The world was moving quickly, the pieces shifting on the board. SHIELD had gathered its champions. Loki had been captured and was aboard the Helicarrier. But his plans were still unfolding outside SHIELD's grasp.
Alexander Carter was ready to make his next move.
The atmosphere on the Helicarrier was tense. The Avengers had assembled, but trust was scarce. Steve Rogers and Tony Stark barely saw eye to eye, Bruce Banner was struggling with his place in the team, and Natasha Romanoff remained wary of everyone.
Nick Fury observed them all, his mind occupied with multiple threats. Loki was their immediate concern, but Carter remained an enigma.
Maria Hill approached him with a new report. "Director, we have new intel on Carter."
Fury turned, his eye narrowing. "What's he up to?"
"Tracking Loki's allies. We've intercepted surveillance footage from an abandoned warehouse in Brooklyn. Carter was there, observing a group of mercenaries moving crates. Our analysts believe it's tied to one of Loki's secret operations—likely something he set in motion before we captured him."
Fury frowned. "So Loki's plans didn't stop just because he's in a cell."
Hill nodded. "And Carter figured that out before we did."
Fury exhaled. "Keep monitoring him. If he decides to act, I want to know."
A dimly lit warehouse stood at the edge of an abandoned shipping yard. Inside, a group of mercenaries moved swiftly, securing crates filled with stolen technology. Loki's human allies, still following the orders he had given before his capture.
Alexander crouched on the rafters above them, his violet eyes glowing softly in the darkness. He had followed the trail here, sensing the connection to Loki.
Vasili, materializing from the shadows beside him, whispered, "Do we eliminate them?"
Alexander shook his head. "Not yet. We need information."
Noctis smirked from the opposite side of the rafters. "And how do you propose we get it? Ask nicely?"
Alexander's smirk matched his own. "Not exactly."
Without another word, he dropped down.
The moment his feet touched the ground, the shadows responded. The dim lighting flickered, an unnatural coldness filling the room. The mercenaries barely had time to react before the abyss swallowed the exits.
A man reached for his gun—Alexander was already there. His fingers wrapped around the barrel, crushing it effortlessly before driving his knee into the man's ribs. A sickening crack echoed through the air.
Another mercenary charged, swinging a combat knife. Alexander sidestepped, twisting the man's wrist, making him drop the blade before slamming him into the ground.
The rest of them froze. They had seen death before—but not like this.
Alexander crouched next to one of the fallen mercenaries, his voice eerily calm. "Who are you working for?"
The man gasped, coughing up blood. "I—I don't know his name. We just—"
Alexander's fingers twitched. The shadows around the man deepened, shifting unnaturally. "Try again."
The mercenary's eyes widened in terror. "Loki! We—we're moving tech for Loki! We don't know why! He gave us coordinates before he got captured! Told us to prepare a transport!"
Alexander glanced toward one of the crates, his mind already piecing it together. Loki was securing tech, likely to stabilize the Tesseract's power, even from behind SHIELD's walls.
"Where is the transport going?"
The man hesitated.
Alexander didn't ask twice. The shadows around the man slithered up his body, constricting slightly. Not enough to kill—just enough to remind him of the abyss.
"A—a hidden base! Near the Manhattan Bridge! I swear that's all I know!"
Alexander released him, standing to his full height. "Then you're no longer useful."
Before the man could scream, he vanished into the abyss.
The remaining mercenaries scrambled, dropping their weapons. Some begged, some ran. None escaped.
Noctis landed beside Alexander, glancing at the carnage. "Well, that was effective."
Vasili folded his arms. "What now?"
Alexander's eyes flickered toward the exit. "We move. If Loki has a base near the bridge, we need to see what he's planning."
He stepped forward, the abyss shifting around him.
Time was running out. And the battle was approaching.
Back on the Helicarrier, Clint Barton reviewed the latest surveillance footage. The warehouse had been cleared completely. No bodies. No evidence.
"He got there first again," Barton muttered.
Natasha Romanoff leaned over his shoulder, watching the playback. "He's methodical. He doesn't kill unless necessary. But when he does…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
Nick Fury entered the room, his presence commanding immediate attention. "What's the status?"
Barton leaned back. "Carter eliminated every hostile in the area. No trace left. But we got audio."
He clicked a button, and the recording played:
"Where is the transport going?"
"A hidden base! Near the Manhattan Bridge!"
Hill exhaled. "He just gave us Loki's next move."
Fury's expression remained unreadable. "And he knew before we did. Again."
Romanoff crossed her arms. "So what do we do? Try to intercept him?"
Fury shook his head. "No. We let him go. If Carter's hunting Loki's allies, he'll lead us straight to their operations."
Barton frowned. "And if he decides to switch sides?"
Fury's jaw tightened. "Then we remind him why we don't tolerate wildcards."
Alexander stood atop a building overlooking the East River, his eyes locked on the bridge in the distance. Beneath it, Loki's forces were still gathering, unaware that their leader was already in a cage.
"It's starting," Vasili murmured beside him.
Alexander nodded. The invasion was coming.
Noctis grinned. "So. Do we fight or watch?"
Alexander smirked. "We fight."
The abyss swirled at his feet.
The time for patience was over. Now, the war would begin.
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