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❄️ Chapter 28 — Broken Bonds
The Helicarrier floated crippled in the midnight sky, a steel leviathan bleeding smoke and fire. The storm still rumbled from Thor's rage, but the battlefield had grown eerily quiet after the chaos. The ship had survived, though only barely.
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EXT. SKY – BELOW THE HELICARRIER
Hulk plummeted into the clouds, roaring in fury as the wreckage of the jet fell with him. The Helicarrier's silhouette shrank above, its launch pad scorched and broken.
For now, the beast was gone.
Thor lingered on the edge of the deck, cape billowing in the storm, Mjolnir still crackling with lightning. His shoulders slumped, grief heavy in his chest. He thought of the young pilot's final words, the sacrifice that saved them all.
"Valhalla welcomes thee, warrior," Thor whispered, voice hoarse with sorrow.
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EXT. ENGINE BAY – UNDER THE HELICARRIER
Iron Man's repulsors roared as he clung to the failing turbine. Sparks rained across his armor, HUD flashing warnings.
"Alright, rookie, now or never! Push, push, push!"
Inside the spinning maw of the turbine, Nova strained against the blades, every muscle and ounce of cosmic energy burning. His helmet sparked from the force.
"I—I can't hold it—"
"Yes, you can!" Tony barked, blasting stabilizer beams into the joints. "This thing doesn't need to be pretty. Just make it spin, and don't get diced!"
With a scream of effort, Nova shoved the rotor into place. The turbine groaned, then lurched into motion. The massive blades began to turn, coughing back to life.
Iron Man's sensors shifted from red to amber. The Helicarrier steadied, no longer falling, but still dragging itself like a wounded animal.
"Nice work, kid," Tony exhaled. "We're not plummeting anymore. Bad news—it means no more fancy flying. This ship's basically a floating brick now."
Nova stumbled free, chest heaving. "Then… brick's better than fireball."
"Fair point."
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INT. CORRIDOR – SHADOWS AND STRIKES
Clint Barton stalked toward Loki's cell, scepter in hand, eyes glowing faint blue. His movements were sharp, precise, merciless.
From the smoke stepped Natasha, twin batons raised. Her voice was quiet but firm.
"Clint. Stop."
For a fraction of a second, his step faltered. Then his bow snapped open.
The fight exploded.
Arrows screamed down the corridor, Natasha dodging and weaving, closing in. Clint countered with blades and fists, every move drilled and lethal. Natasha matched him, her strikes fluid, but she held back—refusing to kill him.
"You're stronger than this!" she hissed, parrying a slash.
Clint's eyes flickered for half a heartbeat. Then Loki's control surged, and he pressed harder. Natasha's lip bled, her arms ached, but she refused to give in.
Her gaze flicked to the scepter in his hand.
A risky idea. But the only one.
She feigned a stumble. Clint lunged. In one fluid motion, she twisted his arm, seized the scepter, and slammed its glowing tip against his chest.
Blue light flared.
Clint gasped, eyes wide. His bow clattered to the floor as the glow faded. For the first time in hours, his eyes were his own.
"Nat…" he rasped, collapsing.
She caught him, relief flooding her. But footsteps thundered. More mind-controlled agents swarmed the corridor, rifles raised.
Natasha's chest heaved, her muscles trembling. She was exhausted. But she had Clint back—and she wasn't leaving him.
She holstered the scepter, slung Clint's arm over her shoulder, and sprinted away. Bullets ripped past, but the agents didn't pursue. Their mission was the scepter, not her.
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INT. LOWER DECK – VILLAIN'S RISING
The door hissed open. Loki entered the containment level, the scepter glowing once more in his hand.
One by one, the prisoners stirred: Vulture's wings twitched, Sandman's body shifted restlessly in its restraints, Absorbing Man's chains rattled. In the shadows, the Frightful Four glared with hatred.
Loki raised the scepter, its blue glow spreading across their eyes.
"Sleep no longer," he purred. "Rise, and serve."
One by one, their defiance melted. Eyes shone blue.
Vulture spread his wings. Sandman rumbled like an avalanche. Absorbing Man flexed steel-hard fists. The Frightful Four straightened, awaiting orders.
Loki's smirk widened.
"Midgard has no heroes strong enough to stop what comes."
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EXT. LAUNCH PAD – AFTERMATH
Thor remained at the edge, staring into the clouds where Hulk had fallen. His grief was deep, his spirit heavy.
"You waste your heart on mortals, brother."
Thor turned. Loki stood behind him, flanked by his new thralls, scepter gleaming in hand. His tone was mocking, but his eyes glittered with cold purpose.
"Return with me," Thor pleaded. "Enough of this madness. Come home to Asgard, where you belong."
Loki laughed, bitter and sharp.
"Asgard was never my home. It was my prison. My birthright stolen. Here, on Midgard, I will forge my true kingdom."
Thor roared and hurled Mjolnir. It tore through Loki's chest—only for the image to shimmer and vanish. An illusion.
Loki's laughter echoed across the battered deck.
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INT. BRIDGE – CRISIS COMMAND
The battle was over. For now.
Fury stood among the wreckage of the Helicarrier's command bridge. Screens flickered, consoles sparked, agents groaned as medics rushed between them. Hill's arm was bloodied, her face grim.
Reports poured in.
"Captain Rogers—injured, still unconscious," Hill said. "Romanoff secured Barton, but both are down. Stark's systems are operational, but his suit is at half-power. Thor… is shaken. Banner is missing."
Fury's jaw tightened. Around them, the Defenders limped in. Luke bruised but standing, Danny clutching his ribs, Ava bloodied but upright. Nova stumbled, drained of strength.
SHIELD itself fared worse. Dozens of agents were dead. Twice as many were wounded. And the ship… once proud, now barely afloat. Its engines could no longer sustain full flight.
It was a husk.
The silence weighed heavy—until Fury spoke.
"We took damage. We lost good men. But don't think for a second this ship's dead. Agent Felix proved that."
The room turned toward him.
Fury's voice was steel.
"He was young. Barely trained. He could've run. Instead, he rammed a jet into a monster, because he knew this world's worth saving. He bought us time, bought us hope—and gave his life for it."
Thor lowered his head, grief etched into his face. Natasha closed her eyes. Even the Defenders bowed in respect.
Fury's gaze swept across them all.
"Felix wasn't an Avenger. Wasn't a Defender. He was just a man. But he did what heroes do—he stood his ground. You want to honor him? Then get back on your feet, because this fight's not over. Not by a long shot."
The silence broke. Heads rose. Resolve returned.
The war for Earth wasn't finished. It was only beginning.
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❄️ End of Chapter 28 ❄️