Special Agent 2: The Dark Soldier

Chapter 37

Wind whipped past Gibbs as he and Rogers fell toward the glass skylight below them, spider-webbing across the roof, the shield the only thing between them and impact. It was not looking good, from Gibbs' point of view.

A streak of red and grey hurled toward them from the ground and Gibbs narrowed his eyes, his first thought being missile. Then he saw the flapping red cloak and knew immediately who was flying toward them.

Thor.

The god grabbed the back of Gibbs' jacket, yanking him away from Rogers. Rogers continued to fall toward the skylight below as Thor headed back toward the ground, gripping Gibbs' jacket. Below, balanced on the girders between the glass panes, stood Hailstohm, who leaped into the air as the captain approached her, grabbing him out of the air and turning their momentum into a roll as they hit the skylight, cracking it but not breaking it completely as they skidded down the side of the building.

Loki stood on the ground, impatiently watching his brother and the frost giantess land, his gun in one hand and a dagger in the other. Gibbs staggered as Thor released him, catching his balance as Hailstohm let go of Rogers and the Avenger steadied himself on his feet.

"We got them, McGee," Loki said, tapping the comm in his ear. He addressed Gibbs. "Where are Bishop and DiNozzo?"

"STRIKE," Gibbs said, drawing his gun.

"Rumlow took them, said something about security measures," Rogers filled in, glancing around him, tensing for a fight. "We should go."

"Not without Ellie and Tony," Loki snarled. "McGee, I need to get to the STRIKE wing. Thor, Hailstohm, on me."

"They're going to be on top security, Loki," Rogers tried to warn.

Loki just looked at him. "I may not be the proudest of it, but if anyone can singlehandedly take down a SHIELD location just by showing up, it's me."

"And me," Thor asserted.

Aggravated, Loki lifted an eyebrow at him. "No, you were captured at a SHIELD location. You didn't succeed. I toppled the entire place, leveled it."

"I'm coming with you," Gibbs said, and Loki nodded.

"I guess I'm in," Rogers said. "But we better make this fast."

****

Thor hurled Mjolnir through the doors, shattering them from the force of the weapon as they charged through. The hammer returned to Thor's grip as Loki and Gibbs, their guns up, fired at the STRIKE agents running toward them.

"Enough of this," Hailstohm declared, lifting her hands. Daggers of pure ice shot from her fingertips and sliced through the bulletproof vests, downing several agents at once. Between the four Avengers and one frost giantess, the STRIKE agents didn't stand a chance.

"Captain, lead the way," Loki requested, gesturing for Rogers to take the lead. "You know how to find STRIKE's quarters, I presume?"

Rogers nodded and assumed the lead position, Thor shifting to the side. Any SHIELD agents who attempted to stop the motley crew were blasted with ice, hit with one of Loki's daggers, struck by Mjolnir, slammed by a shield, or shot down by a bullet. With McGee having managed to successfully hack into SHIELD's mainframe and causing mayhem in their systems, they met with fairly inconsequential resistance.

"Cameras are down along your entire route, as well as in some other sections," McGee said into Loki's ear. "Don't want them to anticipate your destination."

"Do you have eyes on Bishop and DiNozzo?" Loki inquired.

"Give me a second," McGee requested. "Okay, they are still in the STRIKE quarters, but it looks like they're gearing up. I'll see if I can hack into their comms and tell them you're coming."