he didn't think was possible.
Adamantium?
Inside the ship? He'd spent weeks around the Marvel-1, and there was none of the indestructible metal used in its construction. None inside as he used his metal sense on it before he'd launched the ship. But still, it was there, and his final thought as the blackness engulfed his vision was wondering if he was hallucinating from lack of oxygen.
His unconscious form was left floating alone in the cold vastness of space.
— Rogue Redemption —
Fury's eye fixed on the feed from the Marvel-1 displayed on the large screen in Phase 1. The tension in the room was palpable as agents and scientists alike held their breath, watching the unfolding drama. Dr. Selvig darted between the monitors as he analyzed the data streaming from the Tesseract.
"Director, the Marvel-1 has breached the mesosphere," Selvig announced.
A collective sigh of relief rippled through the room. Nearby guards, maintaining a vigilant watch, allowed themselves a moment to glance at the screens to witness Tyson's heroic efforts. Fury's expression remained impassive, but his eye narrowed as he watched Tyson's face contorted with effort, his as he manipulated the metal of the ship, guiding it away from Earth's gravitational pull.
"He's doing it," an agent whispered, her voice filled with disbelief and admiration.
As if in response to her words, Selvig's voice rang out, "The Marvel-1 has achieved minimum safe distance!"
A cheer erupted from the assembled agents. Even the usually stoic guards nodded approvingly, their eyes gleaming with pride at Mirage's success. Fury allowed himself a small, grim smile. It was short-lived.
On the screen, Tyson's face suddenly went slack. And floated limply in space. The cheers died abruptly, replaced by a chorus of concerned murmurs and curses.
"Mirage is losing consciousness," Fury stated, his voice cutting through the noise. "Selvig, what's the status of the ship?"
Before Selvig could respond, the Tesseract pulsed violently. The cube's blue glow intensified, bathing the room in an eerie light. Alarms blared as energy readings spiked off the charts.
"The lightspeed drive has activated!" Selvig shouted over the cacophony of alarms and panicked voices. As if to punctuate his words, the feed from the Marvel-1 abruptly cut out, leaving only static on the screen. The silence that followed was deafening.
Fury's eye darted between the blank screen and the pulsating Tesseract. "Selvig, talk to me. What the hell just happened?"
Before the scientist could formulate a response, the Tesseract erupted. A beam of intense blue energy lanced out from the cube, striking the far wall of the facility. The energy from the coalesced, forming a swirling vortex of blue light. As it dissipated, two figures materialized, kneeling on the scorched floor of the facility. The assembled agents and scientists stood frozen, their eyes locked on the unexpected arrivals.
The first figure rose slowly. Adorned in ornate leather and metal armor, with golden accents. A long green cape cascaded from his shoulders, adding to his regal bearing. His face was pale, framed by long, dark hair that fell past his shoulders. His eyes scanned the room with a mixture of curiosity and disdain as he took in the shocked faces before him.
The gathered agents all recognized him. This was one of the threats Tyson had warned them about. One they had been preparing for.
Loki, the Asgardian, had arrived.
The second figure remained kneeling for a moment longer before rising to her full height. She was tall and statuesque, her presence commanding attention even next to her companion. Her armor was a combination of golden plates and red leather that hugged her athletic form. A white cape flowed from her shoulders. Her face was striking, with blue eyes. Long, red hair was braided intricately, falling over one shoulder and ending in a golden clasp.
In her right hand, she held a massive sword, making it look no heavier than a kitchen knife.
The tension in the room rose as Loki looked up, his face filled with manic intensity, and the twisted smile he wore sent chills down the spines of the assembled agents.
"Sir, please put down the spear." Fury called.
Loki's gaze shifted slowly from Fury to the scepter in his hand, as if considering the request. For a brief moment, the room held its collective breath, hoping that this intruder might comply. But knowing it was a long-shot.
The Asgardian thrust the scepter forward, aiming at one of the nearby agents. A brilliant burst of blue energy erupted from the weapon, streaking across the room. The agent had little time to react, but as soon as Loki began moving, so did the agent. The man hadn't been caught flat-footed, because he knew what he was up against.
Mirage's show had saved his life.
Chaos erupted. Agents scrambled for cover, reaching for their weapons.
The woman who had arrived with Loki sprang into action with inhuman speed. She leapt clear across the room, covering an impossible distance in a single bound. She drove her sword deep into the chest of a SHIELD agent who had barely managed to draw his sidearm.
Fury's eye widened in shock at the brutality and speed of the attack. He had faced countless threats in his career, but the raw power on display here was beyond anything he had encountered before, except maybe the Hulk.
As the woman yanked her sword free from her victim, her eyes already scanning for her next target, a voice rang out above the sound of battle and alarms.
"White-out!"
The shout came from one of the senior agents. In an instant, every human in the room squeezed their eyes shut, responding to the command with practiced efficiency.
This was one of Tyson's recommendations, drilled into them during the threat assessment sessions. His words echoed in their minds: "Conventional weapons like guns are pointless against Asgardians. Use something not directly physical, like flash bangs or sonic weapons. It might not work still, but attacking their senses should work better than attacking their body."
Even with their eyes closed, the agents could sense the sudden, blinding flash that filled the room. The light was so intense it penetrated their eyelids, leaving afterimages dancing in the darkness.
Loki let out a surprised snarl, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected tactic. His companion, in mid-leap towards another agent, faltered in her attack, her senses overwhelmed by the sudden burst of light and sound.
The blinding flash faded, leaving the room in a haze of confusion. Director Fury seized the opportunity.
He grabbed the Tesseract.
The glowing blue cube hissed and smoked as he grasped it, the energy pulsing against his gloved hand. He snapped open the nearby secure case and deposited the Tesseract inside.
Fury turned to leave, but before he could take a step, a voice cut through the din of alarms and groaning agents.
"Enough!" Loki's command was filled with frustration and barely contained rage. The scepter in his hand flared to life, unleashing a burst of energy that swept through the room like a shockwave. Agents were thrown off their feet, bodies slamming against consoles and walls.
The sword of his now-recovered female companion found its mark in the chest of an agent who had managed to stumble to his feet. The man's eyes widened in shock before his body crumpled to the floor.
Loki turned to his companion. "Angela, do please try to leave some of them alive."
Her eyes flashed with defiance momentarily, but she nodded curtly. Sheathing her sword, the blade slid home with a metallic hiss, but her pause was brief. In the next instant, she was among the remaining agents, her fists and feet becoming weapons just as dangerous as her blade.
Agents who had faced down some of the most dangerous threats on Earth found themselves outmatched. Angela's strength and speed were beyond human, her movements a blur as she disabled one opponent after another. Bones cracked, bodies flew through the air, and pained groans filled the room.
Agent Barton spotted Loki, the Asgardian's attention momentarily focused on Angela's display of brutality. Seizing what might be his only chance, Barton drew his sidearm and fired. Mirage had warned them that Asgardians were too strong to be vulnerable to bullets, so he targeted what might be weak points. One to each eye, the throat, groin.
Loki raised the scepter to cover his face, then dashed towards Barton. The agent drew a knife from his belt as he closed the distance. But Loki pivoted with inhuman speed, bringing the scepter up in a defensive stance. Barton's knife met only air as Loki sidestepped the attack. Before the agent could recover, Loki thrust the scepter forward, its tip pressing against Barton's chest. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Barton's eyes widened, then darkened, as if a shadow had passed behind them. When the darkness cleared, the fire of resistance had been extinguished, replaced by a blank compliance.
Loki's lips curled into a satisfied smirk as he turned his attention back to Fury. The SHIELD director was quietly trying to escape with the case containing the Tesseract.
"Please don't," Loki said, his voice deceptively soft. "I still need that."
"This doesn't have to get any messier."
A chuckle escaped Loki's lips, cold and mirthless. "Of course it does. I've come too far for anything else." He drew himself up to his full height, his presence filling the room.
"I am Loki of Asgard, and I am burdened with glorious purpose."
Fury's expression remained impassive, but his voice carried a hint of steel. "We know who you are. We have no quarrel with your people."
Loki's eyes glittered with amusement. "An ant has no quarrel with a boot."
"You planning to step on us?" Fury challenged.
"I come with glad tidings," Loki proclaimed, spreading his arms wide, "of a world made free."
"Free from what?"
"Freedom." Loki's voice was filled with conviction. "Freedom is life's great lie. Once you accept that, in your heart..." He turned suddenly, bringing the scepter to bear on Dr. Selvig, who stood frozen nearby. The tip of the scepter touched Selvig's chest, and his eyes briefly flashed black. "You will know peace."
Fury watched the transformation with growing alarm. "Yeah, you say peace, I kind of think you mean the other thing."
Above them, the energy from the Tesseract continued to build, the ceiling of the vacuum chamber pulsing with a swirling blue energy.
Barton spoke up. "Sir, Director Fury is stalling. This place is about to blow. Drop a hundred feet of rock on us. He means to bury us."
Fury's lip curled in a grim smile. "Like the Pharaohs of old."
Dr. Selvig consulted a nearby console. "He's right. The portal is collapsing in on itself. You got maybe five minutes before this goes critical."
Loki's eyes narrowed. "Well then." Without warning, he lunged at Fury. The SHIELD director, despite his years of training and experience, found himself outmatched by the Asgardian's speed and strength. He managed to block the first strike, but Loki's follow-up connected, knocking him back. Before Fury could mount a proper defense, he felt the cold touch of the scepter against his chest.
A chill ran through Fury's body, followed by a strange sense of calm. The world seemed to shift, priorities realigning themselves in his mind. Loki's voice cut through the fog, clear and commanding.
"Bring the Tesseract."
Fury automaticlly followed as he handed over the case. But even as he complied, a part of his mind, buried deep beneath the scepter's influence, continued to work.
"There are others," Fury heard himself say, "down the hall. Worthwhile recruits. We have the time."
Loki's eyes lit up with interest. "Quickly then," he commanded. "Lead me to them." He turned to his companion. "Angela, come."
As they moved through the facility, Loki paused briefly to touch another agent with the scepter, adding to his growing group of enthralled followers. The small procession made its way down the corridor, Fury in the lead, guiding them toward what he promised would be valuable assets to Loki's cause.
— Rogue Redemption —
The alarms blared incessantly, their shrill wails echoing through the corridors of the Joint Dark Energy Mission Facility. Hours had passed since the initial evacuation order, yet Dr. Karla Sofen stubbornly remained on-site.
"Dr. Sofen, I must insist you evacuate immediately," Agent Coulson urged.
Karla stood her ground, her blue eyes fixed on Coulson's. "My work here is critical. Some patients need me, especially in times of crisis."
Before he could respond, his comm device crackled to life. "Coulson, we've got incoming. High-priority arrival. Need you topside ASAP," a voice barked through the static.
With a resigned sigh, Coulson nodded. "Fine, Dr. Sofen. You can stay. But at the first sign of escalated danger, you're out. No arguments."
"Understood," Karla replied, watching as Coulson hurried away, no doubt to greet the arrival. Once he was out of sight, Karla's professional demeanor slipped, replaced by a sly smile. She turned on her heel and made her way towards Phase 3.
The security doors slid open with a soft hiss. Inside, Karla found Tyson standing vigil, his eyes fixed on the holding cell of Dr. Samuel Sterns.
"I thought you'd be long gone by now," he said.
Karla moved to stand beside him, "And miss all the excitement? Not a chance."
Sterns paced his cell like a caged animal, his eyes darted around, no doubt searching for any sign of what was causing the alarms.
"If there's anyone who could capitalize on an emergency situation, it's him," Tyson mused.
Karla cocked an eyebrow. "Why not go in and absorb him? Wouldn't that make you smarter, key you into any plans?"
Tyson shook his head. "Even going in there would give Sterns information. There's no need to. Better to let him stew and have his mind wandering about why the alarm is going off."
A moment of silence passed between them, broken only by the persistent wail of the alarms. He finally turned to Karla, his concern written on his face.
"Why'd you stay, doc? You know it's not safe. You should get out of here."
"I'm so close with Bloch. I'm hoping that this situation is the last push I'll need to get him to relent."
Tyson's gaze bore into her, searching for something beyond her words. "That's it?"
Karla met his stare confidently. "I'm not worried. I know you'll protect me."
"I have a bad feeling about this," he said. He glanced at the flashing lights and then back to Karla. "In and out, then you're out of here."
"I trust your instincts." Karla leaned in and pressed her lips against his. The kiss was brief but intense. As she pulled away, she whispered, "Promise."
Turning, she strode purposefully towards Bloch's cell. The security door slid open with a soft hiss, and she stepped inside.
Lloyd sat hunched on his cot, his head in his hands. The constant wail of the alarms seemed to have pushed him to the edge of his sanity. As Karla entered, he looked up, his eyes wild and unfocused.
"Dr. Sofen? What's happening?"
Karla approached him slowly, her hands raised in a placating gesture. "Lloyd, it's okay. I'm here to help you."
Karla knelt in front of him, her voice soft and soothing. "Lloyd, I need you to focus. We don't have much time. Whatever's happening out there, it's big. This might be our last chance to talk."
Bloch's eyes darted between Karla and the cell door. "Last chance? What do you mean?"
Karla leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a comfortable whisper. "Lloyd, we've been working together for months now. I've seen the progress you've made. It's remarkable, truly."
Bloch's unfocused eyes seemed to clear slightly at her words. He nodded slowly.
"You've come so far," Karla continued, her tone warm and encouraging. "Remember when we first started? You could barely string two sentences together without mentioning your powers. Now look at you. We've had sessions where you've talked about your childhood and hopes for the future. Normal things, Lloyd. Things that show you're ready to rejoin society."
A flicker of hope crossed his face, quickly replaced by uncertainty. "But... but I'm still here. Still locked up."
Karla nodded sympathetically. "I know, and I understand your frustration. You've served your time, Lloyd. You've paid for your crimes. The robberies, the assaults, those are in the past now. You've shown genuine remorse and a desire to change. In many ways, you're not the same man who committed those acts." She paused, letting her words sink in.
"But there's still one thing holding you back," Karla said gently. "The Moonstone. As long as you possess it, they won't release you. It's too powerful, too dangerous to be out in the world. You understand that, don't you?"
Bloch's hand instinctively went to his chest, where the Moonstone lay hidden beneath his prison jumpsuit. His fingers clutched at the fabric, his knuckles turning white.
"I... I can't," he whispered, his voice cracking. "It's part of me. I don't know who I am without it."
Karla reached out, placing her hand over his. "Lloyd, listen to me. The Moonstone doesn't define you. It never has. You are Lloyd Bloch. A man who's made mistakes, yes, but also a man who's shown incredible strength in facing those mistakes and working to overcome them. That's who you are. Not Nefarius, not a supervillain. Just Lloyd."
Bloch's grip on his chest loosened slightly. His eyes met Karla's, filled with a mixture of fear and hope.
"But what if... what if I give it up and they still don't let me go?"
Karla squeezed his hand reassuringly. "I'll fight for you, Lloyd. I'll make sure they see what I see. Someone ready for a second chance. But we can't even begin that process until you let go of the Moonstone. It's the first step, and it has to come from you."
Another tremor shook the facility, causing the lights to flicker ominously. Karla glanced towards the cell door.
Tyson was gone.
She noted his absence with a mix of concern and a deeper, fleeting expression that vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"What's happening out there?" Bloch asked, fear creeping back into his voice.
Karla turned back to him, her expression grave. "I don't know exactly. But it's big, Lloyd. That's why we need to act now."
She stood up, gently pulling him to his feet as well. "Think about it. If you give up the Moonstone now, in the middle of whatever crisis is happening, it shows how committed you are to change. It proves that even in chaos, your priority is doing the right thing. That's powerful, Lloyd. That's the kind of action that fast-tracks your release."
Bloch swallowed hard, his hand once again going to his chest. "I... I don't know if I can."
"You can," Karla insisted firmly. "I've seen your strength, Lloyd. I know you have it in you. This is your chance to prove to everyone, including yourself, that you're more than your past mistakes. That you're ready to be Lloyd Bloch again, not Nefarius."
Bloch's eyes widened in panic. "What if it's too late? What if-"
Karla cut him off, her voice urgent. "It's not too late. But we need to act now, Lloyd. This might be our last chance."
She pointed up at the flickering lights, her expression serious. "That's what I mean by last chance. Whatever's happening out there, it's escalating. We might not get another opportunity like this. It's now or never, Lloyd. Are you ready to take that step? To show the world, and yourself, who you really are?"
Bloch's hand trembled as it hovered over his chest. His eyes, wide with a mixture of fear and longing, darted between Dr. Sofen's encouraging gaze and the flickering lights above. The facility shuddered again, a low rumble accompanying the tremor.
"I... I've had this for so long," Bloch whispered, his voice barely audible over the persistent alarms. "It's been a part of me. My strength. My identity."
Dr. Sofen nodded sympathetically. "It's not easy to let go of something that's been with you for so long. But remember, the Moonstone doesn't define you. Your actions, your choices. That's what truly matters."
Bloch closed his eyes, taking a deep, shaky breath. When he opened them again, there was a newfound resolve in his gaze. "You're right," he said, his voice stronger now. "I'm more than this stone. I'm more than Nefarius."
The facility shook again, more violently this time. The lights flickered and dimmed, plunging the cell into momentary darkness.
Bloch's hand shook as he slowly reached into the front of his jumpsuit, his fingers tentative yet determined. A supernatural glow emanated from within the fabric, casting a soft radiance. With great care, he retrieved the source of the mystical light.
The Moonstone.
The lights sputtered back to life, illuminating a gem that was mesmerizing to behold. About the size of a small egg, it pulsed with vibrant cerulean energy, almost seeming to breathe as wisps of light swirled under its faceted surface. It was oval in shape, with a metallic silver band encircling it, etched with intricate symbols. It was a relic of immense power, a cosmic artifact that had become deeply intertwined with Bloch. He had kept it hidden these long years, but now it emerged again, called forth in this moment of reckoning. The Moonstone sat in Bloch's trembling hand, awaiting his decision.
Dr. Sofen's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the stone. A fleeting expression of hunger crossed her face before being replaced by her usual professional demeanor. "That's it, Lloyd," she encouraged. You're doing the right thing."
Bloch held the Moonstone in his palm, staring at it intently. The stone seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat, as if resisting the separation. "All the power," he murmured, "all the destruction I caused with this. And for what? Money? Fame?" He shook his head and laughed bitterly. "Imprisonment. I wasted my life. I was such a fool."
"You were misguided," Dr. Sofen corrected gently. "But you've learned from those mistakes. This moment, right here, proves that."
"I've hurt so many people," he said softly. "Destroyed so much. Can... can giving this up make up for all that?"
"It's a significant start. It shows your commitment to change, to making amends. That's what matters now. Not what you did in the past, but what you choose to do moving forward."
Another tremor shook the facility, more violent than before. The lights flickered ominously, plunging the cell into darkness for several long seconds before sputtering back to life.
"We're running out of time," Dr. Sofen urged, her voice taking on an edge of urgency.
Bloch closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. When he opened them again, his gaze had a newfound determination. "You're right," he said, "It's time to let go."
With a final, longing look at the Moonstone, Bloch extended his hand towards Dr. Sofen. The stone seemed to pulse brighter for a moment, as if making one last attempt to maintain its hold on him.
"Take it," he said. "Please, before I change my mind."
Dr. Sofen reached out, her fingers brushing against Bloch's as she gently took the Moonstone. As soon as it left his hand, Bloch let out a shuddering breath, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
"How do you feel?" Dr. Sofen asked.
Bloch slumped against the wall, suddenly looking exhausted. "Empty," he admitted. "But... lighter, somehow. Like I can breathe easier."
"That's normal, Lloyd. You've taken a huge step. It's okay to feel overwhelmed."
She carefully held the Moonstone. "I'll make sure this is properly contained and studied. Your cooperation today will go a long way in your case for release. I promise you that."
Bloch managed a weak smile. "Thank you, Dr. Sofen. For everything. I don't know if I could have done this without your help."
"You did all the hard work," she replied. "I just provided a little guidance along the way."
"Let's—" Her words were cut off by a deafening explosion that rocked the entire cell. The reinforced door, designed to withstand superhuman strength, suddenly buckled inward. With a screech of tearing metal, it was ripped from its hinges and sent hurtling into the cell.
Dr. Sofen's eyes widened in shock, but she didn't have time to react before the door slammed into them with devastating force. Bloch took the brunt of the impact, the edge of the door catching him squarely in the chest. The sickening sound of cracking ribs filled the air as he was thrown backwards, his body crumpling against the far wall of the cell.
Dr. Sofen fared a little better. The edge of the door clipped her shoulder and side. The Moonstone was knocked from her grasp, skittering across the floor as she spun. Her head connected with the hard concrete wall with a thud.
The alarms continued their incessant wailing, but inside the small room, there was only the sound of labored breathing and the occasional groan of pain.
Bloch lay crumpled on the floor, his chest rising and falling in short, painful gasps. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were unfocused, struggling to stay open.
Dr. Sofen slumped against the wall, her blonde hair matted with blood from a gash on her forehead. Her right arm hung at an unnatural angle, clearly dislocated or broken. The Moonstone lay just to her side.
Through the haze of pain and confusion, both Bloch and Dr. Sofen struggled to focus on the gaping hole where the cell door had once been. Heavy footsteps approached, accompanied by the sound of metal scraping against concrete.
An armored woman appeared in the doorway, backlit by the flickering emergency lights in the corridor beyond.