Bend Around the Wind by Scyllaya

Chapter 88: Liberate Part 3

Chapter Eighty-Eight

Liberate Part III

Milky Way Galaxy

Sol System

Nine Realms / Planet Earth

'I detect Bifrost activity above the city, Sir,' JARVIS reported.

The city would be safe. That was one of the mantras Tony kept repeating in his head over and over again. The city would be safe. There were more than enough people down there fighting. Not just the Avengers, but Bee, Juyu, Drongo and Hatchet, the freaking marines, a bunch of Fae, and now even Thor. Maybe he brought back-up too. The city would be safe.

'Regrettably, I need to remind you, Sir, that the time you have been given by the Other is almost up.'

Tony sighed loudly, because he definitely did not need a reminder of that, he was painfully aware of every single second that passed since he's been given that particular ultimatum. Same song, new verse, the Other already had Loki, now he wanted him to surrender as well. Did he actually have a choice? Not really.

'What is the suggested course of action, Sir?' JARVIS asked.

That was the big question. He's been desperately trying to come up with something. He knew that surrender was not an option. Not just because everything in him rebelled against the very idea, but also because Loki would have been angry beyond words if Tony gave himself up. He could so clearly picture the look on Loki's face if Tony just said "screw it" and marched over to the Other with his hands in the air. Loki wouldn't just be furious. He would be disappointed in him. He could never surrender, especially not when it would not even free Loki.

Tony managed to win some time as soon as the battle on the ground started. He had to know how dangerous the situation actually was for Earth. As time passed Tony couldn't help but think that Loki's plan worked. Well, everything but the part where Loki was supposed to slip away from the Other. Such bullshit. Every other part of the plan worked flawlessly, why couldn't this work as well?

'Sir, your time is almost up, what is your next step?' JARVIS asked again, a little more urgently.

Well, he couldn't surrender and he couldn't run, so that left only one option.

'We're going to fight,' he said determinedly. There was no doubt in his mind that Loki would be more than angry about this option as well, but there really was no other choice left for him. He hoped to never be forced to make a decision like this. Actually see whether he would risk Earth or a city as big as San Diego for Loki, because he wasn't sure about the answer.

Right now he only knew that the one true threat was the Other's ship. Not the soldiers on the flying chariots and their guns, they were going to be defeated, no question about it. The sole threat was the ship that had Loki inside.

The funny thing was; he didn't even know whether he was risking the city for Loki or risking Loki for the city. It all depended on how he looked at it.

'How do you intend to launch your attack, Sir?' JARVIS asked.

'How many ships from the Pacific Fleet are currently down in the harbour?' Tony asked.

'The current numbers are thirteen destroyers, six cruisers, four frigates and seven amphibious assault ships, there are a few other smaller combat ships as well. Would you like a more detailed list?'

'No, I know enough,' Tony said. This was not bad at all. Of course, it could've been better. 'I want you to connect me to every single battle ship under us. I need to be able to talk with everyone in charge. And make it quick, we don't have much time.'