Avengers: Some Assembly Required

At War

"I know I've already asked you this a few times, but when exactly did the boyfriend say he would be back?" Fury said as he and Dean traveled by jet.

Dean rested his head against the cool window. "He just said he was going to stay on Asgard for Loki's trial and sentencing."

"Yeah? Well Loki is here, so why hasn't Thor followed him?"

"I don't know...it's not like there's some inter-dimensional cell phone! Unless there's another cube with unknown powers that you've been tampering irresponsibly with."

"You know I only let you talk to me like this because of your parents, right?"

"Seriously, Fury, what was S.H.I.E.L.D. thinking messing with something like that?"

"That device is pure energy, Dean. Think about it. A limitless energy source for us to draw from. Think about the type of impact that can have on the planet?"

Dean looked out the window. "With it being in Loki's hands, that's exactly what I'm afraid of."

Fury ignored Dean's remark and turned to Coulson. "Is Romanoff in position?"

"She's on her way to pick up Banner now."

"Good. What's the status of Rogers?"

Coulson skimmed through his tablet. "According to recent updates he's up and going. Currently beating the shit out of some punching bags in a local gym."

Fury nodded and smiled. "I'd say he's good and thawed out by now." He then looked to Dean. "If Thor is going to return to earth then I'm sure he'll go for one of two people- you or Loki."

"With the threat Loki poses here, it'll likely be him," Dean spoke up as he turned back to the other two men. "When he first appeared there was an energy spike left behind from the Bifrost. S.H.I.E.L.D. noted the signature. I'll mobilize a team to track it and Loki. Whichever one shows up first is where we'll go."

The jet rapidly approached a massive structure that hovered in the sky. The S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier was a marvel of modern technology. It was command center that could sustain flight due to the support of four massive turbine engines of Stark design. Though it was a sight to behold, Dean had little interest in admiring the large display of advanced technology. He had a mission.

While Fury took a jet to Steve Rogers' location and Coulson went to New York to speak directly with Tony Stark, Dean approached a small team of agents and delivered their objectives as they boarded another jet.

"Like Fury has already explained, we're at war," Dean stated plainly as the others strapped in. "I'm assuming you've all read my report on the New Mexico mission so I'll just give you the developments that have happened. Loki of Asgard is on earth. He appeared in the Tesseract Research Base and used some kind of weapon to mentally enslave several of our agents."

The agents looked at Dean with a mixture of suspense and disbelief.

"Loki and the agents are in possession of the tesseract and their location is unknown at this time, though a slight trace of gamma radiation is following in its wake. Being that he's the leading expert on gamma radiation, we're hoping that Dr. Banner can assist with that when Romanoff brings him to the helicarrier."

"What are we going to do, sir?"

Dean pointed to the monitoring equipment that had been loaded into the jet. "With Loki on earth it's highly likely that Thor will follow." Unless something really bad happened during Loki's breakout, he thought. "When he last appeared on earth, a distinct energy signature appeared. That same energy appeared again when the Destroyer and the other Asgardians arrived, when we all went to Asgard, and when I came back to earth."

"So we're tracking that same energy," an agent surmised as he began typing on the monitor. A global view appeared and he adjusted the frequency to that of the energy they were seeking. "Okay, she's tuned in. If Thor comes around, she'll pick up that signature."

"We'll remain airborne and track from the skies. I want one of you to continue monitoring for Thor's arrival and the rest keeping tabs on any footage of Loki. Get into every cell phone, every surveillance camera."

He sat back in his chair and reached for the metal disc he kept with him. A piece of Thor's armor. He had given it to him as a token of his promise to return to earth. He clutched the metal and hoped.