As Loki is waiting in the Hulk's holding cell, the two tinkerers of the team start to examine his weapon. After some time, they meet up with the others to share their findings, and Banner concludes: “This thing, this scepter, it doesn't just hypnotize or alter that thoughts of the person it is used against. It also affect the one wielding it! There is something, some form of magnetic wave or infra sound, we don't know yet, that radiates off the stone embedded in it. It influences the neurological receptors in a persons brain. And the more susceptible to corruption you are, the harder it affects you!”
“And how did you figure that out?”, Fury demands. Stark boasts confident: “Oh we conducted some experiments!” “You what?!”, Coulson gasps, but Bruce calms them down: “Not like that, we didn't touch it! But the thing is, I always keep a close watch on my emotions, and I noticed that I was experiencing mood swings, when I got closer. So me and Tony tried to test out, if it's only me, and how it changes someone.” “We basically did some psychological evaluation test on each other, and on some of your agents, and the results change, the closer to the scepter you are.” Coulson stares at him with anger, but the God of Thunder buds in: “So are you saying, my brother's mind could be clouded as well? That he does not know, what he is doing?” Tony answers: “Uhm, I think it's more complicated than that, at least in our tests the people were still able to apply their own morals, but whatever dark motivation he had could indeed be amplified by the scepter.”
“That's all nice and well, but what are we supposed to do with that information?”, Fury demands. However, that's when Cap proposes: “Wait, is that why we got so hostile towards each other previously? Because then I think, we should try and combat that, and set aside our differences, so we can work together to help Agent Barton!” Tony looks at him smug and scolds: “Oh, so you want me on your team now?” Steve gives him a sincere look and surprises him: “Yes Stark, I want us all to work together! And I want us to trust each other, so maybe we should clear the air of our previous fight and apologize. I'll go first!”, he extends a hand, “I'm sorry I called you selfish, and that you're just a suit. You're obviously much more resourceful and clever, and we need your expertise and wit to avert this crisis!” Tony raises his brows baffled, but then smirks and shakes his hand: “Alright Capsicle, I accept. And I'm sorry I made fun of your pajamas!”
⭐⭐⭐
Even though 'clearing the air' between the team feels a bit out of touch to most, the Avengers can finally work together, so when Hawkeye attacks the Helicarrier, they are able to deflect the assault, capture him, and even manage to cure him of the effects of the scepter. It is up to Steve to reverse the influence the artifact has over the archer, after Banner and Stark figure out that he is the least corruptible, retaining the moral high ground even when using the stone's power.
Meanwhile the effects wear off of Loki too, and Thor tries to speak to him, but he remains growly, insisting: “I would have been off better as a dark ruler, instead of living in your shadow!” So the God of Thunder decides to bring him back to Asgard, but Fury asks him: “If you could keep him here a while, we would welcome that! He still killed a lot of my agents, and the least you could do, is give us the time to figure out, how to Shield us from another onslaught of his! Or his weapons!” The blond warrior wants to object: “You can rest assure now, that I will not let him bother this realm again.”, but then Coulson adds: “Like you did now? Come on Thor, you can't be everywhere at once! At least let us examine your brother's artifacts. You can stay and watch! We don't know how to contact you once you're gone, and we might soon have to prepare for another attack by whoever gave him that scepter!”
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Since Thor doesn't want to cause any diplomatic troubles with Midgard's Shield, he obliges. Yet soon after that, Loki's vitals start to behave weird. His heart rate rises, like his temperature, he sweats and gasps for air. Fury thinks he is faking, but the Jötunn collapses. Thor tells the scientist about the Frost Giants, and what he knows of their biology, and so they let the Asgardian god enter the cell. With his aid the scientists put Loki in a tub of ice to help cure the fever, with only his lap covered by his undergarment. Thor then excuses himself: “As much as I want to help you, I must neither let my brother be the cause of harm, nor may I let him be subjected to unjust pains. And this development is new for him! I must speak to the allfather of this. Do not worry though, my friends. I shall return soon!”, and thus leaves in a bang.
⭐⭐⭐
Tony, Bruce and some of the Shield scientists keep close watch over the Jötunn. Once he wakes, he is very much embarrassed and angry. He refuses to cooperate with Shield to gain more control over the scepter and the Tesseract. After some taunting, Fury orders that the heat in the cell should be increased steadily, until up to maximum, slowly getting their prisoner into discomfort. Once Banner notices, they have a huge argument with the Shield leader and his agents. Hawkeye is set on revenge, Steve wants to be merciful, and Fury thinks purely strategic. Tony is curious, claiming they can save him again before things become too bad, while Coulson is concerned about Thor's reaction, and Banner simply pities the Frost Giant. Having been the criminal for some time due to himself being corrupted, he begs Fury for mercy on Loki's behalf, but the secret Hydra agents keep placing doubt, lying about Loki's stats, as they wish to study his resilience.
Lastly, the Frost Giant turns blue, and tries freezing his surroundings for comfort. The Hydras are happy, and the Shield leader uses it as an argument to keep him imprisoned. They have another discussion, where Coulson says it is inhumane and that he should at least turn the heat back down, which Steve agrees on, but Nat, Hawks and Tony argue against. They become louder and more aggressive, while the alarm signals, warning them of Loki's vitals, keep beeping and ringing. Banner has flashbacks of how he was denied basic needs as a child, how he was chased by Shield and others, his life in fear and pain. He hulks out and is able to smash open the container keeping Loki, who has long become unconscious.
He takes him, shielding him from the gunfire the agents set off. Cap has to deflect some bullets with his Shield to keep Nat and Clint safe, and is angry at Fury. Crossbones mocks: „What is this, King Kong and the blue fairy?“, as the Hulk rips through the Helicarrier, keeping Loki clutched to his chest. He jumps off into the sea to swim away. Jets are deployed and follow him, but he is able to grab one, getting thrust into the air, and landing on a second. The pilot then ejects, but his seat is caught by a wire. The Hulk rips it to throw the guy far away, who has to throw up form it, but is otherwise safe. However, the jet takes off towards a shore at high speed, taking the green and blue giants with it.