Avengers: The Last Airbender

Chapter 25: A Skirmish In Stuggart

-----------------------------Somewhere Underground----------------------------

In an isolated facility, Selvig had got to work building a machine that could stabilize the Tesseract in order to open a portal for Loki's impending army. Apparently one crucial reagent he was missing was Iridium. Loki approaches the scene to check up on Selvig's progress. "This is wonderful," Selvig says with a smile on his face, ""The Tesseract has shown me so much, it's more than knowledge, it's truth. "I know," Loki replies, "It uh...it touches everyone differently." "It touched us differently alright," Sokka quips in as he and Leah haul the last bit of supplies for Selvig. "I believe these were the other parts you required, Dr. Selvig?" Leah asks. "Uh, yes set them over there," Selvig points to where they needed to go. "It's quite impressive how you were able to channel the Tesseracts powers, Leah," Loki notices with awe, "You could practically take it into your veins and turn it into something more. That's never worked with anyone else before." Leah thinks about it, "Have you tried using it on a Firebender? Or any other kind of bender for that matter." "Maybe," Loki ponders, "Maybe it's something else. The moment I met you I knew there was something about you," he steps closer, "You feel pain, and I'm not talking about the pain from your unjust captivity in the Fire Nation." Leah hangs her head, knowing what he was talking about, "If this plan of yours works, would you be able to help me seek justice for my mother?" Loki grins widely, "My dear, with the Tesseract, we could accomplish so much more than that."

He turns to Clint, "What did it show you, Agent Barton?" "My next target," Clint simply replies. "Haha, stick in the mud, he's got no soul," Selvig chuckles. "That would explain why he chose this tomb to work in," Sokka states which earns a emotionless glare from Clint, "Well the radisson doesn't have three levels of lead line flooring between S.H.I.E.L.D. and that cube," he counters. Selvig just nods in understanding and resumes his work. "I see why Fury chose you to guard it," Loki tells Clint. "You're going to have to contend with him, sir," Clint responds, "As long as he's in the air, I can't pin him down. He'll be putting together a team." "They a threat?" Loki asks. "To each other more than likely." "Please," Sokka scoffs, "If they're anything like what we faced not too long ago it'll be a piece of cake." "Not unless Fury can get them on track which he might," Clint points out, "Then they could throw some noise our way.""You admire Fury," Loki notices. "He's got a clear line of sight," Clint admits. "Is that why you failed to kill him?" "It might be. I was disoriented...and I'm not at my best with a gun." "I remember," Sokka quips with sarcasm, "You always preferred your fancy arrows and such, leaving the Fire Nation savages and myself at a complete disadvantage." "I want to know everything you can tell me about this team of his," Loki instructs Clint, "I would test their mettle. We've been scuffling in shadow. I mean to rule this world...not burrow in it." "It's a risk," Clint states which made Loki grin widely. "Oh yes." "You're set on making yourself known, it could be useful." "Tell me what you need," Loki says with enthusiasm. "I need a distraction," Clint whips out his bow, "And an eyeball." As Clint leaves, Leah and Sokka are about to follow but Loki stops the two teens, "Before we set the plan in any further motion, I'll need the two of you to tell me everything you know about your friend." "Which one, we have at least dozens," Sokka asks. Loki just chuckles, "Oh, you're an intelligent young man, Sokka, I think you know exactly whom I'm talking about."  

------------------------------Time Skip to Stuggart, Germany------------------------------------------------------

The fancy conference-like event was in full swing as Loki, dressed rather sharply, descended the steps towards his unsuspecting target. Meanwhile, outside Clint and Sokka make their way past security and lie in wait for Loki to make his play. Inside, Loki uses his cane-disguised scepter to knock one man outta the way, and flip the speaker onto a stone table. Using a gadget, he gouges the man's eye. Scan of the eye from the gadget was transferred to Clint, which allowed him and Sokka access to a compartment containing Iridium. The guests inside flee in terror bringing much delight to the Asgardian.

Aang wandered around a little while longer with Momo. Suddenly the lemur's ear perk up and starts chattering in excitement before taking off. "Momo, wait up!" Aang calls as he tries to catch with him. Suddenly Momo stops and shrieks in alarm causing Aang to stop right where he was.

Suddenly, Aang saw people running in panic outside a building. Aang sneaks around a corner for a closer view. Sure enough the same strange man that had abducted Sokka and Leah strutted outside wearing some sort of armor, complete with a green cape and a horned helmet. Cars approach but he merely blasts them out of the way with his scepter. "Kneel before me," he demands as more images of him surround the terrified people. "I said...KNEEL!" he demands even louder. At once the crowd did as he command. He smiles, relishing in how easy he could command these beings. "Is not this simpler?" he speaks to the crowd of his would-be subjects, "Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity. That you crave subjugation. The bright allure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power...for identity...you were made to be ruled. In the end...you will always kneel."

Aang was about to take a few steps towards the crowd before he saw an elderly man stand up and face this invader. "Not to men like you," he says with a calm yet firm tone. "There are no men like me," Loki scoffs. "There are always men like you." "Look to your elder, people," Loki smirks, before raising his scepter, "Let him be an example." Just as Aang was about to step in and face the shot, someone else shows up and blocks the man with a shield, and redirects the blast at Loki. In that moment Aang knew whose shield it belonged to and who was wielding it at this moment. 

"You know, last time I was in Germany," Steve began, "and saw a man standing up there in front of everybody else, we ended up disagreeing." "The soldier," Loki sneers, "The man out of time." "I'm not the one who's out of time," Steve counters as an armed quinjet hovers over the building. "Loki, dropped the weapon and stand down," a female voice was heard from the jet's speaker. Aang recognized that voice to be Natasha's. Loki retaliates by sending a blast at the jet which dodged outta the way. Steve throws his shield at Loki followed by a punch to the face as the crowd flees. Loki clashes his scepter against Steve's shield, and knocks it outta Steve's hand. Steve puts his combat training to use but is knocked down by the scepter again. When he tries to get up, Loki pins him down with the scepter, "Kneel," he commands. "Not today!" Aang shouts sending a large gust of wind at Loki, blowing him away like a leaf. Aang comes up to Steve and helps him up. "Perfect timing, kid," Steve says. Loki gets right back up and Aang and Steve fight him once more.

On the quinjet, Natasha does her best to try and lock the jet's weapon on Loki. "Guy's all over the place," she mumbles as she witnesses the fight from the jet, Steve clashing his shield against Loki's scepter and Aang, whom surprised Natasha by his appearance on the scene, clashed his staff against the scepter followed by more gusts of wind from his palms. Right when Loki had tossed Steve backwards, Nat hears AC/DC music coming from the jet's communications. "Agent Romanoff," she recognized that voice to be Tony Stark, "You miss me?"

Loud music was overheard from the jet's PA system. Aang and Loki look up at the sky and see what appeared to be an armored man with jet propulsions flying towards him. As he lands, he sends a couple propulsions from his hands at Loki which knocked him down right quick. Both Aang and Steve were in complete shock. "Make your move, Reindeer Games," he challenges weapons coming out of his armored hands, arms, and shoulders. Loki's helmet and cape disappear as he holds his hands up in surrender, "Good move." "Mr. Stark," Steve greets. "Captain," Stark greets back. "Wait, you guys know each other?" Aang questions in slight confusion. "Only by reputation," Steve replies.