New York.
A desolate, open space.
"Well done! The Tesseract is ours now!"
A playful voice echoed through the air.
Victor Von Doom, the defected member of the Avengers, stood in the center of the clearing.
Hearing the voice but seeing no one, his expression remained stoic, though a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
"Are you planning to stay hidden forever?"
Doom voice was calm and measured. "This doesn't seem like something a 'partner' would do."
"Partner?"
The voice didn't waver in the face of Doom subtle warning. Instead, it seemed to taunt him. "Ah, yes, we're partners."
Whoosh!
A figure flickered into view before Doom eyes.
It was a man holding a staff, adorned with a golden horned helmet.
Dressed in elaborate, ancient attire with intricate patterns and a flowing cape fastened at his back, the man stood confidently.
Doom brows furrowed slightly.
The man appearance didn't align with Doom expectations of an ally.
"What wrong?"
Loki chuckled softly.
"Surprised to see what I look like? Did you think I'd be the head of some terrifying organization, only to realize I'm more like… a lunatic?"
Doom expression didn't change, but internally, he was unsettled.
Loki had read his thoughts.
Then again, for someone with abilities like Loki, this wasn't exactly a difficult feat.
"I can't read minds."
Loki, catching Doom subtle reactions, smirked as he continued, "I'm just very good at manipulating others."
"Enough of this nonsense."
Doom tone was curt. "I don't care to know the details of your nature, but you owe me an introduction.
You convinced me to steal the Tesseract from S.H.I.E.L.D.—what exactly are you planning to do with it?"
"Convinced you?"
Loki smirk grew into a mocking smile.
"I didn't need to convince you. The stench of ambition and scheming around you was enough for me to notice.
You're merely using my power to achieve your own goals."
"You're avoiding the question. I asked for your introduction."
Doom held the Tesseract in one hand while the other, fully metallic, spread its fingers wide.
Electricity crackled to life in his palm, a display of power that hinted at his readiness to strike at any moment.
Zzzzzz!
Under the glow of the lightning, Doom imposing figure looked almost godlike.
"You remind me of someone I know," Loki said, his smile never faltering, though his eyes grew colder. "Someone I despise deeply."
But his tone turned sly as he continued. "I have an army. One that can help you crush this world and rule it as you see fit."
"An army?"
Doom expression didn't change, but his voice was laced with skepticism. "And why should I trust your army?"
"Because, with your current strength, you cannot defeat the Justice League."
Loki words were calm, yet they carried the weight of a challenge.
Doom said nothing, but his grip on the Tesseract tightened slightly.
Doom remained silent. He knew that Loki might be right.
Since joining the Avengers, he had gained a deeper understanding of the Justice League, led by Batman.
Heroes like Cyborg and Wonder Woman, with their extraordinary abilities, posed a significant challenge.
Even with the unlimited energy provided by the Tesseract, eliminating them would be far from easy.
While he wasn't afraid, he acknowledged that such battles would inevitably be troublesome.
"Why should I trust you?"
He broke the silence. "You haven't even told me your true identity."
"Loki," the man replied smoothly.
"I am from Asgard, another realm. To your kind, I am a god."
"Loki?"
Doom extensive knowledge quickly brought forth memories of this name and the significance of Asgard.
"You're… the trickster god Loki? A god, like Wonder Woman, Diana Prince?"
"Wonder Woman?"
Loki fists tightened, his face darkening with a flash of hatred.
The mere mention of her name was enough to remind him of the humiliating defeat he had suffered at her hands not long ago.
After a brief pause, Loki tone turned icy.
"If we could refrain from bringing up that name, I believe you'd find me far more agreeable."
"Heh. So, you've met Wonder Woman... and it seems you've suffered greatly at her hands."
Doom wariness eased slightly as he began to piece together why Loki might be offering his help.
Revenge, perhaps?
What Doom failed to notice, however, was the fleeting glimmer of cunning in Loki eyes and the subtle, sly smile that briefly crossed his lips as Doom let his guard down.
Elsewhere.
Anton was still on the phone with Harry.
S.H.I.E.L.D. had lost the Tesseract, and Victor Von Doom had betrayed the Avengers.
For Anton, this was good news.
"Harry, do your best," Anton said candidly.
"But I won't be giving you any further advice. You know very well that the conflict between S.H.I.E.L.D. and us is irreconcilable.
Nick Fury wants to use the Avengers to suppress and eventually replace the Justice League.
That something we will never accept. Honestly, I'd be thrilled to see them fail."
"I understand," Harry sighed.
"I just want to know—when the critical moment comes, will you act?"
"Of course."
Anton nodded. "When the situation spirals out of control and becomes unmanageable, we'll step in to clean up the mess.
Only then can more people realize that compared to the Justice League, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers are nothing more than pretenders."
"Then I'm reassured."
Harry let go of his earlier apprehension, said goodbye, and hung up the phone.
Beep beep!
After the call ended, Anton drove back to his office.
But instead of heading to his own department, he went upstairs to The Daily Bugle.
"Eddie, get ready," Anton said as he walked in.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers are about to hit rock bottom. After this incident, the Justice League may very well emerge as the undisputed leader."
"Oh?" Eddie raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What happened?"
"The Pegasus Project failed," Anton explained briefly.
"Victor Von Doom, a new member of the Avengers, has defected, stealing the Tesseract—the most critical component of the project.
He now working with an unknown accomplice, their motives unclear."
He paused and added, "For now, don't publicize this. It not the right time yet."
"What your plan?" Eddie eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"I'm going to contact the military to see what Secretary of Defense John Keller and his team plan to do about S.H.I.E.L.D.," Anton replied.
"After all, they were involved in the Pegasus Project too."
As if remembering something, he continued, "Oh, and reach out to George Stacy. Let him know to prepare for the worst.
New York might be facing a major crisis soon. The NYPD will need to take charge of evacuating citizens as quickly as possible."
"New York?"
Eddie expression turned serious. "Are you sure?"
"When have you ever known me to joke about something like this?"
Anton retorted with a raised brow.