Skye couldn't bear to look anymore.
Were all men this childish?
One glance at the "Lucas vs. Tony" gaming war was enough; she turned back to her laptop and continued working.
Her contract with the securities company had reached the final stage—integrating the firewall.
Once she finished that last section, the remainder of her payment would hit her account.
---
A week later, Lucas, Gwen, and Skye arrived at Tony's Malibu home.
The yacht was already docked—
a massive twin-hull beauty, far larger than Tony's previous model.
You could bring ten more people aboard and still have elbow room.
Pepper and Tony were already waiting on deck.
As soon as Lucas's group boarded, the yacht departed from the marina.
"Hey, brought some fishing rods. Wanna try?"
Tony tossed one to Lucas.
The two settled into deck chairs under the sun—
fishing, relaxing, and enjoying life.
But while one side enjoyed leisure and sea breeze, another place was in absolute chaos.
---
S.H.I.E.L.D. — Classified Research Facility
Dozens of white-lab-coat researchers rushed between consoles.
Every instrument screen was flooding with data, all spiraling upward at alarming speed.
"Dr. Erik, the Tesseract's energy readings are rising uncontrollably—
it's approaching critical overload!"
A researcher thrust a tablet toward Dr. Erik Selvig.
This was the astrophysicist from the Thor incident—
now recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D. to study the Tesseract.
"Stabilize the Tesseract's output.
Open the energy transfer channel—start storage!"
He ordered sharply.
After months of study, Selvig still didn't know the cube's true purpose,
but he could extract energy from it.
The harvested energy was stored in small cube-shaped containers for weapon experiments.
Coulson observed from nearby, while Barton crouched silently on the overhead beams like a shadow.
"Barton, see anything unusual?"
Coulson asked.
With a soft thud, Hawkeye dropped from above—expression as unreadable as ever.
"No."
And the moment he spoke—
BEEP—BEEP—BEEP—BEEP—!!
Every alarm in the room went off at once.
Screens flashed warnings, lights strobed, and the Tesseract began to tremble violently as energy poured out of it.
"Doctor! The Tesseract has exceeded safe output levels!
We need to shut down the power feed immediately!"
"Cut power to the Tesseract!
Everyone, move away!"
Selvig barked.
Coulson and Barton immediately regrouped beside him.
"Doctor, what's happening?
Why is the cube flaring up like this?"
Coulson wasn't a scientist, but even he could see this was very, very bad.
"The Tesseract has been activated."
Selvig replied grimly—
though he didn't know how.
Because the activation…
came from the other side.
"Activated? By who?"
Nick Fury entered just in time to hear that.
"No idea.
But based on our research—
the Tesseract is a transportation device."
"A portal?" Fury asked, face darkening.
"Can you determine the destination?"
"Not yet.
We don't even know how it was activated.
But since it wasn't us…
someone—or something—did it from the other side."
Before Fury could respond—
BOOOOM!!
A surge of energy exploded outward.
The entire facility shook violently as if struck by a quake.
As the tremor faded, the cube suddenly unleashed a massive beam of blue energy.
It extended several meters, then expanded—
forming a glowing blue circular portal.
Energy gathered, increased, intensified—
Then—
KRA-KOOM!!
The portal exploded outward like a burst balloon.
A wave of wild energy crashed through the room, throwing every agent and researcher to the floor.
Electronics shorted instantly.
And as the light faded—
A figure stood at the center.
A tall man in a dark green robe lined with golden runes.
Long black hair.
A slender frame hiding sharp, coiled strength.
A curved scepter in his hand, topped with a glowing gem.
Loki Odinson — Prince of Asgard.
---
"Sir, please put down the spear."
Nick Fury faced him, voice cold.
Loki glanced down at his scepter.
Then, without warning, he raised it—
A blast of energy shot out and cratered the floor beside Fury.
Had Fury not moved instantly, he'd have been vaporized.
BANG! BANG! BANG!!
Agents opened fire from all directions.
Bullets rained toward Loki—
But with a flicker of blue light, a shimmering barrier materialized.
Every bullet bounced harmlessly off.
Energy blasts erupted.
Gunfire answered.
The entire facility descended into chaos—
machines shattered, metal warped, debris flew everywhere.
One by one, the agents were knocked out by Loki's power—
none could even remain standing.
Hawkeye struck suddenly from the darkness—
but Loki caught him effortlessly and twisted his arm.
"Your heart is troubled…"
Loki smiled coldly, then tapped the scepter to Barton's chest.
WHUM—
Blue energy flowed into Barton.
His eyes darkened—
then cleared again, but now gleamed with a new, unnatural obedience.
He stepped behind Loki, silent and still.
Meanwhile, Fury edged toward the Tesseract, quickly lifting it into its containment case.
He tried to slip away—
"I wouldn't do that."
Loki's voice cut through the room.
He turned, eyes gleaming like a serpent's.
"I still need it.
After all—
that is why I came such a long way."
Fury froze.
Slowly, he turned back toward Loki, meeting the prince's frigid gaze.
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