ΣΙΓΜΑ and Avengers Phase I

Chapter VI: Revealing Secrets

Loki is forced into handcuffs and led through the helicarrier by S.H.I.E.L.D. police. On their way to the prison section, they pass the labs where Bruce Banner is analyzing the scepter he was just given. Loki looks through the glass and smiles wickedly at Bruce, who looks down and rubs his head to deal with the stress.

The adopted prince is pushed into a glass container and relieved of his handcuffs. Nick Fury walks into the room and up to the control panel of the cell.

"In case it's unclear. You try to escape, you so much as scratch that glass." Nick Fury presses a button on the panel and the floor opens below Loki's cage. "Thirty thousand feet straight down in a steel trap. You get how that works? Ant. Boot."

Nick gestures to Loki as he says 'ant' and then to the control panel as he says 'boot'. Loki laughs. "It is an impressive cage. Not built, I think, for me."

"Built for something a lot stronger than you." Nick responds, trying to tell Loki how insignificant he is.

"Oh, I've heard." Loki's smirk widens as he turns his head to stare into the security camera. "The mindless beast, makes play he's still a man. How desperate are you to call upon such lost creatures to defend you?"

"How desperate am I? You threaten my world with war. You steal a force you can't hope to control. You talk about peace, and you kill because it's fun. You have made me very desperate. You might not be glad that you did." Nick's voice changes its tone to sounding more sinister at the end.

"It burns you to come so close." Loki starts walking around his cell, trying to get Nick fired up. "To have the Tesseract, to have power, unlimited power, and for what? A warm light for all of mankind to share, and then to be reminded of what real power is."

Nick Fury holds his smile and starts walking out of the room. "Well, let me know if Real Power wants a magazine or something."

In the main briefing room of the helicarrier, the assembled group of heroes watch the surveillance footage cut off. The last thing they see is Loki smirking at the camera. Silence takes over the room until Bruce can't take it anymore. "He really grows on you does he?"

"Loki is threatening this world and I'm going to find out why." Agent Virgo walks up to the table and leans forward on it, her black and purple hair falling over her shoulders.

"Pfft, I can tell you why." Lauren leans back on the grey wall and points her thumb over to Thor. "He's goldilock's brother."

"But waging war on an entire planet over a sibling rivalry?" Agent Virgo stands up straight and crosses her arms over her chest. "Am I the only one getting weird vibes here? Something doesn't add up."

"We can keep that as a possibility, but let's not jump to conclusions just yet." Steve says then turns to Thor. "So, what's his play?"

Thor looks down with his arms crossed, still a bit hurt that Loki is doing this to the planet he loves. "He has an army called the Chitauri. They are not of Asgard or any world known. He means to lead them against your people. They will win him the Earth. In return, I suspect, for the Tesseract."

"An alien army?!" Wendy's eyes widen and looks at the others, but everyone seems to be taking this pretty calmly. The female clears her throat and shrugs her shoulders. "Yeah, sure, why not? I can fight an alien army in my sleep."

"How would he even get the army here, though? If no world has heard of this Chitauri group, then they can't be nearby." Lauren's green eyes glisten as she doesn't fully believe the story.

"The same way Loki got here in the first place." Bruce concludes. "So, he's opening another portal. That's what he needs Erik Selvig for."

"Selvig?" Thor finally looks up, now startled upon learning the news that Erik has been brainwashed by Loki.