After settling Natasha in, Lynn paused slightly. The Helicarrier's propulsion system was gradually restarting, and the low hum of the engines re-igniting came from below the deck, the vibrations spreading throughout the metal hull. The entire tilting and swaying ship was slowly straightening its posture and returning to stability.
It seems Coulson's time to strike has come.
He closed his eyes, unleashing the full power of Maxwell's Demon's perception, silently penetrating every corner of the mothership. The flow of detection information extended along the cold metal corridors and crisscrossing pipes, quickly locking onto familiar life and energy signals.
Tony and Rogers ' locations were clearly visible; the two were in the engine room, obviously rushing to repair the turbine unit severely damaged by Hawkeye. Banner's vital signs disappeared from perception; he must have experienced freefall again. It seems that getting him to reconcile with Hulk beforehand was effective. Hulk was clearly still somewhat traumatized. Thor's heavy lightning energy fluctuations emanated from the lower hull, accompanied by an even colder, more cunning energy aura—undoubtedly Loki.
Lynn slowly withdrew his senses, having no intention of chasing after Tony and Rogers. Engine Stark and Rogers were already taken care of; his presence would only be a burden, offering no help whatsoever. He turned and walked slowly towards the lower detention area, his detection abilities activated throughout, scanning and locating his destination quickly.
The specially made glass cage still stood in its place, but the person inside had changed. Loki, who should have been imprisoned, stood in front of the external control panel, his slender fingers hovering above the hatch unlock button, a knowing, knowing smile on his face. Inside the cage, only Thor remained, standing alone.
The two brothers faced each other across a pane of glass. Thor's voice was deep and earnest, unhurried, as he recounted their thousand-year-long bond, attempting to awaken the last vestiges of conscience in Loki's heart with their past affection.
Loki listened intently, scrutinizing every emotion on Thor's face with a half-smile, thoroughly savoring his sincere words and weighty past, before dismissing them all with a nonchalant air, showing no mercy whatsoever.
Lynn remained hidden in the shadows around the corner of the corridor, observing quietly without revealing himself. He knew exactly how the story would unfold; it would be nothing new.
He muttered to himself, "No surprises at all. Oh well, too lazy to watch the script replay."
As soon as he finished speaking, steady, disciplined footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor. Coulson, holding a modified, amplified large phase gun, walked steadily out from around the corner, the muzzle pointed directly at Loki's back. He stood tall and straight, his expression resolute, his eyes revealing a determination that had already made its choice, as if he were about to sacrifice himself for a cause, ready to stage a classic heroic finale.
Lynn didn't give him a chance to recite his righteous lines.
With a slight flick of his fingertips, a circle of orange-red sparks suddenly bloomed beneath Coulson's feet, and a small instantaneous teleportation portal was precisely formed. The next second, Coulson vanished into thin air, even the phase gun in his hand hovered in mid-air for a fraction of a second before falling into the portal along with him.
The next instant, a corresponding teleportation exit popped up on the other side of the corridor. Coulson slammed sideways onto the metal floor, his back and the back of his head hitting the cold deck hard. The phase gun landed with a crisp clang.
The fall was quite severe, with a dull thud. But compared to the original storyline where Loki's Scepter pierced his heart and he died on the spot, trading a fall for a life is a huge win no matter how you look at it.
Lynn stepped forward and knelt down, lightly placing his fingertips on Coulson's neck pulse. The rhythm was steady and strong, and his breathing was even and smooth. The sudden teleportation caused him to faint briefly, but he was not seriously injured. However, his already thinning hair had a noticeable and swollen bump on the back of his head.
After confirming that everyone was alright, Lynn got up, brushed the dust off his trousers, and peeked out from around the corner. His gaze caught Loki pressing the unlock button just as he did so.
The sturdy glass cage unlocked with a snap, taking Thor with it as it detached from the mothership's structural anchors and plummeted rapidly through the gap in the sky, heading towards the churning sea of clouds below.
Loki stood at the edge of the empty deck, glanced down at the fallen cage, a cold, mocking smile on his face, then turned and strode away, leaving the detention area completely.
Lynn didn't chase after him to stop him. Loki's defection was an inevitable outcome, a crucial element in driving the subsequent plot. Even if he were to stop him now, it would only create more variables and would be pointless.
He bent down and hoisted the unconscious Coulson onto his back. The agent's taut muscles, honed by years of training, combined with the weight of his equipment, made him much heavier than he appeared.
As Lynn steadily made his way back, he muttered to himself, "I told you not to be so reckless, but you wouldn't listen. You always have to put yourself in danger. I've told you so many times beforehand, and you still do it. If you're this impulsive again, I'll just throw you into the New York Sanctum and have Master Wong make you abstain from sex for a month to toughen you up."
Returning to the lounge, Lynn gently settled Coulson on the sofa and carefully examined his injuries again. Only after confirming that there were only minor bumps and swellings, with no broken skin or internal injuries, was he completely relieved.
He turned and walked to the wall, stood there with his arms crossed, and quietly waited for everyone to return after dealing with their own troubles.