Chapter Eighteen: Breaking Free from Control

"I've got it!" Thor suddenly exclaimed. "Loki once said he'd witnessed the true power of the Cosmic Cube—there must be someone else behind him."

Artanis nodded, then shook his head. "This magic affects anyone who uses the scepter, but it was only triggered after you all entered the lab, and it influenced everyone present."

He then stepped in front of Natasha, closing his eyes slightly. "You indeed carry the scent of magic. It was your arrival that awakened the enchantment within the scepter."

Natasha's expression darkened. "It must have been Loki. He knew I'd come to find Dr. Banner."

Artanis glanced at the silent Steve, then at Fury, who seemed deep in thought. "The scepter was bestowed by another; naturally, the means to use it were also given."

"So you're saying Loki might be under control—like Barton?" Tony stroked his chin. If that were true, then whoever was behind all this was playing both sides like puppets.

Thor, on the other hand, broke into a broad smile. If his brother had been controlled, he wouldn't have to face such harsh punishment. "That's wonderful, Artanis! Can you remove their influence?"

At this, Natasha also turned to Artanis. He'd said before that he could break Barton's control, and what they'd just experienced made her believe it even more—though when it came to Loki...

Thinking of the people Loki and Barton had killed, Natasha couldn't help but sigh. What judgment awaited those who killed while under another's control?

At that moment, the program Banner and Tony had written chimed its success, signaling they'd located the Cosmic Cube. Thor, elated, reacted immediately.

"The Cosmic Cube belongs to Asgard. You humans cannot control it," Thor said, looking at Fury. Fury offered no rebuttal; if their research had truly drawn the attention of extraterrestrial invaders, then S.H.I.E.L.D. certainly had cause for reflection.

Though the group had regained their composure, the earlier quarrel had already sown seeds of division. Emotions might cloud reason, but differences in ideology remained an undeniable fact.

"You can't go alone." "You want to stop me?" "Let's settle this with the armor onboard." "I'm not afraid to fight an old-timer."

"Ahem, for now we should—" Suddenly, a violent explosion threw everyone off their feet. Artanis barely managed to raise a small shield, protecting Nick Fury behind him.

"Suit up!" Steve grabbed Tony and quickly led him from the lab. "Alright, I'll listen to you this time."

Fury immediately called the control room. "Hill?"

"Sir, we're under attack. The hull is compromised, and Engine Three is offline." Agent Hill was checking the damage while questioning the crew. "Can we restart the engine?"

After conferring with the crew, Hill reported back. "Sir, we'll need someone to go out and repair it."

"Stark, did you hear that?" Fury radioed the only person present who could both fly and fix things.

"Director Fury, I'm heading to the detention block to remove the magic from Loki," Artanis nodded to Fury and dashed toward the cells. Fury considered, then let him go; if Loki truly was controlled, breaking the spell would eliminate a major enemy.

"Coulson, lock down the decks and corridors. Take them alive if possible." Fury issued orders as he moved toward the command center. "Romanoff?"

...

Artanis arrived at the detention cell, where Loki stood before the glass. Upon seeing Artanis, Loki flashed a wicked smile. "You've come."

Artanis wasn't sure if he was part of Loki's plan, but Loki looked supremely confident.

He paid Loki no mind for the moment. He could sense the same magic on Loki as in the scepter, but now, having understood the structure of the spell, it was child's play for a high templar.

Energy feedback—this was a technique developed by high templars of the tenth psionic level and above, designed specifically to counteract all manner of magic. As long as a templar could perceive the opponent's energy circuits, they could use their own formidable psionics to reverse and forcibly break spells—even directly upon a person, if their level surpassed the caster by two tiers.

Even without knowing the exact nature of an enchantment, a high templar could break fifty percent of its power. Once they understood it, unless the caster's power exceeded their own, the spell would be undone.

Artanis applied this feedback to the enchantment on Loki, and, aided by his psionics, shattered the confusion spell on Loki's mind. Loki's smile became noticeably more genuine.

"Ah, finally rid of that damned spell. Now, will you let me out?" Loki stretched lazily, looking at Artanis.

Artanis shook his head, his tone serious. "I believe they have some important questions for you."

Loki chuckled indifferently. "Staying here isn't so bad. Shame there aren't any magazines to read."

Artanis knew full well Fury was far too busy to bring reading material to Loki. The two simply faced off in silence.

Lacking S.H.I.E.L.D.'s communications and unwilling to invade others' systems, Artanis kept Loki company outside the cell.

Meanwhile, Iron Man and Captain America went to repair the thrusters, Thor was left to deal with the enraged Hulk, and Natasha hurried off to where Barton had appeared.

After what felt like an age, the chaos finally subsided, and the others gathered outside Loki's cell.

"So, can you guarantee Loki is back to normal?" Fury eyed the god of mischief with deep suspicion. Loki responded with a broad smile.

"Well, the magic on Loki has been removed," Artanis replied, deliberately sidestepping Fury's question. After all, Loki's 'normal' was far from ordinary.

Natasha turned to Fury for instructions. "Director, since Artanis can restore the minds of those under control—what about Barton and the others?"

Fury decided to leave Loki for now. After glancing at Thor, he turned to Artanis. "In that case, we'll rely on you."

Artanis nodded and followed Natasha to Barton's room, where Barton was tied to the bed.

Watching Barton's relentless struggle, Artanis extended his right hand, enveloping Barton in a blue psionic glow. Under Natasha's hopeful gaze, Barton's thrashing gradually ceased. "Where am I?" he asked, bewildered.