Special Agent 2: The Dark Soldier

Chapter 67

Horror washed over Loki as he saw Jane fall, saw her facial features go slack as she collapsed into the cold embrace of death. For a moment, his vision fractured and went red, and all he saw was Bishop falling, her eyes lifeless. Then the crimson cleared and it was Jane, Jane who was falling, Jane who was dying.

For a moment, Loki was grateful.

Then he realized that though it wasn't his love who was shot, it was his brother's love.

"Jane!" Thor screamed. He charged forward, and Loki thought he was going to attack the group, but he didn't. Dropping Mjolnir, he slid to his knees beside Jane's fallen form as the hammer thudded to the ground, carefully gathering her to him.

Loki shifted his gaze to the new invading force. He recognized the leader: Ronan the Accuser, another hand of Thanos. He was like Loki; someone who felt they were owed something by a world and would do anything for the Mad Titan in exchange for his help conquering it. Next to him, lowering her pistol, was Nebula, daughter of Thanos.

Damn.

"The Power Stone, now," Ronan repeated, his gaze focusing on Loki. The amethyst gem gleamed from the middle of the scepter blade, and Loki could feel its strength vibrating down the staff. His mind was being drawn toward it, and he knew that in the moments before Ronan's arrival the Stone's influence had been pulling at him, seeking to subdue him. Between the Aether coiling inside him, humming from his recent synchronization with Caitlyn Todd, and now the Power Stone, ensconced in the head of his scepter, Loki almost felt overwhelmed by the sheer power within his grasp.

No. No, no, no. Don't succumb. Don't!

With difficulty, Loki wrenched his mind away from the Power Stone's seductive pull, zeroing in on Ronan. He wracked his brain, running through everything he remembered about the Kree fanatic. Strong and powerful – good warrior – used to be part of Starforce – favored by Thanos. Currently, he had no Infinity Stone, no external source of power as far as Loki knew – whereas the Asgardian had two.

One and a half, but still.

"No," Loki told Ronan. "I'm not handing this over, Ronan."

"Thanos orders it," Ronan said, his eyes glowing with intensity. "Thanos will punish those who do not obey."

Did I sound that insane when I invaded Midgard? "I stopped listening to Thanos a while ago. You should try it, it's quite liberating."

Ronan scowled. "You will regret this, Asgardian!"

"Yeah, I don't think so." Lifting the scepter, Loki fired a blast of amethyst energy at Ronan.

The Kree slammed the blast aside with the head of his hammer, charging toward Loki. The god of mischief felt the surge of power within him, scarlet and amethyst merging together to make him stronger than everyone present.

Including Ronan.

Loki slashed at Ronan the Accuser, the tip of his scepter lighting with purple and red sparks. The Kree parried the blow with his hammer, but he was forced back a step.

The warriors with Ronan began firing on the others, NCIS, Wilson, Kate, Carter, and Hill returning fire. Thor was still holding Jane, lost to the rest of the world. Rogers, Tekahionwake, and Mordo charged into combat, followed by Quill, Drax, Rocket, Groot, and Gamora. Hailstohm was running forward determinedly, shouting, "Loki!"

Loki didn't have time to see why she was yelling. He was too caught up in his duel with Ronan. He couldn't draw too strongly on the power of the Infinity Stones, or he knew his mind would go under. He could sustain only so much of their energy; too much, and his body would crumble away to ash.