Avengers Assemble (Part 1)

The night wind in New Mexico carried the scorched smell of earth.

At the edge of the crater, the temporary command center was brightly lit. Nick Fury's face was darker than the night, one hand pressed against the table, his knuckles white.

Maria Hill strode in.

"Sir, the assessment is complete." Her voice was tight. "Ninety percent of the base has collapsed. All the data is gone. We're still counting casualties, but it won't be pretty."

Fury said nothing, staring at a red dot on the screen.

It was the Cosmic Cube's last signal, located in Stuttgart, Germany.

"We found him." Fury's voice was heavy.

"Loki is in downtown Stuttgart, apparently attending a dinner party." Hill's tone was incredulous.

"He's not there to eat." Fury said coldly. "He's showing off. Provoking us. Telling us he's here, and we can't stop him."

Phil Coulson stood to one side, pale-faced. He looked at Hawkeye's grayed-out icon on the screen.

"Clinton..." he murmured.

"He's only under control." Fury's tone was hard. "We'll bring him back."

He took a deep breath.

"Activate the Avengers Protocol."

Hill froze. "Sir? Now? That assessment report said they're a group of ticking time bombs."

"Right now, we're standing on an even bigger bomb called Loki." Fury turned, his one eye sweeping over everyone present. "I don't care whether they're monsters, gods, or frozen popsicles. I need them."

He began issuing orders, speaking rapidly.

"Hill, track Loki. Lock down his position and prepare to apprehend him. I want to know what he's doing every minute, every second."

"Yes, sir."

"Coulson."

"Here."

"Go see Stark." Fury tossed him a tablet. "Show him the files. Tell him the party's started, and he needs to be there."

Coulson caught the tablet. "What if he refuses?"

"He will," Fury said. "That's why you're