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❄️ Chapter 26 — Cracks in the Sky
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The Helicarrier drifted above the ocean like a floating fortress, its turbines humming deep into the night. Within its armored walls, Earth's mightiest defenders gathered—but unease crackled like static in the air.
Loki, bound in heavy manacles, was marched through the steel corridors under heavy guard. His golden helm gleamed, his smirk unshaken, as if he were the captor and not the prisoner.
INT. HELICARRIER – CONTAINMENT BAY
Nick Fury led the procession, his single eye fixed on the glass cage at the center of the bay. The cell was cylindrical, transparent, and reinforced with alien alloys.
Fury stopped, turning to Loki.
FURY (coldly):
This was built for something much bigger than you. Try to scratch the glass, or sneeze too hard, the whole thing drops out of this ship. You'll fall thirty-thousand feet before you get the chance to regret it.
He tapped the control console, a release button glowing bright red.
FURY:
An ant… meets a boot. That's what you are here.
Loki only chuckled, stepping into the cell without protest.
LOKI:
We'll see whose boot crushes whom, Director.
The doors sealed with a hiss. Fury turned away, but Loki's grin lingered, like a shadow that refused to fade.
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INT. LAB BAY – LATER
Bruce Banner and Tony Stark bent over Loki's scepter, its eerie blue glow casting sharp shadows across the lab. Energy readings spiked erratically on their screens.
TONY (half-joking, half-serious):
This thing's not a glowstick. It's running on something bigger than arc reactors. Like it's… alive.
BANNER:
It's not just alive. It's… pushing back. I can feel it.
Steve Rogers entered, arms folded, frown etched deep.
STEVE:
We should destroy it. Nothing good comes out of something that makes you uneasy just by standing near it.
Soon the others gathered—Sam Alexander, Ava Ayala, Luke Cage, Danny Rand, Spider-Man. The glow of the scepter only seemed to fuel the heat between them.
AVA (snapping):
So this is why I had to cancel my holiday? To babysit a glowing stick?
DANNY (sharp):
It's not a toy, Ava. It's dangerous.
LUKE (accusing):
You sound like you want it. Maybe you're too eager to see what it does.
Danny bristled. Steve eyed Tony with suspicion.
TONY:
Easy for you to preach, Cap. Some of us don't live off pep talks and shields.
STEVE (snapping):
And some of us don't treat saving lives like a science experiment.
The air grew tense, Banner's hands trembling. His pulse spiked green.
Spider-Man's spider-sense blared like a siren. He dove forward, webbing the scepter away just as Banner's hand reached for it. The glow dimmed slightly.
The room fell into shocked silence until Fury stormed in, his voice thunder.
FURY:
That's enough! You're letting it work you like puppets. Until we know how to cut the strings, nobody touches it.
The team exchanged uneasy looks. The cracks had already begun to show.
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INT. UNDERGROUND HIDEOUT – NIGHT
Far from the Helicarrier, Amora the Enchantress strolled through the shadows, her gown shimmering like liquid emerald. At her side, Doctor Octavius clicked along, his four metal arms restless.
AMORA (purring):
If Loki wishes to topple Midgard's heroes, he will need more than soldiers. He will need predators.
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EXT. DILAPIDATED MANSION – EUROPE
The first was Kraven the Hunter. His trophies littered the walls, from lion skulls to mutant hides.
KRAVEN (snarling):
I do not bow. I hunt.
Octavius bristled, but Amora only smiled. With a flick of her fingers, green mist curled into Kraven's eyes. His defiance melted into obedience.
AMORA:
Now, you hunt where I point.
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EXT. ABANDONED DOCKYARD – NIGHT
Next came Hurricane, conjuring gusts strong enough to topple trucks. He demanded power, recognition. Amora gave him neither—only a soft whisper that wrapped around his mind until he bowed.
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EXT. PRISON CELL – DARK
Scorpion snarled behind bars, tail lashing violently. His rage was directionless, wild—until Amora's magic bound it to her will.
The trio stood together now, silent pawns in her game.
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INT. HYDRA SAFEHOUSE
Their next visit was less satisfying. Hydra's executive was sharp-suited but hollow, more messenger than master.
HYDRA EXECUTIVE:
You want allegiance, lady? You'll have to take it up the chain.
Amora's smile faltered. She leaned close, voice dripping venom.
AMORA:
You are not even worthy of control.
She turned on her heel, green energy snapping in the air. Hydra was a snake with too many heads—not worth the leash.
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EXT. NEW YORK – OSCORP RESIDENCE
Their crown jewel waited in New York. Harry Osborn, hollow-eyed, restless, already bonded with the black symbiote that whispered promises in his mind.
Venom rose in jagged silhouette behind him, teeth glistening, tongue lashing.
Amora's lips curved.
AMORA:
Yes… you will do nicely.
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INT. NEW YORK APARTMENT – SAME TIME
Elsewhere, Adrian sat at a desk cluttered with maps, marking evacuation routes with steady precision and enchanting the building near it. Natalie sat across from him, her mind brushing gently against nearby thoughts—subtly urging families to take vacations, young couples to book trips, neighbors to visit relatives out of town.
NATALIE (quietly):
You're clearing paths. I'm clearing people. But Adrian… when your time runs out, when you can't hold those barriers anymore… what then?
Adrian paused, pen frozen above the map. His silence was answer enough.
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INT. HELICARRIER – NIGHT
The first explosion rocked the carrier. Sirens wailed as red lights flooded the halls.
HILL (over comms):
Propeller two is down!
COULSON:
Sabotage. We've been infiltrated.
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EXT. HELICARRIER – OUTER HULL
A Quinjet clung to the carrier's spine, disgorging black-clad soldiers. Clint Barton led them, bow in hand, his eyes glowing faintly blue.
BARTON (calm, commanding):
Two engines. That's all it takes. Plant the charges.
His men moved with ruthless precision, strapping explosives to the turbines.
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INT. LAB BAY
The blast hurled Tony and Banner across the floor. The scepter skittered away, glowing brighter than ever. Banner groaned, clutching his side, blood seeping through his shirt.
His breath quickened. His skin rippled green.
TONY (alarmed):
Bruce—don't. Stay with me.
The transformation came anyway. Bones cracked, muscles surged. In seconds, the Hulk loomed, roaring in pain and fury.
Through the smoke, Barton appeared, calm as ever.
BARTON (to Hulk, steady):
Pick it up.
The Hulk's massive hand wrapped around the scepter. Blue energy coursed across his veins, burning in his eyes. His roar shook the walls—but his rage was no longer his own.
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INT. HELICARRIER – CHAOS
The corridors erupted in screams as Hulk smashed through bulkheads. SHIELD agents fired in vain, torn apart by his rampage.
Barton's voice carried cold over the comms.
BARTON:
Stay clear. He will destroys everything… except us.
His strike team advanced, unhindered, planting more charges.
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INT. CONTAINMENT BAY
Fury stood outside Loki's cage as the ship trembled.
FURY (furious):
What have you done?
Loki smirked inside his prison, perfectly calm.
LOKI:
Me? I'm merely the guest. But it seems the host has… structural problems.
A thunderous crash echoed above. Fury glanced at the ceiling. Loki leaned forward, smile widening.
LOKI (mocking):
Tell me, Director… how does a bird fly with broken wings?
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EXT. ENGINE ROOM
Iron Man rocketed into the crippled turbines, HUD flashing with warnings.
TONY (gritting his teeth):
Come on—hold together…
The second propeller exploded, flames engulfing the sky. The Helicarrier lurched, nose tilting downward. Clouds whipped past as the fortress began its death spiral.
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INT. CORRIDOR
Spider-Man swung through collapsing halls, webbing broken beams to save trapped agents. His spider-sense flared like fire.
Then Hulk smashed through the wall, eyes glowing with blue fire.
Spider-Man froze.
SPIDER-MAN (grimly):
…Oh no. Big guy's on the wrong team.
The Hulk roared, charging straight at him.
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EXT. SKY – WIDE
The Helicarrier burned across the night sky, smoke and fire trailing from its ruined engines. Inside, chaos reigned—heroes scattered, SHIELD breaking, Hulk enslaved.
And from the deck, Barton stood tall, bow in hand, watching the destruction unfold.
BARTON (into comms):
The fall of SHIELD has begun.
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❄️ End of Chapter 26
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